97 Grand Prix 3.8

[Phil]

While driving car shut down. Put into neutral and starts right up and keep driving. has happened several times, replaces crank shaft sensor, fuel pump sensor. Help!!

[BillBoost37]

Does it sputter or give any indication that it's going to stall before it does? Does it only happen when you take your foot off the throttle or will it do it with your foot on it?

[Phil]

Thanks for responding. No indication that it is going to die. Has died both when foot on throttle and when applying brake. Mechanic thinks it might have something to do with transmission but not sure. Doesn't want to take things apart because of expense. Car only has 85,xxx miles. Help if you can.

[L36pro]

02 sensor or clogged cat. run a check engine scanner on it

[Fivefingerdeathpunch]

02 sensor or clogged cat. run a check engine scanner on it

tell me how the o2 sensor or the cat would just kill the car????????


A bad o2 will just throw a code and have the car get bad gas mileage.

A clogged cat will cause the car to bog down upon throttle given and not let it move in 90% of cases.


I think the problem is the O so famous crank postion sensor failing on you.
The sensor is know to just go out at random and then just let the car die.

[Scottydoggs]

tell me how the o2 sensor or the cat would just kill the car????????


A bad o2 will just throw a code and have the car get bad gas mileage.

A clogged cat will cause the car to bog down upon throttle given and not let it move in 90% of cases.


I think the problem is the O so famous crank postion sensor failing on you.
The sensor is know to just go out at random and then just let the car die.

check his posts, he works for autozone, nuf said, and hes shelling out the same bad info here.

[rharper33]

check your ign control mod you might also check your fuel regulator

[blueguy]

Does the car not have any check engine lights? That is the first thing I'd do...also...the ICM could have a bad connection and is causing the car to randomly die...I had that issue...that was fun tracking down.

[L36pro]

yeah but he didnt say it was shutting off, he said it was dying.... so im guessing sputtering, bogging, stalling. all of the symptoms quoted above. and he never said if the check engine light was on or off so how would you rule 02 sensor out that quick?

[blueguy]

Because all an o2 sensor is going to is kill your MPG's...both of my o2's were shot and I was driving my car everyday. STFU.

[Phil]

Thanks for all the advise. When I said that the car dies, I mean it shuts off. I shift into neutral and restart while moving. There are no codes. Everything is normal when the scan is run. There is no check engine light that comes on. The crank shaft sensor was replaced last year and again a couple of weeks ago, just to be sure that it didn't go bad. I have been getting about 15 - 20 miles per gallon with this car, supposedly that is normal but not sure. Mechanic is stumped, thinks it might be the transmission. Called dealer and service writer is stumped also, but said to bring it in, will charge $100 per hour to check out. Not ready to spend that much yet. I think I can get better advice here.

[neel2008]

check his posts, he works for autozone, nuf said, and hes shelling out the same bad info here.

hey, just remember, not all of us "Autozoners" give out bad info, but yea I agree, sometimes parts sales people want to diagnose things through the OBD port and not under the hood with their brain.....at regular retain wages, not all personal can be ace mechanics...

[eightballe]

@ Phil: sounds like the issue that I had with my grand prix, I have a 97 GT that had a MAF sensor issue and before I had that replaced the car would die out on me with no warning, meaning that I could be rolling good but the millisecond I let off the throttle on the expressway or road or whereever....<choke!>....$***! Neutral, start it up while rolling...pray it starts up....and this is at random. Two options: you can take the sensor off and clean it with carb cleaner (first bet) or you can replace the sensor (the expensive but almost better solution to the problem). Hope that helps!

[Phil]

Thanks for help. So far, not fixing problem. Just had ignition control module replaced. same problem. had crank sensor replaced again, no help. out of ideas at this point. Any other suggestions?

[BillBoost37]

Pull the battery cables off the battery and ensure they are clean and making good contact.

Find the lowest front bolt on the trans to engine. It has a stud with the grounds on it. Check those as well.

Next up, I'd suggest if there are no codes that the maf get unplugged. Let the car learn the tables etc, then try driving that way. You'll have a light, but does it stall like it did when it ran off the maf.