PontiacBonnevilleClub.com

sonoma_zr2 wrote:Sounds promising the maf might fix that part. Give it some more miles to learn. The fact that it feels like it is running better is key. If your old maf wasn't bad, it wouldn't feel any different when replaced.

I was wondering if the computer was still figuring out what was going on and it could get better if I drove it more but I was just so hot and po'd thinking that I wasted my time at the junkyard and still had a bad maf and was still screwed......we shall see in the morning, I will clean the "new" maf, drive around a bit and change the fuel filter. I'm also having a guy look at the motor mount where there is a wire harness and see if the wires are secured cos the whole mess seems to be able to move very easily when the car is put in/out of gear....that mount might need replacing...they shouldnt clunk IMO..but anyway, let's hope my junkyard maf fixes the choking problem with time....

I drove the car and for the first 20 minutes/10 miles it ran great.....then the hesitation started, kept getting worse, then loss of power, choking and sputtering until it died. No idiot lights. After a minute or two I started it and drove about 500 feet, during this time it was choking really bad and the RPM gauge was at 0, it dies again. Wait about 10 minutes and start again, making it about a half mile, RPM gauge working normally, and it died. It only chokes and dies when you are accelerating. It will idle for a long time before it chokes itself to death. My car coasts really well!!! It rolled along very nicely into the grocery store parking lot after it died on the street. Let it sit for about an hour, drove it home (1 mile) and it choked along, sometimes gaining speed when I needed it too.....I'm at a loss...try another used MAF (I dont have the money for a new one - $225 for AC Delco)? Have the codes read again even though the idiot lights dont come on?

OHHH BTW!!!! I dont know if this has anything to do with anything (the mechanic didnt think so, but then again he didnt seem to know anything anyway), Rod ran over a plastic bag and it melted to the CAT area......it still smells like burning plastic and it has been a week.....

If it doesn't start right back up after if quits, it would be easy to check for fuel pressure. Some cars will die unexpectedly, then start right back up, and the culprit is the fuel pump. Don't mess with another maf, unless the jy will exchange it. A plugged cat will also act like this, runs fine when cool, then worse when heated up. When it stalls again, look at the cat. Is it visibly hot? (don't try to touch it) A infrared thermometer would be great for this.

It starts, but it is hard, and it chokes.......when I was sitting in the car, I wondered if the CAT was plugged up....all original exhaust.....I'll see if I can find a infrared thermometer....how hot is too hot? lol

Sounds like a cat. The test for it is to put a test sensor in the front oxygen sensor spot and check pressure. The system should have less than 1.25 psi of back pressure. (almost none) You could feel the tail pipe exhaust in this condition and see if you can feel any exhaust while trying to rev it.

I went out and there is air/exhaust coming out, but it sounded kinda weird...maybe cos the car isnt running well...I will take it to Monro or Cole tomorrow and see if they will do the sensor test/look at the plastic bag melting situation/check the CAT....thanks for the idea....

Took the car to Monro, CAT tech, former Bonne owner, says CAT runs hot, positive this is the problem. $500+. Then advised me that the right rear tow bar is broken (it's just hanging there!), and the shock is leaking bad...also, noticed that the upper and lower intake gaskets are starting to leak....at this point, I dont know if I should fix the cat and tow bar and drive it or just try to get rid of it. I am not a happy camper.....any input?

You can buy an after market cat and have it installed for less than $100. Don't replace with a oem cat. Intake gaskets and supplies are less than $100 if you do it yourself.

I can hook you up with rear shocks and a "tow bar", PM me.