MNicolas

[MNicolas]

Good morning!! I would greatly appreciate it if anyone out there can help. I have a 1998 Oldsmobile Aurora that I'm having problems with the engine dying. The symptoms keep changing. Most of the time it was dying while the air is on and I come to a stop, but after getting it back last night from the mechanic now it's doing it anytime I stop even witht he air on. This last fix he did was a new Intake Manifold Gasket because the service engine soon light was on. We have tried adjusting the idle, resetting the battery and several other things. I am one very frustrated girl right now and any suggestions that you all have would be appreciated. Thanks!!

[DOUGSA]

I was having stalling problem with my 97. If I accelerated quickly (floored it ) the service engine soon light would come on for a few days. When the light was on it would not idle. It would stall if I started coasting.

The solution was to remove the egr valve an spray it with throtle body cleaner and put it back on.

[magyar]

That worked for me too. I had replaced 3 ignition coils and finally got my car running great again, only to have it start stalling at idle.

I took off the EGR valve, scrubbed off all the carbon deposits, sprayed it with throttle body cleaner, wiped it off and now it doesn't stall anymore at all. I think the valve was getting stuck and cleaning it off helped.

Easy and cheap solution!

M

[MNicolas]

Thanks for the feedback!! Now the mechanic is thinking it could be the computer that needs to be replaced. Does that sound right?

[magyar]

Did he look at the EGR valve? I would look at EGR valve, coils, ICU, plugs, wires, before replacing the computer.

[papadhd]

Originally Posted by MNicolas

Good morning!! I would greatly appreciate it if anyone out there can help. I have a 1998 Oldsmobile Aurora that I'm having problems with the engine dying. The symptoms keep changing. Most of the time it was dying while the air is on and I come to a stop, but after getting it back last night from the mechanic now it's doing it anytime I stop even witht he air on. This last fix he did was a new Intake Manifold Gasket because the service engine soon light was on. We have tried adjusting the idle, resetting the battery and several other things. I am one very frustrated girl right now and any suggestions that you all have would be appreciated. Thanks!!

I have been having some of your problems for several months now except mine started out with a slight skip and hesitation, occasionally. They did several things but it turned out to be coil problems. After replacing 3 coils that problem has gone away.

[MNicolas]

We have replaced the EGR valve, plugs, and wires. I'm not sure about the coils but will check. I was also having that same problem with it hesitating or cutting out but that's all better now. The car drives wonderful just as long as I don't have to stop

[madcatter]

ECM's [almost] never go bad, ever. Don't let somebody try scamming you into buying a stupid computer. It's one of the most common ways shops will try to screw you because it's the hardest thing on the car to understand and often the most expensive. I know, I'm a mechanic and I know a lot more mechanics. It is, however, possible but research ALL other options first.

[dsatt12]

I'm totally with madcatter. Unless it's spewing back garbage to a scan tool or something, there just aren't many reasons to suspect a computer problem.

I hope they're not just yanking your chain because you're female. Nothing pisses me off more than to hear 2 totally different stories (and estimates) from a shop when my wife drops it off and when I talk to them. Of course, I think it had as much to do with vocabulary and basic car knowledge as gender. That and she WAS stupid for taking it to Car-X instead of my favorite mechanic, but anyway...

[MNicolas]

Well we took it back to the mechanic that supposidly fixed it. He felt really bad and wanted one more chance to try and get it fixed. They checked out all of the codes and when my father-in-law to be left the service engine soon light was off. By the time he got it almost home to me the light was back on and it died when he stopped. I drove it that day and the car never did die on my but it did on Sunday. We are going to have to take it to a dealer but are trying to find one with a mechanic that is somewhat honest. My father in law is retired from GM and is handling all of this for me. He has a couple of calls in and we are hoping to get it fixed this week. Driving is stressful enough with a 6 year old in the car, but to have to drive with two feet is even worst!! Thanks for the feedback I will be sure to pass it on.