3800 series 2

ive got a 97 grand prix with a 3800 series 2 v6. it will barely idle and it wont take fuel. it does this off and on if it sets awhile it might run normal for about 3 minutes down the road until starts again. i have took the air filter out and it made no difference, is there a sensor gone bad? i have no idea where to start. or does it sound like someone put something in the tank? ive never run it out of gas so i dont think it would be the fuel, i can still here the pump run.


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Might be a Mass Air Flow sensor, sounds sorta like my 2000 Buick 3800 did a while back.

The tech man at the Gm shop left it unplugged until I got one, I drove it about 30 miles while unhooked. GM cost about $225, Advance Auto about $130 X-change

where about is this located on the engine?

While it's certainly possible for the MAF to be bad, these symptoms could be caused by a lot of things. Some will set a code, some will not. You need to have a scan tool connected and read the codes before you start spending big bucks replacing parts you don't need. Many auto parts stores will read codes for free (since they want to sell you the replacement parts).

Disconnecting the MAF will cause the EFI to default to a speed-density control logic. When this happened on my truck, I wouldn't have even known it had happened had the Check Engine light not come on.

Is your Grand Prix a GTP model?

I have a 98 GTP with the same (supercharged) engine.

It would start, idle for a sec ... and then completely die.
It turned out to be some sort of ceramic resistor down low on the RH side somewhere near the front.

Apparently it has something to do with allowing more fuel delivery under boost conditions. Changed it out and it purrs like a kitten again.

(I love that car.)

mine is just the gt model, you dont know the exact name of that resistor do you? i am gonna go to the autoparts store and have them scan it.

If you think it might be the MAF ... this is what it looks like.



Try cleaning the corona wire with air intake cleaner or perhaps brake clean ... some sort of non-residual solvent before rushing out to buy a new one. (You have nothing to lose if you plan to replace it ... right?)

The MAF will be in the air intake system for sure ... usually between the air filter and the throttle body. My wife is out with the car right now, or I'd offer to pop the hood and have a look for you.

If yours is not the supercharged GTP model, I'm quite sure it won't have that resister.

My mechanic buddy explained, as I said earlier, that it is only used on the supercharged models in order to provide additional fuel under boost conditions.

carb and choke cleaner?

carb and choke cleaner will work, but very good IMO.
over the years i have tried many different things and the best i have found, and you may even already have it sitting on the shelf, is starting fluid.
use the straw tube from a can of WD-40, carburetor or brake cleaner to direct the stream & get close the elements. you don't need to touch them, just to be close, 1/4~1/2 of an inch is good.
it will blast dirt & oil from those K&N air filters right off.

thats funny because im using K&N filter.

Check fuel pressure first. Maybe a clogged fuel filter or bad catalytic converter?

fuel filter is new, and i have no catalytic converter.i sprayed starting fluid on the maf sensor, so ill see what happens.

The filter oil may have gunked it up.
Shane

i have cleaned the sensor with starting fluid, so far so good for about 60 miles and no problem. i am gonna do away with the K&N filter because of this, that and i havent seen any power or mileage gain with it.