RPM Surge then Stalls Out

[slybydesignq45t]

The car is back in the shop.

Got breaks done, rotors turned new sensors for $323 total not bad.

Well now the car is back in the shop for more serious problem.

The other day I put the car in reverse and it stalled twice, but there after worked fine.

Last night I was driving then the car just stalled in the middle of traffic. It just died with all the lights in the dash turning on at once. Seeing as it was late I needed to get the car home, so I started it and it made it home.

During this time I noticed the RPM gage wildly going up and down as if it just lost its mind. Then when it would come down and idle perfectly.

Today the car didn't want to start. It stalled on three tries. On the fourth try it started and I headed straight to my mechanic. On the way there doing about 60 mph it started to sputter and I could feel the lost of power steering so I pulled over and it stalled again. I notice at 60 mph it was over 2500 rpms.

I finally got it started and zoomed off the highway and got it to my mechanic.

1) The car has been 100% fine, no odd rpm spikes prior.

2) No buzzing noise from the back.

3) No knocking or clunking what so ever, smooth idle.

4) Abnormal rpm spikes then stalls

5) Transmission feels sluggish now really bad.

6) I noticed once the car starts to go from 2nd to 3rd it hesitates badly, then from 3rd to 4th its fine, but doing between 45 and 55 it hesitates badly.

7) Could this be more of a transmission problem?

I told my mechanic I think the fuel pump is going bad he said that would be odd because fuel pumps would normally just die. He said he thinks my idle valve (my words) or fuel filter. He really believes its a fuel system problem but not the pump. He said it could also be a transmission problem. He said the cost to repair the transmission exceeds the value of the car. He will have the car for a week now, so no car for now.

[maxnix]

I told my mechanic I think the fuel pump is going bad he said that would be odd because fuel pumps would normally just die.

If you were patronizing an Infiniti Technician instead of a "mechanic", he would know that this is an untrue statement. Test your fuel pressure first. No mention of when fuel filter was last replaced.

We have had the Jerry Tucker discussion before, haven't we?
Modified by maxnix at 9:13 PM 10/18/2008

[slybydesignq45t]

If you were patronizing an Infiniti Technician instead of a "mechanic", he would know that this is an untrue statement. Test your fuel pressure first. No mention of when fuel filter was last repaleced.

We have had the Jerry Tucker discueesion before, haven't we?

yeah we did....

He said he is going to test the entire fuel system on Monday. I'm hoping its the TB or fuel filter. After some searching here it looks like it may be the TB. I also noticed that it happened when I started using AC to heat the car.

[96Qowner]

I'd look into electrical gremlins first - cheap n easy.

Be sure MAF and CAS connectors are clean and making good contact. They're notorious for problems like this.

[Q451990]

I would certainly look at the MAF. IAC shouldn't have that much of an impact...

Heath

[maxnix]

Specifically, the MAF connector and its wiring.

[slybydesignq45t]

I am editing this post rather then putting a new one in. I just came from my mechanic who informed me he could not replicate the problem. I took the car to get gas and it was 100% fine again. No rpm spikes, no hesitation on shifting nothing. They joked with me and said it may have just needed gas, but I know this isn't the case because I put 4 gallons of gas in the car, till I could take it to the station I usually go to. The tank was not empty by the way, it was low but now where close to being empty.

Well I drove it just now and got gas and it worked fine. I filled her up and took her back to my mechanic and asked them to check/clean the TB. I will pick her up tomorrow. I feel bad, because they are supper busy and can't really be chasing things in a car that doesn't present its self. I need this problem gone so I can get to the CEL.

Modified by slybydesignq45t at 2:47 PM 10/20/2008
Modified by slybydesignq45t at 2:48 PM 10/20/2008

[slybydesignq45t]

^^^^^Please read edited post above for new information concerning RMP surge^^^^^^

By the way, when the car stalled the Engine light DID come on....WOW . So working on the ECU may be the fix. I want to get this behind me by Wednesday the latest.