1996 Sunfire Stalling Problem

ericv1984

ericv1984

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My 1996 Sunfire SE 2.2L stalls every now and then but only when I'm going low speeds with the steering wheel turned all the way. For instance, if I'm backing out of a parking spot and turn the wheel, it sometimes stalls but it sometimes stalls without the steering wheel turned. And sometimes I hear the car going to stall but then the engine revs itself to keep it from stalling.

The low speeds when it stalls, is somewhere around 5-10 MPH.

Any suggestions would be greatly appreciated, thank you.
 
how many miles since you last changed fuel filter, air filter and spark plugs? Does the engine run rough/shake when in gear at idle?
 
Fuel filter was changed this past weekend so less then 100 miles ago. I changed the air filter last month, maybe around 1000 miles ago. The spark plugs were replaced a couple of years ago but the car sat for a year and a half of those couple years, but the spark plugs don't look bad or worn out.

Car vibrates just a little at idle. Idles at a little bit under 1000 RPMs.
 
try using a couple of cans of fuel system cleaner during the next few fill ups. If it sat for a year and a half there is a good chance you have lots of varnish in the fuel lines and injectors.
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melsg5 said:
try using a couple of cans of fuel system cleaner during the next few fill ups. If it sat for a year and a half there is a good chance you have lots of varnish in the fuel lines and injectors.
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a sticky IAC will also do this. since the car sat so long, chances are good thats all gummed up too
 
Idle Air Control. It is a plunger on the throttle body that controls the idle speed by regulating the amount of air into the motor. It can be removed and cleaned.
 
Zimgxp said:
Idle Air Control. It is a plunger on the throttle body that controls the idle speed by regulating the amount of air into the motor. It can be removed and cleaned.
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The IAC valve? And what do you suggest I clean it with?
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I was looking up IAC Valves just to see how much a new one would cost. Cause if it's fairly cheap then I would just replace it. I found ones for 60-121 dollars then I found this REALLY cheap one on racepages.com for only 7.86. I think it's on clearance cause the original list price is 121.82. I was just wondering if this is the correct part... http://www.racepages.com/products/?...N=1697&Dx=mode+matchallpartial&Ntt=repc313207

Does the IACV also require a gasket? I've seen gaskets for other IACV for different makes/model cars online but I haven't found a gasket online for the Sunfire. I called O'reilly Auto Parts a little while ago and the gasket didn't come up in their computers.
 
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if you look closely at pictures of the part there is an O Ring which seals it, no gasket. I guess you dont have much to loose $7.86 plus shipping but I would wonder why it's going for so low a price. Why dont remove your old one first and see if it's gummed up and just clean it if you have to.
 
melsg5 said:
if you look closely at pictures of the part there is an O Ring which seals it, no gasket. I guess you dont have much to loose $7.86 plus shipping but I would wonder why it's going for so low a price. Why dont remove your old one first and see if it's gummed up and just clean it if you have to.
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One thing that kind of sucks about getting it is that the shipping is as much as the product itself, but I'll be getting such a big discount on the product that it's worth it.

Later on when I go outside I'll take the old one off and see
 
I looked at the IACV and it's held in by two screws but theres in barely any room to get a screwdriver in there. How would I get to them with a screwdriver?

Do I have to use a ratchet screwdriver?
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ericv1984 said:
I looked at the IACV and it's held in by two screws but theres in barely any room to get a screwdriver in there. How would I get to them with a screwdriver?

Do I have to use a ratchet screwdriver?
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After posting this I checked the garage to see if my uncle has a ratchet screwdriver in there, he didn't. I didn't want to go buy one so I made my own. Used a socket wrench, put on a 1/4 socket, hammered a torque bit into the socket and then removed the valve. I went to home depot and got allen head screws so they would be easier. The valve that was on the car didn't have an O-ring so I went and bought some. I put the O-ring on the valve and tried putting the valve in the hole but the O-ring that I got was to big for it so I put the valve in without the O-ring.

Not having an O-ring on the valve, will that cause any damage?
 
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You will have a air leak, engine wont run correctly
 
melsg5 said:
You will have a air leak, engine wont run correctly
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It turns out there was an O-ring in there already. It fell of the valve and was loose in the hole where the valve goes in. Got it out and put a new one on the valve, now the car is running better.
 
2000SunfireGT said:
a sticky IAC will also do this. since the car sat so long, chances are good thats all gummed up too
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Cleaned the IAC Valve the other day and then reinstalled it. Today the car stalled when I was turning into my driveway.

But, the check engine light was on in my car for a week or two, scanned it and it said "Evaporative Emissions System", or something like that. But after I had cleaned my IAC Valve and put it back in, the light went away. So, could the IAC Valve make the check engine light come on and be throwing that code?
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I cleaned the IAC Valve and put in two bottles of gas treatment with my last fill up and the car still stalls.

Should I check spark plugs?
 
1. You said in one of your earlier posts that you had checked the spark plugs.
2. What did you use to clean the IAC valve? No more check engine light?
Here's a link to test the IAC: www.ehow.com/how_7805030_test-idle-air-control-sensor.html
3. Have you checked the ignition coil packs, no corrosion, no bad connections?
4. Checked the plug wire resistance?
5. Check for a vacuum leak around the intake manifold and throttle body.
 
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