Intermittent stalling

Tiny
THEMAILMAN
  • MEMBER
  • 2002 CHEVROLET BLAZER
  • 4.3L
  • 6 CYL
  • 4WD
  • AUTOMATIC
  • 181,000 MILES
Over the last few days, when I go to work in the morning, the truck starts and runs fine all the way to work. I get there and it sits for a couple of hours. When I go to start it again to start my route, I have had to pump the gas to get it to start and then keep feathering it for a couple of minutes before it would hold idle. Today, in the middle of my route, I stopped to deliver a package, shut it off while delivering the package, and took a few minutes to reorganize for the second half of my route. It did it again. Hard to get to start and had to idle it a minute before I could go.

No engine light and not shaking or skipping at all. The truck runs like a champ. Has brand new Delco plugs and wires (the ones the GM calls for), and newish distributor, distributor cap, and rotor. I have removed the thermostat for the summer months, as I have been doing for the last few years.

I have not had time to dig in yet, but my thoughts are (1) PCV valve (have not replaced it in the 40,000 miles that I have had it that I can remember) or (2) vacuum line leak. Is there anything else that I should check for? I plan on checking tomorrow afternoon.

I did check the PCV a few weeks ago when I was doing other things and it rattled like "I think" it is supposed to.
Wednesday, August 9th, 2017 AT 7:30 PM

3 Replies

Tiny
KEN L
  • MASTER CERTIFIED MECHANIC
  • 47,574 POSTS
Hello,

It sounds like you have a MAF sensor that is starting to go out. Here are a couple of guides that should help you get the problem fixed.

https://www.2carpros.com/articles/mass-air-flow-service

and because cleaning doesn't always work

https://www.2carpros.com/articles/how-to-replace-a-mass-air-flow-sensor-maf

and

https://www.2carpros.com/articles/engine-cranks-excessively-before-starting

Please let us know what happens.

Cheers, Ken
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Monday, August 14th, 2017 AT 8:34 AM
Tiny
THEMAILMAN
  • MEMBER
  • 88 POSTS
Thanks Ken. I had a loose battery cable. Tightened it up the other day and it hasn't done it since. But the engine light did come on today. I'll get it scanned and see what it says. I'm betting on P0128 because I'm running with no thermostat. But I'll scan it and see. And I do have some MAF cleaner on the shelf in my shed, so I'll go ahead and do that too.
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Monday, August 14th, 2017 AT 7:30 PM
Tiny
KEN L
  • MASTER CERTIFIED MECHANIC
  • 47,574 POSTS
Hello,

I have seen where a missing thermostat will cause the problem becasue the computer cannot run in closed loop. I would reinstall it.

Here is a guide to help

https://www.2carpros.com/articles/replace-thermostat

Please let us know what happens.

Cheers, Ken
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Wednesday, August 16th, 2017 AT 10:43 AM

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