Car Starts then stalls and POP!

[lixar420]

We replaced the thermostat on my friends van and put everything back together. Now the car will start for maybe 3 seconds then stall and make a loud pop sound. If we hold the gas down it it will continue to run but then made a loud squeeling sound, It wasn't a belt squealing. Sounds to me like a throttle position sensor but what is with the POP and the squealing. At first we thought it was the gasket between the throttle body and the intake manifold but we replaced it and it didn't help at all.

[henry10]

Did you pull any codes yet?

[lixar420]

How do i do that without bringing it to a shop?

[henry10]

Two ways: OBDII code scanner, or take it to Autozone (or any other major Car Part store) and they will scan it for free and tell you the codes...

[lixar420]

Cant afford to buy a scanner and the car doesn't run and is 40 Min's outside of town to in-order to take it to a shop would also require a tow bill, witch i cant afford.

[henry10]

You should try the easy things first -- check for loose wires around the location where you worked. Check also the vacuum hoses if they are cracked or disconnected or loose. Try to follow them with based on the diagram on the underside of the hood. If you have someone with a vacuum/fuel pressure tester (cost $ 10) that would help a great deal.

Sometimes, the MAF (Mass Air Flow) Sensor's malfunctioning creates lots of other problems. If you have a MAF/Electronic Parts Spray Cleaner you can try to spray some on the MAF element inside (take the cover off).

Besides changing the thermostat, do you recall if anything unusual happened before the symptoms appeared? Did you hit the bottom of the engine anywhere?

If you are going to spend money on parts/sensor, you should buy an OBDII scanner first.

[lesterl]

OBD2 scanners can be had for $30 at places like Harbour Freight. I did a LIM on mine and missed a pushrod on exhaust and it popped (blew the PCV elbow apart).

[lixar420]

Thanks for the replys, will take a look at lordco for a scanner tomorow. as for vacume lines and odd things happening, Everything went smoothly and we checked all the vacuum lines and wires that were in the area and everything seemed fine. will also pick up some of the maf cleaner tomorow. will msg back if it worked or not.

[lixar420]

Went to get a obd2 scanner today but the cheapest one i can get in town is $140, they said that the original scanners run for like $40 not obd2 and the original only works to 96 and this is a 97 so cant use them.

[lesterl]

http://www.harborfreight.com/cpi/cta...emnumber=98568

$59

http://www.amazon.com/dp/B001LHVOVK/...SIN=B001LHVOVK

$38

[henry10]

AutoZone sells them $ 59 and up. Without funds to buy a code scanner or taking it to a mechanic, you are in a tough predicament for this problem and the next one.

[lixar420]

Ok guys quick update, we cleaned the maf and put some gasket maker in between the throttle body and the intake manifold and now it stalls if you take your foot of the gas but otherwise runs fine, any ideas? it no longer pops or squeals. so just need to fix the idle issue now.

And thanks for all the past and future reply's without them i would still be twiddling my thumbs

[lesterl]

Remove the gasket maker and install a gasket, you may have plugged up the passages for the IAC.

[lixar420]

we have a gasket in there, and the gasket maker because the gasket alone didn't seem to work.

[henry10]

You should not need to use gasket maker. You should get the correct gasket. You should also make sure that things are tightened with the correct torque specs: MAF, TB, IAC (Idle Air Control) valve. 3 questions:

1- Does stalling occurs when engine is hot or cold, or both?

2- Besides the visual check for vacuum leaks, did you actually use a gauge to check for vacuum leaks?

3- Does you accelerator pedal get stuck?