Engine missing and backfiring

Tiny
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  • 1991 BUICK PARK AVENUE
  • 3.8L
  • 6 CYL
  • 2WD
  • AUTOMATIC
  • 100,000 MILES
So I had it coded yesterday, Came up with 22 throttle position sensor, 33 Mass air flow sensor and 45 O2 sensor reading rich. Does anybody know what might cause this combination of codes? The car start good and idles fine, It starts missing when I put it under a load. Either giving it a lot of gas or going up a hill.
Thursday, March 5th, 2020 AT 4:01 PM

33 Replies

Tiny
KASEKENNY
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Disconnect the MAF and see if the issue smooths out. If it does then the PCM is getting a faulty MAF signal. Either from wiring or the sensor.

I then attached the codes if this doesn't resolve it. I would start with the 22 code and move to what I suspect you meant was 34. 33 is a wheel speed sensor code.

Run through this info and let me know what you find. Thanks
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Thursday, March 5th, 2020 AT 4:51 PM
Tiny
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I noticed when I'm reading your repair pages you posted that it refers a lot of times to shorts. That is something I should have mentioned in my statement. The car must have a short because the battery keeps going dead. Is it possible the 2 issues are related?
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Tuesday, April 14th, 2020 AT 6:25 PM
Tiny
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It is possible. So what I would do it run through the test and see if you have a short. If not, then you may have two issues. At that point we can get a new post started and figure out the battery draw issue.

However, if you do, we repair it and see if that fixed the draw issue.
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Tuesday, April 14th, 2020 AT 7:13 PM
Tiny
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MAP sensor reads 0 whether key on or off. I also read that a the code 45 should make the car smoke and run rough at idle, But not the case here, No smoke or rough idle.
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Thursday, April 16th, 2020 AT 1:41 PM
Tiny
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I did notice when I try to rev it up it hesitates.
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Thursday, April 16th, 2020 AT 1:44 PM
Tiny
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When you say you are getting 0 for the MAF does that mean you are following these steps and getting to the circled step? If so, then you have an open circuit, shorted to ground, or a PCM issue. I would check resistance from the PCM to the MAF sensor pin A and then check pin A to pin B.

From PCM to pin A you should have less then a half ohm of resistance. From A to B you should have an open circuit which means it is not shorted to ground.

If this checks out then you most likely have a PCM issue.

As for the no smoke or running rough, that can happen but is not proof of not having an issue. However, this code will cause a hesitation so I would address the MAF issue and then move on and retest the operation once that is operating.
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Thursday, April 16th, 2020 AT 5:52 PM
Tiny
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Is it possible I don't have a MAP sensor?
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Saturday, May 9th, 2020 AT 12:50 PM
Tiny
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Correct. You do not have a MAP (manifold absolute pressure) sensor. You have a MAF (Mass air flow) sensor. They are just two different ways of telling the PCM how much air is entering the engine. The MAP will measure the pressure in the manifold and based on this, it calculates how much air it is pulling in.

The MAF is actually an air flow meter that measures the amount of air that is passing by it so the PCM doesn't need to calculate air flow to determine how much fuel to mix with the air to achieve the proper mixture.
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Sunday, May 10th, 2020 AT 6:34 PM
Tiny
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Well that narrows it down. I think i'll replace the MAF and see what happens. It's funny how some show the vehicle with a MAP and some don't. The parts store had one to sell me, but I didn't buy it. I tried to buy the MAF but they didn't have any. I'll order one online. Thanks again, I'll keep you posted.
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Sunday, May 10th, 2020 AT 7:02 PM
Tiny
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Sounds great. Yeah. Parts catalogs are not always completely accurate. The MAP that they tried to sell you may have been the correct part, just not labeled correctly. Good idea with ordering it online.

Let us know what happens. Thanks for the update.
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Sunday, May 10th, 2020 AT 8:08 PM
Tiny
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I tested the MAF sensor again, with the key on, engine off. I tested from terminal (A) to ground and got a reading of 2.20V. So if I follow the chart it say's ckt492 open shorted to ground or faulty PCM. How do I test the shorted ckt 492 or PCM?
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Wednesday, May 13th, 2020 AT 3:16 PM
Tiny
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Sorry, but I can't find a diagram that shows the ckt 492.
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Wednesday, May 13th, 2020 AT 3:17 PM
Tiny
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I'm not sure if I mentioned it, but my battery keep going dead, like I have a short.
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Wednesday, May 13th, 2020 AT 3:19 PM
Tiny
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Okay. The way to test for a short to ground is you put one of your meter leads in terminal A and then touch the other to a good ground location like the negative battery terminal. You need to have your meter on ohms and you should have an open circuit. If you have resistance from terminal A to ground then that means they are making contact which is a short to ground. To test for an open circuit, you need to unhook it from both ends and put one lead in each end of the circuit and check ohms. You should have less then a half ohm of resistance. If you have an high resistance or an open then that is the issue. If neither of these, they say to replace the PCM.

If your battery drains as well, we will need to get a new post started for that because that would not be related to this issue. So let's figure this issue out first and then move to the battery issue.
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Wednesday, May 13th, 2020 AT 7:36 PM
Tiny
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Now I went into town and came back. But when I tried to start it an hour later it won't even turn over. Battery is at 100 percent. Doesn't even turn over and it's like every light on the dash lights up. So I down loaded the repair manual for the car and it said try to reset the security system using the door locks and I think it worked cause when I was done the horn honked. But the car still won't crank.
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Sunday, May 17th, 2020 AT 4:44 PM
Tiny
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Okay. If the car won't crank but the dash comes on shows that the ignition switch is at least functioning in the on position so let's move on to the control wire on the starter. Crank the engine and test for voltage on the purple wire at the starter. It is safe to say there is nothing there because this is the control wire. If nothing is there, go to the trans position switch and test it for voltage on the yellow wire when cranking.

If you have it then the position switch is the issue. If not, go before the relay and see if you have voltage.

Let me know these points and we can go from there. Thanks
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Sunday, May 17th, 2020 AT 7:18 PM
Tiny
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Thanks again Kenny. I'll have to try this in the morning. Just as I think I'm getting close to the mass sensor problem. This has to happen. I know this car can run good, If I can just get it figured out. I found a part that's right next to the alternator where the plug wires run through. It had 3 nuts holding it on. So I took if off. Turned out to be something with a spring in it. But the gasket was all messed up. I don't know what it is. But it could be part or all of the problem.
It looked like it had a opening or a reservoir.
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Sunday, May 17th, 2020 AT 7:54 PM
Tiny
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Can you get a picture of this? I am not exactly sure that would be off the top of my head. Thanks
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Monday, May 18th, 2020 AT 7:20 PM
Tiny
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Yes, it's a mystery.
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Tuesday, May 19th, 2020 AT 7:45 AM
Tiny
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I like mysteries so let's figure this out. If you get a picture of it I am sure we can identify it. There are not too many parts on cars that stump me once we can see them. Thanks
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Tuesday, May 19th, 2020 AT 5:40 PM

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