Hey guys, haven't been on here but I have a problem that I need help with. Starting on Saturday my 96 has been running rough sometimes. Sometimes when I accelerate from a stop it seems like the car doesn't wanna go and take a couple seconds for it to start moving. The engine has also been shutting off on me while I'm driving. It usually cuts out when I am moving at low mph (<20), coming to a stop or stopped at a red light/stop sign. When the engine cuts out the CEL, oil light, and battery light come on (not the door ajar though). I then have to put it in park and restart it. When I restart it it usually starts up, but sometimes the rpm's drift down and it cuts out again. Also, when the engine cuts out the brake pedal is harder to press and the power steering goes out. Just about an hour ago I started the car and when I shifted into reverse the car died. This happened three more times until I gave it a little gas when I shifted and drove out of the driveway quickly.

Any ideas guys? I hope this can be fixed. Thanks in advance for any help!

 

FWIW you can restart the car in neutral, you don't need to come to a complete stop.

Any codes?

Have you done any maintenance? The startup stall as well as stalling when coming to a stop would have me cleaning the TB/IACV and properly setting the idle, first thing.

 

I haven't had the chance to do any of this since this started on the day of of my college graduation. I changed the oil about 2 months ago, only synthetic for the last 18 months +.

What do you mean by restarting the car?

 

I...what? Restarting means to...start again.


So you haven't checked for codes, or done any sort of diagnostics at all? At the very least, check for codes. It's simple, it takes a few minutes at most.

 

Nevermind about the restart, but the CEL is not on at any other time.

 

Then clean TB/IACV and set the idle.

 

WOW.... It looks like the oil has not been changed in 18 months and

when the oil light comes on, that means It might be that your low on oil and

it is time for a oil change. The other problems as your stating can be a simple

tune-up and when was your last tune-up? Has the throttle body been

cleaned out and have you checked your MAF because, your car Is keep

cutting off. Have changed your air filter? First off, get the codes scanned so

you can do the necessary maintance.

 

The oil light has nothing (directly) to do with oil level, and certainly not oil changes. It just indicates low oil pressure. In this case, it means nothing; those idiot lights all come on for KOEO, which is what happens when the engine stalls.

 

I know the oil light has nothing to do with the oil change, but the oil light

was flickering meaning the oil is low and It has happend to me on my 3rd gen.

When I mean't about the oil change was he had to change the oil since It

has not been changed in the last 2 months, a reply to the OP post.

 

Why would you change the oil just because it's been 2 months?

And again, the oil light does not indicate anything about the oil level. It works purely on oil pressure.

He also never said anything about the oil light flickering, or coming on in any abnormal situation. It's absolutely normal for the oil light to be on when KOEO.

 

can I clean the throttle body with a can of MAF cleaner? Hopefully get this cleaned when I get home, doesn't look too difficult.

 

...why would you not just use TB cleaner?

 

Because I already have a can of MAF cleaner that I bought a while ago and have yet to use. Plus I am pretty tight for money, so if that works why buy another can of cleaner?

 

TB cleaner costs few bucks and it will last you a while

 

I think It's your MAF, If it can't rev past 2,500-3,000 RPM's It's the MAF.

The best thing you can do Is just pull the codes and we will help.

 

Funny, my car had the exact same problem when my alternator died. I replaced the alternater and car went back to normal.

 

Just curious what happened, since this sounds so very similar to my problem.

Mine started out idling a little rough, then stalling sometimes at stop signs and doing so more and more frequently.

I pulled out my MAF sensor and when doing so noticed the rubber seal it plugged into was cracked. Replaced that, cleaned MAF and now I don't stall at stop signs (so far).

However for the first time today engine cut off while driving so I was curious about how yours turned out.