QuestionMy problem started about 8 months ago and seems to be getting more frequent. I first noticed this after gassing up. Now it happens anywhere. Here's the problem: Turn the key, car starts up, but immediately stalls. Turn the key again and sometimes it would clear up and other times it took two or three tries before the engine would run normally. Lately it's becoming more frequent, never refuses to eventually run, and never takes more than three attempts to keep it running. The problem occurs when the engine is hot or after it's been sitting all night. I can, after turning the key, keep it running by giving it gas. However, if it wants to stall, after laying off the pedal, the tach will drop to zero and the engine will stop running. I have not yet been stranded, but fear that might happen. My mechanic (an honest, excellent, smart and reliable person) has suggested that it's the fuel pump. That affair will easily bring me into a heafty repair bill. Can you suggest anything from my description?
AnswerNO, do not replace the fuel pump it is not the problem, the problem is the idle speed control valve, sometimes called the idle air control valve, we have known about this at the dealer level for years and it's a common problem.
The valve is located on the bottom of the throttle body, the remedy is to remove the throttle body then remove the ISC valve, it can be cleaned with good results, what happens is that carbon deposits form and make the valve stick, it can be cleaned with throttle body cleaner, at the same time have the throttle body bore cleaned out with a brush and cleaner this will fix the problem.
