Intermittant stalling on a 2000 Grand Prix with a 3.8 motor

[Jim Ramstad]

Having problems with this car. Intermittantly it will stall when idling and you can feel it studder if your driving down the road. Dealership replaced the Mass Airflow Sensor as that came up on the diagnostics. No codes reading since but the stalling persists. Crankshaft Sensor? Dealer has had this car for a week and am getting tired of the excuse that they cant find the problem. Any assistance would be much appricieated.

[BNaylor]

For idle stalling try cleaning the IAC and seat where it mounts to the throttle body.

What is the tach doing at stall or right before and any IP idiot lights on at stall?


And when was the last tune up like spark plugs/wires, fuel filter, etc. Also, please post your mileage.

[Jim Ramstad]

Originally Posted by BNaylor

For idle stalling try cleaning the IAC and seat where it mounts to the throttle body.

What is the tach doing at stall or right before and any IP idiot lights on at stall?


And when was the last tune up like spark plugs/wires, fuel filter, etc. Also, please post your mileage.

New fuel filter just put in by dealership. Plugs less than 10,000 miles ago. Plug wires are good as car never misses no matter what the weather. No lights on when it stalls. Tach will do a little dance up and down and then the car just dies.

[BNaylor]

OK...thanks for the feedback. The crank sensor is possible. Are you DIY capable?

[Jim Ramstad]

125,000 miles. What is the IAC? Dealer should be able to diagnose this but there are no codes being thrown out and was told by the tech that the Crank position sensor will not give a code if it is the problem.

[Jim Ramstad]

Originally Posted by BNaylor

OK...thanks for the feedback. The crank sensor is possible. Are you DIY capable?

Dealer has the car and am afraid that we are going to get the car back with a huge bill and it will still be acting up. Going to suggest the change of the crank sensor.

[BNaylor]

See pic.



The crank sensor may or may not give a code (DTC) and trigger the SES light. In many cases it does not so you just have to get it replaced to rule it out. The sensor which is a Hall Effects device is actually two sensors in one. 18X/24X and 3X.

[Jim Ramstad]

Just got word from the dealer that the SES light came on and when they checked it, it came up with low engine temp. They seem to think that this is something else but I dont know.

[BNaylor]

Do you know what the code is? Possibly the cause since the PCM monitors engine coolant temperature to determine what mode to operate in like open loop and closed loop and control the fuel injection system mixture ratio.

In most cases a bad thermostat but you never know for sure.

[Jim Ramstad]

Originally Posted by BNaylor

Do you know what the code is? Possibly the cause since the PCM monitors engine coolant temperature to determine what mode to operate in like open loop and closed loop and control the fuel injection system mixture ratio.

In most cases a bad thermostat but you never know for sure.

They just said it was a low engine temp code. the motor puts out good heat and that is not the problem.

Just my luck though as was going to take the car home yesterday, and they were going to put a diagnostic reader that when the car stumled or stalled you just hit the button and it will catch a snapshot of what happend, but the reader did not work for them. Reprogrammed the reader and will try again today. Very frustrating these electrical problems can be.