'00 GP Sputtering while driving, need help

[lil_nages22]

So I am having problems with my car once again. I am driving a 2000 GP GTP Supercharged. On a recent road trip(month and a half ago) it broke down, and I took it to a shop where they said it was a fuel pump and the relay. Once fixed it ran great until recently.

This happens only once in a while. While driving down the road with no warning at all the engine will start to sputter, rpm's jumping from 200 to 1600, and I lose complete control of the car. Foot on the gas does nothing. I have gotten it to go back to normal after continuous accelerating in neutral, but it is hit and miss. At times the car just completely stalls and I go to restart and it sputters again and I go through the same process of giving it gas in order to get it running.

I do not know if this is a fuel injection problem or something with the idle control valve or something of that nature. My gas mileage has also decreased significantly since this started taking place.

Thanks for any insight.

[BNaylor]

Welcome to AF.

Could be a bad MAF sensor. Unplug it with ignition off and then fire it up to see how driveability is. Easy item to rule out.

[lil_nages22]

thanks, ill try it.. if there is anything else you can think of, please let me know

[lil_nages22]

disconnected the MAF sensor and as of now no symptons as before, just a lack of performance which is expected.

do you suggest cleaning, and if so, how do I go about doing that?

[BNaylor]

Cleaning may help or if not then most likely you'll have to replace it.

Best way to clean the MAF wire element is to remove it and use MAF spray cleaner such as CRC brand. Held on by two Torx T20 tamper proof screws. Also, it is recommended to remove the throttle body input screen and clean it too. If you go with the latter then you can leave the MAF on and clean it from the opening of the throttle body. One of the best places to get a replacement MAF sensor is ZZPerformance which is for a new GM one.



Pen points to part that should be sprayed with MAF cleaner

[69ELCamino]

if it's possible, does it do it between 40-70 mph? and all the time or just part of the time? If the rpm's are jumping up and down, could be the TCC in the Tranny. which the 4T65e trannies evidently are known for a problem with. How many miles do you have on the car ? MY 03 was diagnosed with this same problem and 2 different shop both said Needs a new tranny, IE: I'm putting one in this weekend. Put a scan tool on it and see if a tranny code comes up. Give your car 2 pills and call your car doctor in the morning. (Just joking)

[lil_nages22]

I picked up a can of STP Throttle Body and Air intake cleaner. Okay to use on the sensor??

[BNaylor]

No, I wouldn't. The chemicals in carb and throttle body cleaner are too strong and may damage the MAF specifically the thermistor like electrical components on the wire element and leaves a residue. TB cleaner contains petroleum based stuff like methanol, acetone, toluene, etc.

MAF spray is specially formulated not to damage a MAF or leave any residue. Contains carbon dioxide, (COzol) which is a special chemical, and hexane.

Also, you can use electrical contact spray cleaner or isopropyl alcohol with cotton swabs.

[gw84]

My lumina does the exact same thing. I've been told that it's the tranny going out, however it doesn't really seem to cause any problems other than an annoyance. I've heard that many people are just dealing with the issue as it is so random and difficult to pinpoint the problem.

[BNaylor]

Originally Posted by gw84

My lumina does the exact same thing. I've been told that it's the tranny going out, however it doesn't really seem to cause any problems other than an annoyance. I've heard that many people are just dealing with the issue as it is so random and difficult to pinpoint the problem.

Are you looking for assistance concerning your issue or in the wrong forum?

[gw84]

well basically I'm just pointing out that it seems to be a GM problem...GP, Lumina... I guess it didn't really add to the discussion, but it would be nice to get this problem figured out. It's so widespread. Can we make this topic "THE TOPIC" for GM? haha

[tblake]

hey gw84, hows it going??? Hows the lumina?

[gw84]

going well thanks. lumina good except for the jerking/sputtering isssue. I'm happy you got a new car...a nice color I must say

[richtazz]

hey GW84.

Who told you the tranny is going out, and what did they use to determine it? If it occasionally hard to start or tires to stall just after starting as well as having the hesitation at speed with a load, it could very well be a MAF sensor issue as suggested earlier in theis thread. If you don't have the other symptoms, or are also experiencing occasional hard shifts, you probably have a pressure control valve issue, which is fairly common in the 4T65-E transaxles. If it is in the trans, you could try the trick that has worked for some forum members. Unhook the battery and leave it overnignt. We're not sure why this sometimes works but it does, although usually only temporarily. It's free, so why not give it a try. Replacing the PCS requires the trans to be removed and disassembled, so it's a major repair.

[lil_nages22]

Its been over a month since I started this thread but I actually just got around to replacing the MAF. But I had no luck with this. I still get a lot of sputtering and hesitation while driving and when I am stopped at a stop light, it begins to sputter and tries to die. I can keep it in neutral and rev it and it stays going. The only difference is that I have control over the car unlike before when it sputtered I seemed to have no control.

Again, it ran fine without the MAF connected, so I replaced it to hopefully fix the problem but no such luck. Any insight would be appreciated.