Starts but wont stay running (SOLVED!)

NATERZR2

MEMBER
1999 CHEVROLET TRUCK

Bought it used with 59K miles and it started stalling within 2 months. It usually seems to happen as the car is warming up, but has happened after 2 hours of continuous driving as well. It is so random, it is really hard to narrow down. It may not stall for 3 months, then 1 week straight it stalls everyday. It can happen when accelerating or running a constant speed. It will act up in warm or cold weather. The RPM's usually sputter for about 10 seconds, then it may drive normal or it will completely stall. I have had the fuel filter, spark plugs and wires, dist. Cap and rotor replaced. Dealership said there are no error codes and the fuel pressure is fine. Please help, for I feel I'm chasing a ghost.

So I put new catalytic converters in on 4/3/06. Check engine light has not come on and it's running great. Old converters were hollowed out, had holes in them, and the guts were found plugging up the muffler.

Question is, how could they have gotten so bad after only 80K+ miles? Should I be worried that this may happen again soon? Can you check the gas/air mix, even though the check engine light isn't on?

6 Replies

2CARPRO BOB

MECHANIC
45 POSTS

This is common when you have a vacuum leak or the throttle bore needs to be serviced here are three guides to go over when fixing the problem.

https://www.2carpros.com/articles/throttle-actuator-service

and

https://www.2carpros.com/articles/stall-at-idle

and

https://www.2carpros.com/articles/how-to-use-an-engine-vacuum-gauge

Please run down these guides and report back.

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Sunday, March 26th, 2006 AT 9:17 PM

NATERZR2

MEMBER
9 POSTS

The mechanic said that the fuel pump can actually be intermittent, which was a surprise to me. I thought they either worked or not. I took it to the shop during the week becasue it started sputtering again, and they couldn't find anything wrong and as soon as I drove it off the lot, the damn 'service engine soon' light came on. I dropped it off over the weekend AGAIN, so we'll see what shows up.

Appreciate the feedback.

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Monday, March 27th, 2006 AT 7:04 AM

NATERZR2

MEMBER
9 POSTS

Here is the latest update:

After getting new catalytic converters put in and a new muffler, car worked great. Then a week later, drove it for 245 miles and it sputtered 5-6 times down the highway at 75 mph, and backfired hard. Check engine light came on. Took it to a different dealership this time. They said it was a catalytic converter code again. They did notice that the distributor drive gear was pretty worn. Got that replaced. Worked fine for a day. Now it stalls after I put it into gear. Once driving, seems fine, only after I start it up and put it into gear it stalls.

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Wednesday, April 19th, 2006 AT 1:27 PM

CAVALIER

MEMBER
16 POSTS

Try cleaning out the air intake on the throttle body and as far in as you can reach. Lots of crud builds up after time.

I just recently had a problem sputtering and stalling and then stalling once put into gear. This fixed it.

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Thursday, April 20th, 2006 AT 5:38 PM

NATERZR2