1991 Chevy Lumina Stalling

DANNYBOY1987

MEMBER
1991 CHEVROLET LUMINA
6 CYL
2WD
AUTOMATIC
53,501 MILES

My car does not seem to idle correctly, when I fire the car up and let it run in park the motor seems to idle up and down. If I put the car in reverse and try to go the car will stall. Sometimes it will stall at red lights. Lacking performance when I hit the gas.

I inherited the car from my dad and he didnt drive the car much at all.

I changed the oil and filter, spark plugs, spark plug wires, and the coil packs with no better results. I have also changed the drive belt and tensioner, antifreeze and trans fluid still nothing better. No trouble codes found. I replaced the air filter, fuel filter and took it to a shop to clean the injecters and air intake. The gas tank was on empty so I dont think there was a chance for old bad gas. When I turn the key to on I can here the fuel pump run for a few seconds.

The old car stills runs the same before I threw parts at it and I dont have a clue why it runs so bad. Back when the car was new it ran great.

When I got the car the battery was new and the car was drivible.
Any suggestion would be helpful!

2 Replies

RHALL77

MECHANIC
3,361 POSTS

Was the battery dead when you first got it or did you have to jump start it. Sometime the idle air control motors have to be reset. Usually just driving it that way for a while will reset it

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Wednesday, March 25th, 2009 AT 2:44 PM

LARRYPOKEY

MEMBER
4 POSTS

2 things that work together.

There is a small plastic 3 way value, black in color, the size of a quarter that has an internal vacuum value inside. It help controls the idle, cruise control, and inside compartment vents. It is located near the batter toward the motor on stiff black vacuum lines. They waste away over time and can cause the IAC to overwork to make up for the loss of vacuum. This part can also be found at a Cady dealership. It is about $10. Make sure yours is in good shape and the 3 lines ( it is a tri-value value ) are secure and connected to the proper function. The 90 degree line off the value is cruise control. Can also follow the black line off the cruise control to find it. It somewhat hangs out in space between the battery and that side of the motor so look down. In the event it has gone to long the IAC is easy to replace as it may be somewhat damaged by having to work too long beyond its operating range. Reset of IAC is ignition on wait to 15, ig off, repeat 3 times, drive for 10 min at 40. During the IAC reset you do not start but let it be before ignition. Hope it helps.