car starts then dies im having to get somewhere here real soon please help! start it up and it starts then dies if u give it gas it runs but u hae to keep gas on or it will die also if u floor it it misses

 

could be the mass air flow sensor..i had the same problem but mine turned out to be that one of my injectors died so i replaced it and the problem went away...but that was for me most people that have had the same problem had a bad MAF

 

codes? be a good place to start

 

^^^^ +1
CEL on?

 

I am having similar problems with my 96. Sometimes you can get in it and starts right up and runs fine. Let it run for a few minutes it will start sputtering and puffing black smoke and soot. Rev it to about 3k rpm for a few seconds and it will stop. If I just leave it sputtering it will die and be a little hard to start it back up. Any ideas?

 

Good luck bro

 

its def the MAF if it only runs with the gas pedal down and then dies at idle. You could get a ride to the store and clean it but if that doesnt work then it is just bad and you need a new one. While your in there clean your throttle body, IACV and you EGR tube.....Time consuming and will probably take a full day to do all if its your first time but this way you wont be stuck next time. Keep some MAF cleaner on hand and spray it every couple of months

 

theres a plug on the air intake facing the cab mass flow sensor, if that came undone thats exactly what your car will do.

 

come undone? its a clip that would have to break to come undone

 

In this order....

1. Test/replace MAF (although a MAF could pass testing and still be bad)
2. Clean IACV and TB
3. Test/replace coilpacks (although coilpacks could pass testing and still be bad)

 

Look for a vacuum leak too.

 

^ THIS.

 

hey man is the MAF
my 97 had the same problem and i get the maf at the yunk yard and my baby now runs like a new baby lmao
hope you resolve your problem

 

I would definitely start with the IACV.....read your codes as well if there are any!

 

Take off your intake and Clean your throttle body

 

MAF sensor most likely. VERY easy to replace. 30 minutes if you have never looked under the hood before or 5 minutes if you know what you are doing. While its off you can check out the throttle body and clean it up too as suggested above. Also if you have a K&N drop in filter these are NOTORIOUS for wrecking the MAF after a handful of months. But the behavior you describe does suggest MAF first. Follow Wizard's advice, he has never steered anyone wrong on these forums.

<---- Long time lurker, I follow his advice when I see it.

 

Try testing your MAF, go to the junk yard and get one for dirt cheap! Or you might want to check your crank sensors...that was my problem!

 

sorry it took so long guys to reply i was in so much of a hurry that day that i didnt even bother looking under hood just ran inside to computer to ask you guys so i feel pretty dumb to say it was the hose from the MAF to the ICAV well atleast thats what it looked like it was going to it was dark. thanks though for all the advice yesterday i bought some cleaner and went to town to be honest it runs alot better with 260000 miles

 

Congrats man