aclt993

I hope someone can help me. 3 times in the last 4 months my engine has shut down while throttling up , check engine light comes on then all idiot lights come on. After the third time I brought it to my mechanic who said it was the Mass Air sensor , so we replaced it and I got half a block before it did it again. So has anyone else experienced these symptoms, if so any ideas ? Thanks

CalvinC4S

If the car has had a dead battery before this and is 96 to 98, it is a non-issue. Drive it and let it relearn.

The ECU reset and the first time you started it after a dead battery the throttle wasn't fully closed.
this fools a lot of folks into over thinking the problem.

Disconect your battery, start car with out foot on the throttle and let it idle for a few minutes. Go drive it and let it relearn the "trips".

aclt993

Battery didn't die and it's a 95 with OBD 1

CalvinC4S

So much for that guess then.

"engine has shut down while throttling up" Stalls on acceleration/load,blipping the throttle or starting out from a stop?

Stock flywheel?

NC TRACKRAT

Just a couple of half-wit guesses: a)Coil pack/s going bad b) Loss of fuel pump pressure.

aclt993

it does while rolling on the throttle about halfway through second gear , it shuts off like a switch , check engine light comes on ,no response from throttle . wait two minutes fires right up. Stock flywheel around 95k miles, have never had a problem for over ten years.

ilko

Our cars don't have coil packs (unfortunately). Bad DME relay?

Did you try to pull the code from the CEL and see what it says?

NP993

Sounds computer-related. If it was fuel, it wouldn't just shut off, it would sputter and die. And if one of the coils was bad, the motor would still run, just on half the plugs -- again, no immediate shut-off.

Without having heard of such a problem, I'd be looking at computer modules and electrical connections. The first step is to read the codes.

aclt993

code came back air mass sensor and I replaced it. I should find out tomorrow if there is a new code from my mechanic. I agree that it's electrical since it just shuts off. I don't know if I got a bad part or it was just misdiagnosed ?

CalvinC4S

"wait two minutes fires right up"

What happens if you don't wait two minutes?

If it turns over nice but dosn't fire up can you hear the fuel pump?

Warpig

I agree... It sounds like a poltergeist in the DME Relay.

If you have a spare swap it out. If not, it's good to have a spare anyway so pick one up. I keep a spare under the fuse box cover.

Nick

aclt993

yeah it turns over and I can hear the fuel pump, it's almost like its flooded and just needs a minute . I don't have a spare DME relay but I'll be sure to get one and tell my mechanic. Thank you for your help. KC

C4SJOHN

The frist thing that I would do is change your DME relay....

CalvinC4S

"yeah it turns over and I can hear the fuel pump, it's almost like its flooded"

That would rule out DME relay, fuel pump wouldn't be getting power other wise... I would be looking at the harness from the air mass sensor next. Then on to DME

Warpig

I have not looked at the schematic for the DME relay lately but it is a multi purpose relay. Thats why it's a funky abnormal looking relay with what 9 pins or something? Having not looked at the schematic for it recently cannot say for sure that it's possible or not to work for some of it's function but not work for others. I would give it a try anyway. 1st its good to have a spare because it is a funky non common relay and second there has been all kinds of troubles changing it out has fixed. I am normally a big think troubleshooter. I like to look at all of the symptoms and then rule things out and avoid touching them if I can. In my car I would not do this with the DME relay without a hard test at least and hard replace for best results. I wouldn't believe it to be good unless I replaced it or actually measured all the voltages and currents with a meter.

I'm not saying for sure it is the DME relay but I'd rather replace it early than after a hard lesson. And it is always good to have a spare since you cannot run to the local auto parts store and get one.

Nick