Thread: Engine dies!?

Hi all, Happy dad's day from the new guy.
Yesterday the wife's '01 GT, N/A, 3.8 stopped running. In traffic, at a light. re-starting was effective if the gas pedal was held down "a little"
My trouble shooting has been inconclusive. At first I had a P0327-Knock sensor 1 ckt low. checked, sensor generates signal Then a P1404- EGR circuit low. Next a P0131- O2 sensor 1 low volts. I cleaned the MAF sensor, the EGR valve, the IAT sensor. the only thing working is to hold the throttle. if I release it the rpm's drop to about 450 then stall.(in park)
Any suggestions? Thanks in advance

Thought of that. Engine runs fine if I hold the throttle. Also, when the crank sensor did go a couple of years ago, the traction control shuts off and the tach dies. Currently have no codes.

Suspecting bad MAF or possibly the TPS. Unplugging the MAF had no effect. Ran the same, stumbling at about 450 then dies. Any other suggestions are welcome. I hate to "easter-egg" with those sensors, They tend to be pricey.

Mine was doing the same thing and it ended up being the MAF sensor. Stalling at street lights or when decelerating quickly.

It's fixed. It would seem, if I understand correctly,the MAP sensor takes over air mass monitoring at volumes below the MAF sensing threshhold. If the MAP sensor becomes temperature sensitive, it cuts out at normal operating temps. When the engine goes into a high vacuum condition, idling or deceleration, and the MAP is not sending a good signal, the engine dies due to fuel starvation. never did get a code though...

I guess I spoke too soon. wife took it to the c-store yesterday. Started and ran fine. Leaving the store, same thing. Had to two-foot it to get it home. I've changed MAF, MAP, TPS, Cleaned IAT, EGR and IAC. Checked for vacuum leaks. I got a code for the #1 knock sensor "signal low" (P0327) Can anyone help?

Now for the real fix. In re-checking EVERYTHING, I pulled the IAC and turned on the key. I then turned off the key and retrieved the IAC plunger from the exhaust manifold. Since it directly regulates the idle speed and had mechanically failed, no codes related to it. basically a massive vacuum leak inside the throttle body. Tends to cause poor performance, especially at idle.