Stalling Trouble!
 

I need help! I've got a 2002 Monte Carlo SS, with the 3.8 liter engine.

Friday I had an exhaust patch and oil change done, probably irrelevant but I figured its worth mentioning.

Saturday morning, I start the car and go inside for a few minutes. When I come out, the engine is off. It must have stalled. Starting it again is a bit rough, but it does go. I go to work. Later that night after work, it nearly stalls out while coming off a stop sign, twice. During that drive it gave a P0102 engine code, which the internet tells me is indicative of a problem with the Mass Airflow sensor.

Sunday I popped the MAF sensor out, cleaned it with an air duster, stuck it backk in. Started up fine, but after a few minutes of idling it stalled out again. So I started it again, took it out for a short drive to see if I could get any more info-- and then it died hard in an intersection. It wouldn't start again, and eventually the engine squealed loudly so I just had a friend drag it back home.

I've been having rough starts recently, but its been so cold I just chalked it up to that. I also noticed a fuel-scent when starting, but at the time thought it was a symptom of the hole in the exhaust. Now I'm not so sure.

Any advice? Replacing the MAF seems the most obvious option.

Unplug the MAF first and see if the problem is gone.. If so, its the MAF...

Sometimes if the MAF is okay. There could be a leak in the Vacuum line or it has fallen off someplace. Also the Catalytic converter could be plugged too. That will cause a similar symptom. Good luck!:thumbsup:

Pull the vacuum line off the FPR and see if it's wet/soaked with fuel. It sounds more like an FPR issue than a MAF to me.

The MAF might stumble on a hot-start, but it shouldn't force the car to die at an intersection.

It nearly died twice the night before, stepping on the gas would nearly stall it, back off and going more gently seemed to work.

On the other side, when it would nearly die while idling then stepping on the gas a bit would keep it going.

[QUOTE=ChibiBlackSheep;716010]Pull the vacuum line off the FPR and see if it's wet/soaked with fuel. It sounds more like an FPR issue than a MAF to me. : Quote
I second this . It takes 2 seconds to check this and if it is leaking, you better address this immediately before you blow the intake off the engine.

Yep, sounding more and more like FPR. Just pull that line and check it

If it is the FPR, is it a difficult fix?

(It's -50 degrees right now so I'm waiting to the weekend to do any work on it.)

Not difficult at all. A new FPR, a set of snap ring pliers, and just replace.

Well, I swapped out the MAF sensor, and the check engine light went away. Started it and it hasn't stalled. Popped off the little FPR tube, and I don't feel/see any fuel.

But I did find an orange/red liquid on a flat part of the engine just below the FPR. I haven't run it for a week, and the temp has gone from -30 to 25 degrees so condensation build up is possible, maybe mixing with rust, but can you (or anyone) identify it?

https://cimg6.ibsrv.net/gimg/monteca...9221cd65dc.jpg
https://cimg1.ibsrv.net/gimg/monteca...6663c26109.jpg

First is what I got when I stuck a paper towel in it, second is the location. Might be totally unrelated, just a symptom of snow/moisture buildup?