2001 2.3L stalls out in Neutral

[Sandman79]

Asking for a bit of help.

Ok here's the deal. 2001 2.3L 5 speed 4X2 67000 miles. last major tune up was at 53.
Idle has been sitting under 1000 for a few years now. Recently (within the last month at the longest) In neutral my truck will stall out. No knocking, gasping, or any extra signs of distress. it's more like someone just turns the rpms down until it shuts off. had it in for this and according to the shop there's no Vac seal leaks, I'm assuming (bad yes i know) that they checked the Mass Air Sensor and the Idle Air Control while doing this. the problem they found was that my K&N air filter was liquid saturated....replaced it but that kind of has me going hmmmmm, plausable though because just had a cracked radiator fixed that was leaking right around the intake.
Unfortunately it died 6 times this morning. the most i've ever had on a single day and the first time since it was in and "fixed".

I'm thinking that it may probably be the fuel filter or fuel pump? its either not getting air or not getting fuel. the shop i go to (only been there twice now, been lucky up till now with my vehicles) said that the cat convertor may be going bad and causing backpreassure....?

any ideas or 'hey stupids" appreciated

[damnthemachines]

Hmm. I have a similar problem, but on an '83 ranger with a carb. Mine is just bad mixture, but the idle air control/idle speed may have something to do with it. Does this only happen when the engine is cold?

My only suggestion would be to check the idle air control/idle speed.

[Sandman79]

the last time it did it, it wasn't cold but i don't think it was all the way up to regular running temp, it started stalling out after about 5 minutes of driving. and before that it would fluctuate. sometimes i would stall out when cold sometimes after driving for about 20 minutes.

[12Ounce]

Sandman, include the Engine Coolant Temperature sensor on your list of things to check. And if you had a contaminated filter(???), there is a good chance contaminants got thru to the MAF/IAT sensor and the IAC valve.

[DonSor]

All the possibilities you've indicated should've triggered the Check Engine Light particularly when it's fuel related.