'99 runs terribly after auto car wash...help!

Qyota

Qyota

New member
I just limped my '99 home after a horrible experience at the car wash. It's an automatic wash that you pull into. I always shut the engine off. The wash was done, so I went to start the truck to go through the drier, when it just stalled. That's weird...try it again...stalled immediately. One more time, same thing. Next time I give it some gas while starting, and it barely comes to life, long enough for me to get it in gear and get out.

I can tell it's going to stall again, so I keep the rpms up and drive the 1 mile home. It has very little power, and according to my scangauge it was getting about 2mpgs on the way home. I make it to my garage and just let it stall. I get out, and there is a pretty bad smell in the air, but I can't tell quite what it is...probably just running REALLY rich.

Any ideas? I haven't tried to start it again, or check for codes...but the CEL wasn't on.

Thanks
 
Register to hide this ad
Does the 3.4L use plug wires or is the coil bolted right on top of the plug? It sounds like wet wires...


:cheers:
 
Hi,

the left bank has the coil-on-plug cap, while the right bank just has wires running to it.

I just tried starting it again and it's still not right. It sounds like it's running on 4 or 5 cylinders.

:mad:
 
Qyota said:
Hi,

the left bank has the coil-on-plug cap, while the right bank just has wires running to it.

I just tried starting it again and it's still not right. It sounds like it's running on 4 or 5 cylinders.

:mad:
Click to expand...

I'd suspect one or more of those wires. Is the car in a garage? Don't fume yourself to death but the darkness of the garage will help to see if the sparke is escaping... Start it, turn the lights out and look/listen for sparks. That would be my next step. 1st thing is to rule out the wires... Good luck!

:cheers:
 
Thanks Chris, I'm going to buy new plugs and wires on the way home tomorrow and see what that does. Can't believe this happened because of a stupid car wash! Aren't these "off road" vehicles? :bash:
 
Qyota said:
Thanks Chris, I'm going to buy new plugs and wires on the way home tomorrow and see what that does. Can't believe this happened because of a stupid car wash! Aren't these "off road" vehicles? :bash:
Click to expand...

It is an off-road vehicle that's 10 years old now... Age takes it's toll on plug wires. Make sure the air cleaner is snapped together properly too.
 
Update for this thread:

Finally got a code from my scangauge (not sure what I was doing wrong).

The code is: P0100

Something with the MAF, or the MAF circuitry, or the ECU.

Great!

I just changed the plugs and wires (all OEM Denso), but am afraid to start it up if something is still wrong with the MAF and it's going to foul my new plugs up.

Oh yeah, ALL of the old spark plugs looked the same...all black and smelled of fuel. So, the problem is before ignition...something with the mixture. That also points to MAF.

I just hope the 1 mile of driving I did with the super rich mixture didn't F up my oxygen sensor(s).

I've tested the resistance of the MAF...and it is within spec. The voltage check is a little less specific. When hooked up and the ignition ON, I get a voltage reading that dips slightly when I blow on the sensor (that's the test). It's not very definitive, though.
 
Just following up for future users.

The problem was the ECM. I replaced it with a used OEM unit from ebay, and had a mobile locksmith come out and flash the ECM to accept programming of my transponder keys.

Works great!

Thanks for the help, everyone!
 
You must log in or register to reply here.

Members online

No members online now.
Total: 911 (members: 0, guests: 911)

Forum statistics

Threads
278,312
Messages
3,554,089
Members
248,016
Latest member
Advally Service

Share this page

Trending content

Back
Top