Engine cuts out at idle in drive.......

90' 6000 SE 122K MILES. Just recently when I'm at a stop light, in drive, the engine will cut out most of the time. The idle sounds kinda low. when I go to start it back up, it starts up right away. The car runs great otherwise. This will happen if it is wet or dry outside. Air filter is ok, plugs, wires, all ok. Also if I would put it in park, and let it idle, and touch the gas a little, then let off, it would idle erractic. Up and down, up and down then level off to normal. What the heck is this problem? Thanks for any ideas.

A few other things forgot to mention also..............after it sits for awhile, it's very hard starting. When it sits idle in park, it's like it's starving for gas. The idle fluctuates dramatically, up down, up down. I changed the fuel filter about two months ago just FYI.

what engine do you have

3.1 Ltr.

its possible that you have a intake manifold gasket that had collapsed and is leaking vacuum internally.

Any way to check that?

New finding in this problem. I removed the cover off of the air filter and it's loaded with gas. The tube up to the intake as well. Is this a fuel issue problem? It's getting worse. I can't even hold an idle without it shut'n down. I've parked it for now till I get some more ideas.

Check fuel pressure check for fuel in FP regulator vacuum hose also. One injector could be stuck open or all of them with a bad pcm, some more checking is in order here.

Thanks for the tip. I take it FP stands for "fuel pump" and pcm stands for????
Thanks, sorry for the ignorance.

fp regulator is the fuel pressure regulator. if the rubber diaghram is leaking it will dump unregulated fuel in the throttle body. with this new information that sounds like a very good possiblity. if you do find it leaking i would suggest changing the oil as soon as you fix the regulator.

Ok............where is that located, on the throttle body or back by the tank. Thanks much.

the regulator is on the fuel rail. there is a vacuum line going to it. pull the line off and look for raw fuel coming out of the fitting, sometimes you might have to wait for awhile to see the fuel.

If I see fuel coming out of the vacuum fitting, I take it thats no good and the regulator should be replaced? Thanks again.

Also should I do this while the car is running?

it sounds like you have found the problem. the regulator is a little more difficult to replace on this engie than most. if i remember correctly the upper inteke plenum needs to come off and the fuel rail removed. once this is done i can not stess enough the need to change you oil as the raw fuel dumping in will delute your oil

I got the upper intake plenum off. I pulled the line off of the fuel pressure regulator. Gas continues to dribble out of the regulator. Looks like we found the problem!!! I'm going to need to order that regulator. May be a few days till I get it.......stand by.......Thanks for the help!

Well I fianally got the regulator from rock auto. That was the problem!!!! She runs like a champ again. Thanks so much for all the help!! As for having to chane the oil, I don't smell any gas in the oil, is it really necessary? I just got done changing it a week ago.