Stumped, need advice
Thread Starter
Teching In
Joined: Jun 2017
Posts: 8
Likes: 0
From: Mendocino CA
Stumped, need advice Hello, 02 Camaro z28:When I start the car it fires up normally but then within 2 or 3 seconds the rpms dip down till it stalls. I used a friends OBD2 cheap comp and it said it was missing on cylinder 6. So after reading the forums I did this:
1.Soaked the MAF in warm soapy water.
2.New air filter
3.New fuel filter
4.New iridium plugs and wires.
5.New PCV.
After that it started up but was still a little sputtery but with a little pedal fluttering I could keep it running. Kept it running long enough for the thermostat to open and it would idle on its own. Took it for a test drive and it was running like a raped ape! After I a mile or so I made a u-turn to come back and matted the gas pedal, sluggish response and had to feather the pedal to keep it running between 10-15mph all the way home acting like it was going to die at any minute. Got it home and disconnected the negative battery terminal, had a beer and smoked a cig. Then reconnected the battery and it fired right up. Took it for another test drive and it was running top notch for the same mile down, made a u-turn, hit the gas and held on for the ride, wooo hoooo!!! Yay, maybe I fixed it this time. Ran great all the way home till 50ft from the driveway and the rpms start dropping and then I feathered the pedal and sputtered my to the back of the house.
So it runs great when it feels appreciated, cared for, or what the f#$% reason I don't know and then for no reason at all it just sh*ts the bed.
At my wits end.
1.Soaked the MAF in warm soapy water.
2.New air filter
3.New fuel filter
4.New iridium plugs and wires.
5.New PCV.
After that it started up but was still a little sputtery but with a little pedal fluttering I could keep it running. Kept it running long enough for the thermostat to open and it would idle on its own. Took it for a test drive and it was running like a raped ape! After I a mile or so I made a u-turn to come back and matted the gas pedal, sluggish response and had to feather the pedal to keep it running between 10-15mph all the way home acting like it was going to die at any minute. Got it home and disconnected the negative battery terminal, had a beer and smoked a cig. Then reconnected the battery and it fired right up. Took it for another test drive and it was running top notch for the same mile down, made a u-turn, hit the gas and held on for the ride, wooo hoooo!!! Yay, maybe I fixed it this time. Ran great all the way home till 50ft from the driveway and the rpms start dropping and then I feathered the pedal and sputtered my to the back of the house.
So it runs great when it feels appreciated, cared for, or what the f#$% reason I don't know and then for no reason at all it just sh*ts the bed.
At my wits end.
Last edited by RamziDymond; Jun 15, 2017 at 07:48 AM.
I never heard of cleaning the MAF in soapy water so I cant comment on that as I only use MAF cleaner. does the car idle/run when the MAF sensor's disconnected? if so, then replace MAF. also be a good idea to clean the IAC and TPS sensors while you're at it.
TECH Regular
Joined: Apr 2013
Posts: 456
Likes: 5
I actually did have my MAF die on me one day, my RPM was 1000 at idle at the stop light and then my motor RPM dropped until the motor died on me. The light changed and I had to restart the motor but the RPM dropped too low and I stalled the car. I quickly started it up again and gave her a lot of throttle and then quickly drove to a parking area to check her out. I had to limp her back home by giving her throttle when I was at a dead stop, but it was definitely the MAF!
They sell MAF sensor cleaner but you shouldn't have to use it for a while if you have a new sensor, and since I am strictly using paper air filters, I won't need to spray my MAF for maybe 50,000 miles on guesstimate.
Slightly worried about your MAF after dunking it into soapy water.. ..I'd go and buy a new MAF, replace it and see if it works..if it does problem solved.. if it doesn't...return it.
Check fuel pressure as well.. I had similar symptoms to those when I had a 01 Firebird, albiet it was a V6, the car wouldn't idle on its own until it was warmed up then it seemed to run "OKAY" for about 30 minutes before it came to the point where it was ready to die again and it turned out my fuel pump was clogged with debris.
Check fuel pressure as well.. I had similar symptoms to those when I had a 01 Firebird, albiet it was a V6, the car wouldn't idle on its own until it was warmed up then it seemed to run "OKAY" for about 30 minutes before it came to the point where it was ready to die again and it turned out my fuel pump was clogged with debris.
Last edited by Need4Camaro; Jun 17, 2017 at 05:10 AM.
Thread Starter
Teching In
Joined: Jun 2017
Posts: 8
Likes: 0
From: Mendocino CA
Thanks for the advice I read the soapy water thing on this forum, I wish all you guys would have replied the way you did on that post, then I probably wouldn't have done that. Been waiting for a fuel pump to get here, it's supposed to be today. Funny, I got my viagra from Mumbai, India before I got my fuel pump from Kansas. They wanted $389 for one at the parts store. I try to shop local but couldn't see taking the $300 hit and got it online instead for $83. Thanks again for the advice, I will let you know when I figure it out.
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Verdad Gallardo Thread Starter
Teching In
Joined: Jun 2017
Posts: 8
Likes: 0
From: Mendocino CA
It was the fuel pump Yay!!! It's running. Put the fuel pump in and it fired up strong and stayed that way right up until the tranny started slipping 2 days later. So it still parked, but I know what to fix next, no mystery there.