Car starts then stalls.

[Looong4]

Hey guys.
Problem with the 03 SLE this morning.
Started up and stalled. Started and stalled. Did this about 10 times.
Then started and gave it alot of gas when I started it and let it run for a bit and seemed fine. On way to work it started acting up again by gas station when I went to give it gas. Pulled in gas station and got gas. I was about 100 miles to empty.
Got on eway was running fine and about 10 miles in it started to bog intermittently. Now its sitting on side of eway was able to coast off to a gas station. It will start and stall like it was at home.
Ideas?

Thanks!
Kevin

[bonneville dan-o]

i would check your fuel pressure... maybe plugged fuel filter, or fuel pump.

[Ken_W]

You did not mention any "check engine" lights or somesuch... Can we then assume that it is not giving any codes?

Ken_W

[Looong4]

Yeah no check engine light.

[Looong4]

Had cruise on on the eway. Was running fine and every so often it would just bog down.

[Looong4]

Seems to me if it was fuel related it would start and idle fine and bog when I give it gas, but in my garage it would start and stall and only stayed running when I gave it gas. Seemed the opposite on the eway though...?
I am no expert by any means. Any input I am grateful for!

[viper79]

Seems to me if it was fuel related it would start and idle fine and bog when I give it gas, but in my garage it would start and stall and only stayed running when I gave it gas. Seemed the opposite on the eway though...?
I am no expert by any means. Any input I am grateful for!

You answered you own question look like. "but in my garage it would start and stall and only stayed running when I gave it gas." If you have to give more gas, ie more pressure, it would seem the problem is in the gas line.

My Dad had a similar problem with his truck. Replaced the fuel line and attachments. Fixed. Cause: He thought is was bad gas or dirty gas. It was his work truck.

Good Luck!

[Looong4]

Thats what I was thinking when I was sitting in the garage, but once it was running and I was driving it seemed when I gave it gas it wanted to stall and did stall once. While in neutral I started it back up and was lucky enough to be by an exit on the hwy. Very odd.

[willwren]

Giving it more gas doesn't change the fuel pressure by much (which is based on manifold vacuum).

The first troubleshooting step in cases like this is to disconnect the MAF sensor and see if the symptoms improve, get worse, or remain the same. Checking fuel pressure for an intermittent problem can be an issue.

[Looong4]

Giving it more gas doesn't change the fuel pressure by much (which is based on manifold vacuum).

The first troubleshooting step in cases like this is to disconnect the MAF sensor and see if the symptoms improve, get worse, or remain the same. Checking fuel pressure for an intermittent problem can be an issue.

Thats what a coworker was saying to do. I am out of work at 3:30 I will try that. Thanks for the help guys.

[viper79]

Would running fuel cleaner through the lines help. This might be a simple clog.

[Looong4]

When I got out of work car started and I couldn't re-create problem. Went and got some MAF cleaner. Cleaned MAF and K&N. When I got home last night car started and stalled again three times. I unplugged MAF and started right up. I think I got a bad MAF.
Thanks Will!

[00Beast]

Don't get a MAF from a parts store, unless it's a Delco. Go to a junkyard, or maybe haro has an L36 MAF. Make sure whatever you get says Delco or Delphi on it. The rest are junk.

[Looong4]

Too late....oops. everyone is selling same one. Autozone carquest Murray s advanced. What's wrong w it?

[00Beast]

They just don't work right. Get a JY one and take the AZ one back.

[bonneville dan-o]

the Autozone one should have a lifetime warranty... i think.

i never had problems with after market ones. i'd just run it. if it craps out then go with a JY one or new delco

[stevew9983]

The MAF sensor definately sounds like your issue, however I would still be checking out fuel pressure as a second possible issue. Since working for advance auto parts and as a former mechanic, i have seen alot of these fuel pump units fail without much warning but many have had the same symptoms you have described.

[harofreak00]

When your car starts to have problems, you will regret getting the aftermarket MAF. You'll have better luck with a junkyard one....

[00Beast]

I vote take it back now while you still can and find a JY one.

[Ken_W]

FYI: There are several other GM models that used the same MAF sensor, which makes it easier to find at junkyards. My 2000 SLE was having similar problems to yours; a used MAF sensor from a 2003 Grand Prix solved all my problems instantly for only $50.

Ken_W