Car stalls while idle

Tiny
MISAKA101
  • MEMBER
  • 2002 NISSAN FRONTIER
  • 2.4L
  • 4 CYL
  • 2WD
  • AUTOMATIC
  • 100,800 MILES
Truck stalls while idle. I cleaned the IACV, ERG valve, Air mass flow sensor and replaced the fuel filter. Still nothing has changed. The car will turn on, remain on for a few minutes then the RPM will begin to waver off and die. Fuse pump relay is fine as well. I'm able to drive the truck no problem, but at red lights it will stall out. So while remaining in idle while in park, if I give the car gas it will remain on. I even turned the a/c, wipers, radio and lights on to see it the RPM would change. Nothing really happened out of the ordinary. Basically just dies after a couple of minutes of remaining idle. I can start the car back on instantly most of the time. Any ideas?
Saturday, August 29th, 2015 AT 11:24 AM

19 Replies

Tiny
HMAC300
  • MECHANIC
  • 48,601 POSTS
Clean throttle plate on both sides with choke cleaner then test fuel pressure with a gauge auto parts rent it.
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Saturday, August 29th, 2015 AT 11:37 AM
Tiny
MISAKA101
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I cleaned the throttle body/plate along with the IACV with throttle and air intake cleaner. Fuel pressure is fine as well I have my own my gauge.
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Saturday, August 29th, 2015 AT 11:45 AM
Tiny
HMAC300
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Fuel pressure must be 34 psi at idle w/vacuum and 43w/o if not that then it's a pump. Scan for codes as well. Also check for a vacuum leak.
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Saturday, August 29th, 2015 AT 11:49 AM
Tiny
MISAKA101
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35 psi while idle and 43 w/o, cheked like three time. I have a diagnostic code reader and there are no codes present or pending.
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Saturday, August 29th, 2015 AT 11:53 AM
Tiny
MISAKA101
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I checked all the air intake hoses no holes or wearing. Air filter is brand new as well.
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Saturday, August 29th, 2015 AT 11:58 AM
Tiny
HMAC300
  • MECHANIC
  • 48,601 POSTS
If you have done all that and nothing is showing don't know what to tell you then without actually seeing it. Try banging the maf sensor with screwdriver handle and see if it quits if it does may be a bad maf but not bad enough to set a code. I really can't think of anything else other than a vacuum leak. Check intake vacuum if 15" or below suspect a clogged converter.
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Saturday, August 29th, 2015 AT 3:25 PM
Tiny
MISAKA101
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  • 10 POSTS
So I decided to simply unplug the maf sensor. The car will remain idle for forever it seems like. It idled for 15 min straight no drop in rpm. Then when I changed gears, so put the car in reverse the car stalled on me. Does this mean MAF is the reason to blame for the car not being to idle? Should the car die if the MAF is unplugged and put into a gear other than park?
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Sunday, August 30th, 2015 AT 10:11 AM
Tiny
MISAKA101
  • MEMBER
  • 10 POSTS
Also while in park with the maf senor unplugged if I try giving the car gas it will drop in rpm, but after I release the gas pedal the rpm will go back up to 850-900 rpm at stay there constantly.
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Sunday, August 30th, 2015 AT 10:23 AM
Tiny
MISAKA101
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Hmm when I did it again, hit the gas pedal while in park now the rpm went up and then back down 900 rpm constant with maf unplugged so weird.
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Sunday, August 30th, 2015 AT 10:27 AM
Tiny
HMAC300
  • MECHANIC
  • 48,601 POSTS
It may be the maf have a pro freeze frame it and he can tell if the maf isn't performing correctly. Like I said in last reply it may not be bad enough to set a code but isn't performing like it should.
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Sunday, August 30th, 2015 AT 10:50 AM
Tiny
MISAKA101
  • MEMBER
  • 10 POSTS
My diagnostic tool can freeze frame, I just don't know what the reading should be. I can even graph the MAF results.
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Sunday, August 30th, 2015 AT 10:56 AM
Tiny
HMAC300
  • MECHANIC
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See pic I have no further comments to give on this
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Sunday, August 30th, 2015 AT 11:47 AM
Tiny
SKAY
  • MEMBER
  • 2 POSTS
I know this is old but did you find solution my 02 is doin the EXACT same thing help
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Monday, May 13th, 2019 AT 12:50 PM
Tiny
MISAKA101
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  • 10 POSTS
MAF was faulty, after I replaced it with a new one truck was back to normal.
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Monday, May 13th, 2019 AT 12:55 PM
Tiny
SKAY
  • MEMBER
  • 2 POSTS
I assumed that to be the problem to begin with but It has been cleaned and a mechanic (who couldn’t find diagnosis) said mine didn’t look bad and isn’t giving any codes. Is this something I won’t know until replacing
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Monday, May 13th, 2019 AT 1:48 PM
Tiny
MISAKA101
  • MEMBER
  • 10 POSTS
Yup the same happened with mine, it appeared cleaned and threw no codes. However once I replaced the MAF, truck ran fine.
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Tuesday, May 14th, 2019 AT 5:24 AM
Tiny
KEN L
  • MASTER CERTIFIED MECHANIC
  • 42,883 POSTS
Nice work, we are here to help, please use 2CarPros anytime.
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Thursday, May 16th, 2019 AT 12:05 PM
Tiny
2CP-ARCHIVES
  • MEMBER
  • 4,542 POSTS
  • 2002 NISSAN FRONTIER
  • 38,000 MILES
I have a 2002 Nissan frontier with 38,000 miles on it the last few times I have drove it when I press down on the gas pedal the truck chugs and does not want to go it acts as if it wants to die on me the only way to get it to stop is to let off the gas then it won't chug or act like its gonna die but when you put you're foot back in the gas it does it all over again this only happens when I put my foot in it other than that she drives great she dont chug or act as if shes gonna die on the streets but once on the freeway its game over If anyone has any ideas as to why this is happening and how to fix would really help thanks
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Thursday, May 16th, 2019 AT 12:06 PM (Merged)
Tiny
ASEMASTER6371
  • MECHANIC
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Have the fuel pressure checked.

Have the back pressure checked for the cat converters.

Start there

Roy
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Thursday, May 16th, 2019 AT 12:06 PM (Merged)

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