still trying to fix stalling/power loss

[max29a]

Since I bought the car its been having this mostly minor problem. I think it was initially two problems. Whether at idle or cruising on the freeway, cold or hot, it would sometimes do anything from rpm stutter to full on stall.

So far I have changed the throttle switch and the fuel filter and the fuel filter definitely made a huge difference. One day it took me 15 minutes to go 2 miles because it was stalling/dying so much and after I replaced the fuel filter that stopped completely.

Now what I mostly rpm stutter/drop and sometimes it dies. A curious thing is if I leave it in gear, sometimes it will seem to die the rpms will slowly drop as if the engine is dead and hitting the gas does nothing, and if I pull it out of gear all the sudden it comes back and pressing the gas makes the engine rev. Other times pulling it out of gear does nothing as it has died, but putting it back in gear will spin up the engine and getting it going again.

I tried shaking all the wires coming from and going to the distributor cap to see if there were any loose connections, while idling and no luck there.

Hopefully it will stop raining and I can try some more stuff this week. More notes: lately my seatbelt light will flicker on and off sometimes. Also my oil pressure gauge hasn't worked since I bought the car, except one time it briefly worked, so I assume thats just a loose contact? it normally just sits at 1 and never wavers.

THanks for the help.

[nynor]

cracked intake boot? bad DME relay?

[max29a]

How do I check the intake boot?

I am pretty sure its not the DME relay because that has recently been replaced, however it does feel quite hot to the touch after I have been driving for a bit.

[nynor]

inspect the intake boot for cracks. i recommend removing it and examining it as closely as possible.

[DannoXYZ]

Could also be the intake-boot in a ocuple of places where it clamps down with a hose-clamp. They can have a leak, or slipped off altogether. Bring it over, I'll take a look at it!

[Rmills944]

easy way to check - get carb cleaner and spray around the intake boot while the engine is running. If the engine revs up at all, then you have a leak near where you're spraying. If not, then no vaccuum leak and you're fine.

[bryanthompson]

Mine was doing a near-stall when idling... Replacing the oxygen sensor fixed it. Your problem sounds different, but you can't lose anything by puttin' a new one in.

[DannoXYZ]

Yeah, failed O2-sensors tend to read really lean, thus fooling yoru computer into adding more fuel than necessary. This extra fuel makes a difficult-to-ignite mixture and you end up with stumbling.. Quick test is to just disconnecccct the O 2-sensor. If your condition improves, it was the O2-sensor at fault. If not, keep on checking...

[Kenne944]

i have the same exact problem, does it only die at night or all the time? mine seemed to die last night the same way, i started it back up with lights off and started up fine... then i turned lights on and boom dead, i think it is my Alternator but im not sure. please keep me posted on whats going on with your car so i can fix mine, and if u have any other help that could help me in this problem feel free to email me at Stephen_mason2002@yahoo.com

[max29a]

Well Danno is hopefully going to help me take a look soon, but unfortunately I doubt its going to help you as the lights definitely have nothing to do with it. I run day or night, lights or no, and the problem can happen.

I will definitely post my results though.