steed23

OK, so i have an 04. it just passed 97k.

It starts everytime, when the car idles it sometimes goes really low and jumps a few times then dies.
When come to stops it also sometimes goes so low it dies. it gives no warning. like the computer just tells it to stop. After i just start it right back up.
It also feel like there is a loss of power when it revs..

does anyone have any tips on what it could be and what i should do? i would love to get it fixed soon.

Mazurfer

Need maintenance history info.
Plug age?
Coil age?
Any CELs(Check engine light)?
Last time it had any maintenance done to it and what it was?
You the first owner? If not, how long have you had it(in miles)?

steed23

New plugs went in a few months ago.
Coils were said to be replaced a week before i bought the car back in march, yet i do not know for sure.
No maintenance on motor other then plugs, and the throttle body was cleaned a when plugs went on.
I am not the first owner. iv had the car for about 8k miles.
and it does throw some codes but it is dues to the cats.

steed23

and one code for the aftermarket intake.

Mazurfer

First off, do you have a code for the CAT because you don't have one? In other words, did you or the previous owner remove the CAT?
It's obviously okay to do that, but I wanna make sure that's why you have that code.

Now...........
What code for the aftermarket intake? That shouldn't be there. You got the actual code?
Tell us what kind of intake you are talking about here? Does it have at least one screen before the MAF?

steed23

yes, the cat was gutted.

Mazurfer

Okay....I figured it was gutted, still need to know about the intake.

Guess I would start there and look at the entire intake track and make sure it looks okay...especially the screen(I hope you have at least one), sometimes these get dislodge and can screw up the MAF readings.

I know you're gonna say it was running fine until just now, but I think you should look at that first and then maybe get some MAF cleaner and clean that. Word of caution on the MAF. It's delicate so be very, very careful. It's only a very thin wire in there, so if/when you do spray the cleaner you can use a Q-tip if you want to do so, but be very gentle. Personally, I would even use that but other do. I'd just spray the bejeezus(?) out of it and get it clean.

While you are in there, look for vacuum leaks as well...........are all the hoses secure leading to the accordion tube etc?

Start with that unless someone else wants to chime in?
Still like to know what that code is for the intake(supposedly) and what your intake looks like(or is).

Oh....believe it or not, also make sure your battery connections are good and tight and no corrosion. I know it sounds silly, but this car is fickle in terms of grounds!

steed23

what screen are you refering to? and it has an aftermarket intake. it was on when i bought the car. i have factory intake as well. i was thinking of just putting that one back on to see it changes anything. would that help at all or no?

Mazurfer

Hard to tell at this point.

In terms of the screen. When stock, there is one screen in the recess in the airbox where I will call the horn(before the MAF). Then there is another after the MAF(I think) where the accordian tube connects to the MAF tube.


If the car has been running okay, then that's probably not it, but if you see a screen in whatever this aftermarket intake is, then just make sure it didn't come loose or have some massive hole in it. Check back in a second, and I'll find a pic of it.

See the pictures on page 5 and 6 of this pdf. This is probably not what your intake looks like, so this is only for you to see what the screens look like and where they are.

steed23

thanks. could this possibly be a computer problem by any chance?

Mazurfer

Doubtful....very doubtful.
Go look at my last post since I edited it.

So...when it's running, does it run good? Any real loss of power? I understand it might not idle too good, but besides that?

I'd really clean the MAF first because it's easy! Oh...and when you take off the accordian tube, see if there is any oil inside. If there is, then let me(us) know okay? That doesn't mean disaster by any means, it just would even more so point to a dirty MAF sensor.
You can do a search on MAF cleaning and see how easy it is to do, that's why I'm giving you the easy stuff to do first.

steed23

ok, well i think it has a large loss of power. like its revving fine, but its not moving as fast as it should.

zoom44

and you still need to do what he said first- clean the MAF, add a screen in front of it , check the battery terminals. It might be time to change the coils. you could also have a faulty neutral switch.

what brand is the aftermarket intake? is this an MT? where are you? how many miles ago/ how long ago did this start?