2002 zx2 dies when come to a stop

Ok, the car starts fine and drives fine, after driving it will just die as you come to a stop. After restarting and it always does, it surges and wants to lunge forward. Any suggestions? I changed the coolant and thermosat on the advice of the guy at auto zone who read the check engine light. Now the check engine light is not on! ??? Help please and thanks.

Vacuum leak... start searching.

Yes, vacuum leak. Listen for a whistling sound. Pinch off vacuum sources at the intake manifold and follow it to the source. btw the PCV valve could make it do what you describe. It's just a couple dollars so replace it. To find it start at the intake manifold. There will be one line that is bigger than the rest. Follow it back to the PCV valve.

If no vac leaks are found and the PCV isn't the problem, would the IAC and EGR be the next steps?

Honestly, if no vacuum leaks are found I would recommend going back and searching harder.
This symptom has vacuum written all over it.
IAC tends to incresae the idle when it goes bad, not stall the motor. I don't think the EGR would kill it either... would just drop mileage. However, there could potentially be a vacuum leak at the IAC or the EGR... but I would focus on the intake manifold and hoses.

ok i have replaced the fuel filter, no better, replaced the lvaccum lines coming off the round black plastic thing attached to the firewall behind the throttle body, no better, bought a pvc vavle, where does it go? I have a round black plastic thing which goes into the valve cover and the hose goes to the airfilter....what is that? Problem is there is not a book wtih diagrams or maintenance on this car! Why is that?? Please help if you can. I am not car maintenance stupid......I am an aircraft maintenace technician....but i have books on systems!! Thanks for putting up with me on this one...... :-)

If no vac leaks are found and the PCV isn't the problem, would the IAC and EGR be the next steps?


I take it your experiencing the same problem as are many zx2 owners. If you get results let me know please. The car does not stall all the time now since I replaced those vacuum lines but the prob is not fixed.

OK OK Thank You to all who pointed me in the right direction!! Here is the solution to my stalling when stopping: the pvc valve hose had a nice size leak in it at the intake manifold side. I had to pull the engine hood to get in there and find it. I could hear it but had to really get in there and move lines to find it. Anyway it is running excellent now and I am sure my daughter is happy!! Thank you all.

PS: 32 dollars at ford for a new hose! Only place to get one too!! And there is no maintenance manual on this car on Ebay which means there is not one in this universe unless i want to buy fords complete set!! No thanks I think from now on I am going Japanese!!!!!!!!!! LOL Thanks to all!!!

hose costs just a few cents per foot at the parts stores

Yes and typically that is what I would do but to the ZX2 owners out there, the PVC hose is different sizes on both sides. After searching parts stores no one has the adapters at the correct angles to make a permanent fix. Right now I have it rigged just so I could make sure this was the fix to the stalling. I will get the hose from Ford and make this fix permanent. Thanks mightymoose and to all again!!

if replacing the vaccume line dosen't fix the problem have you iac checked or replaced.