Car hesitates while driving normal speeds?

[Rocktbone1]

1998 Grand Prix SE 3.8L. 184k miles. Just a little background. A few days ago I noticed that as I was driving the car it would hesitate and then go back to normal driving up until until I turned a corner. The car completely stalled. It started right back up and idled fine. Got it back to my place and opened the hood. Pulled engine cover off and low and behold there was a mouse condo built up on top of the motor. I cleaned it all out and noticed a small wire that had the covering chewed to the bare wire. the wire was intact so I covered with electrical tape. Seemed to run fine for a while and now I get hesitation while driving down the highway again. I hooked up a code reader and it gave me code P0171. I cleared it and I get no check engine light. Not really sure where to start?

[Tech II]

Did the code return? That code is for a lean condition.....could be any number of things, like a vac leak, a bad fuel filter, MAF sensor, fouled O2 sensor, etc.

[Rocktbone1]

Last night it stalled again ans started right back up. Service Engine Soon light came on and I checked code and it came out with P0102. Could be a bad MAF sensor?

[Tech II]

Sure it could.....definite way to check is to look at the data on a scan tool...

A bad MAF can affect the O2 sensor readings...if the car is running bad or refuses to start, and you disconnect the MAF(this will cause the CE light to come on) and it runs better......

Warning: Have seen a lot of problems with aftermarket MAF's....the OEM's are more expensive, but have been more reliable....

One thing you can try, is buy a can of MAF cleaner(hell of a lot cheaper)....remove the sensor and clean the sensing elements, clear code, and see if that improves the running of the vehicle....

[Rocktbone1]

So "temporarily" I could disconnect the MAF and drive the car until I get what I need so it doesn't stall on my driving?

[Rocktbone1]

So I replaced air filter and cleaned the MAF sensor with MAF cleaner. Got it back together and it still runs like crap. Only code I get is P0102. Is there another way to tell if the MAF is bad? Any other possibilities. I can't keep driving as it stalls out while I'm driving. Maybe fuel filter or fuel pump going out?

[Tech II]

As I said, one sure way is to start the car and look at the MAF data with a scan tool....

If you start the car, and just drive it down the street and it runs like crap and stalls on you, then disconnect the MAF, and drive it the same way...if it runs better, you need a MAF....remember what I said about aftermarket MAF's...

One time, I replaced it with an after market, and it wouldn't even start....disconnected it, and it started, reconnected and it wouldn't start...

Got another one...it started....customer drove it that day....next day wouldn't start...he said he didn't want to pay for another tow job....I told him over the phone where the connector for the MAF was...he disconnected it and the car started...drove it to the shop...we returned the part, and ordered the more expensive OEM...no problems.....

[rkvons]

Maybe the mouse chewed a vacuum line. Try to find a vacuum leak while you're in there next time.