'98 Lumina Stalls on Acceleration

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Wayne Mercer - 27 Aug 2003 02:04 GMT

I have a chevy '98 Lumina LTZ (3.8 ltr engine) with 150,000 miles. About 8
months ago it started intermintently stalling when pulling away from a
stopped position. I can keep it from stalling if I pull away slowly and
after reaching around 15 mph I can go ahead an push down the accelerator and
the car runs fine. Occassionally, the problem won't occur and pickup is
great with no stalling. I can park the car, hop back in it an hour later,
and it reverts back to the old problem. Other than this problem the car
runs fine...no stalling, surging, etc; however, pickup after slowing down
for a turn isn't particularly sharp. I have replaced all filters, the spark
plugs and wires, the fuel pressure regulator, the ignition coils, and the
catalytic converter. The fuel pump pressure is about 4 psi low with engine
off and it remains around this level with the car running. My fuel
injectors are clean and are not leaking. Since I have started having this
problem I have put 25,000 miles on the car, so if it is the fuel pump, I
wish it would go ahead and burn out. There are no engine codes and the
guys at Chevy are reluctant to tell me its the fuel pump (since it runs
around $800 installed and may not fix the problem). I haven't been able to
have them in the car when it stalls, so they haven't seen it stall out. I
am thinking about replacing the iginition module next (runs about $150)
since this is something I can do, but other than this, I don't know what
else to check short of replacing the fuel pump. Any help or comments would
be appreciated.

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jones.family - 28 Aug 2003 02:12 GMT

Any Codes?

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Wayne Mercer - 28 Aug 2003 21:57 GMT

No codes of any kind. However, two days ago I stopped using my A/C
altogether and while the car hasn't run like it used to (accelerates
somewhat weaker at times) it hasn't stalled out. I read somewhere on the
net about cars stalling when water leaks onto the camshaft or crankshaft
position sensor..messes up the tiiming of signals to the ignition module
and/or PCM.. I've had alot of water coming of my A/C on that side of the
car...it may be just the A/C training tube, so it may not be hitting the
sensors...I don't know since I haven't had time to jack the car up this
week. However, I do have a small water leak coming off my water pump right
about these sensors. I used the gasket which came with the replacement pump
which was a big mistake and I lose about a cup of antifreeze about every
7,000 miles. I have also thought about my A/C compressor on the verge of
wearing out and it is requiring more pull on the engine when I first
accelerate or my idle control setting is too low and becomes a factor when
the compressor kicks in.. At least I may get away not having to shell out
$800 for a new fuel pump. I need to get at least 50,000 more miles out of
the car before having to break down and buy another one.

> Any Codes?

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Jay Nair - 27 Apr 2005 22:15 GMT

hi guys,

I have a similer but not excat problem with my Lumina LS 1999. My car
starts normal, but accelerates too slow.But once it catches up a a speed,
it runs excellent. i mean to say, my car runs perfectly well at a
purticular speed, but sucks if i try to accelerate from any speed. Engine
power is good and the gears are good. while accelerating,the engine makes a
kind of sound similer to the sound when accelerating engine at neutral(no
load).

can anyone help??

My car has automatic gear transmission. Is there a way i can set my ECM(car
computer) to the default manufactures setting??

Thanks in advance. Also dont hesitate to ask me if u have any kind of
problem regarding your lumina. My car has enough problems to make me an
expert:)

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