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
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.
In reply to hotrodlarry:
How spendy was the fuel pump?
Hers was tested, but we could not reproduce the failure so it tested good.
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.
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.
In reply to hotrodlarry:
No, no CEL and no codes.
I'll look at the IAC & IT tonight.
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.
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.
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.
