Car stalls out when the weather turns warm

MONK60

MEMBER
1996 CHEVROLET CAMARO
V8
2WD
AUTOMATIC
100,000 MILES

Car runs fine when the outside temperature is not hot. When spring and summer comes to Tennessee, it idles very rough at red lights and when stuck in traffic. Most times I can keep it from stalling out if I put it in neutral and tap the gas. It always starts right back up.

1 Reply

JACOBANDNICKOLAS

MECHANIC
109,740 POSTS

Hi and thanks for using 2CarPros. Com. Based on your post, the first thing I would recommend checking is the coolant temperature sensor (CTS). The CTS tells the computer the outside temperature and from that information, the computer adjust the air / fuel mixture to the engine.

Here is a general description of the sensor along with a picture of it and its location. Note: It indicates fault codes, but from experience I can tell you, it may not set a code. If it is working and sending the wrong temperature reading, the computer does not know the difference. The best thing to do is us a real time scanner and page to the CTS and see what it is telling the computer the actual temperature is.

DESCRIPTION:
The Engine Coolant Temperature (ECT) sensor is a thermistor (a resistor which changes value based on temperature) immersed in the engine coolant stream. The coolant temperature sensor provides the Powertrain Control Module (PCM) with information regarding coolant temperature.

OPERATION:
The Power-train Control Module (PCM) supplies a 5 volt signal to the ECT through a resistor in the PCM and measures the voltage. The voltage will be high when the engine is cold and low when the engine is hot. By measuring the voltage. The PCM knows the engine coolant temperature. Engine coolant temperature affects most systems the PCM controls.

The scan tool displays engine coolant temperature in degrees. After engine startup, the temperature should rise steadily to about 90°C (194°F) then stabilize when thermostat opens. If the engine has not been run for several hours (overnight), the engine coolant temperature and intake air temperature displays should be close to each other. When the PCM detects a malfunction in the ECT sensor circuit, the following DTCs will set:
DTC P0117 circuit low.
DTC P0115 circuit high.
DTC P0125 excessive time to Closed Loop.
DTC P1114 circuit intermittent low.
DTC P1115 circuit intermittent high.

I hope this helps. Let me know if you have other questions.

Take care,
Joe

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