Grassroots Motorsports

Subscribe get a full year for only $23.95 Sample Free Test Drive—no strings attached

Login to post Forums » Grassroots Motorsports » Mystery stall issue with Grand Am

• 

  Aug. 17, 2011 8:59 p.m. SillyImportRacer Reader

  I've searched Grand Am boards, had a mechanic try to fix it. My wife suggested that I ask y'all.

  She has a 2002 Grand Am SE, Ecotech/auto. When it's hot out and after the car has been driven for a while, it stalls. It usually restarts but tends to stall again. This does not happen every time the car is driven. But I cannot have my wife driving a car we cannot depend on.

  I had a mechanic, that I trust, try di diagnose the problem. He had the car for several days and could not reproduce the failure.

  The only thing I could come up with on the Grand Am boards is a vacume line to the MAP sensor. Apparently that was an issue on the earlier models.

  Any suggestions?

  If we can't fix it, she gets a new Fusion. If we can fix it, and replace the water pump, I get a C5 Z06.

  Thanks David

• 

  Aug. 17, 2011 9:08 p.m. hotrodlarry Reader

  The '00 Grand Am my other half owns did sorta the same thing a year or so ago. The car died on the highway once or twice, would run fine for a couple days, then not start for a day or two.. real random stuff. I changed the coils, plugs, and IAC, which made a slight difference. With a little more diagnosing, we discovered the fuel pump was losing pressure and had to be replaced. The car has ran fine ever since.

• 

  Aug. 18, 2011 5:47 a.m. SillyImportRacer Reader

  In reply to hotrodlarry: How spendy was the fuel pump? Hers was tested, but we could not reproduce the failure so it tested good.

• 

  Aug. 18, 2011 8:19 a.m. hotrodlarry Reader

  I was able to get the pump for around $225. Most places should be around $200-$250 for it.

  Did the CEL come on? if so, what codes?

  It could be a IAC (idle air control valve) or IAT ( intake air temperature sensor) issue as well. The IAC is an easy one to try, should be right on the throttle body. Two torx bits ( don't remember the size) and it comes out. Spray some throttle body cleaner in there and on the IAC to make sure it's not all carbon-ed up.

  The IAT should be in the intake hose, just past the air box.

• 

  Aug. 18, 2011 8:29 a.m. Toyman01 SuperDork

  I had a 81 Corolla that would do the same thing. A cup of water splashed on the fuel pump would bring it back to life. It was vapor locking, or boiling the fuel in the fuel lines.

• 

  Aug. 18, 2011 8:52 a.m. SillyImportRacer Reader

  In reply to hotrodlarry:

  No, no CEL and no codes. I'll look at the IAC & IT tonight.

• 

  Aug. 18, 2011 8:58 a.m. Ranger50 Dork

  Ditto on a stuck IAC. But past experience also tells me to look for a stuck on torque converter clutch too, especially if the trans has never had a service.

• 

  Aug. 18, 2011 9:07 a.m. Streetwiseguy Dork

  How does it stall, and when? Does it quit coming to a stop, does it die while driving, does it restart instantly but die when its put into gear......

  The older GM transaxles had trouble with the torque converter lockup solenoid- they get hot, the solenoid doesn't close, the car acts just like you forgot to put your foot on the clutch in a standard trans vehicle.

• 

  Aug. 18, 2011 9:10 a.m. SillyImportRacer Reader

  In reply to Streetwiseguy:

  It stalls as if it was just turned off. Usually when off throttle, like stopping for a light. Some times it will start right up, some times it need to sit a few minutes.

You'll need to log in to post.

• 
• 
• 
• 
• 
• 

• Jump to
• Top
• Grassroots Motorsports
• Off-Topic
• Sprockets
• $200X Classifieds
• Classic Motorsports