SR20det stalling, runs at perfect idle when maf not connected

[D-Roc]

Very confusing problem for me. Was running fine after 4 months of sitting and gettting some upgrades. Then revved it up after letting it run for a bit, and it just stalled. Thought it was maf, changed that and still nothing. Turns over for a sec, then stalls. So tried taking a look at the ecu and that looked good. Put it back on and it actually runs for a bit now, enough so you can rev it (maf does work!), but then suddenly while at idle after approx. a min or so it just stalls, maybe choking for air. Any help would be nice, maybe a code problem, or cam sensor problem. Thanks Derek.

[The Mic]

Check out:

-The MAF, MAF connectors, AIV, AIV connectors....

-The electrical connectors on the injectors by "gently" shaking them while the engine is idling, they could be corroded...

-The spark plugs for cracks. Run your engine in the dark and look for arcing of the plugs and wires. Don't forget to rev the motor to put it under a load...

-The coil for white deposits...

- The airflow meter.

[pawpaw18_00]

Hey d-roc you say that it runs perfect at idle without the maf plugged in...use a dvom(digital Volt meter) to check the wire from the maf to the ecu for resistance...bend the wire and move it around...check at the splice where it was extended for corrosion...start the car with the maf plugged in and wiggle the wires to the maf and see it the car stalls...if so then its the wiring...or leave it unplugged and drive it...the car should default/set a code...if the car runs and drives fine then i suspect the wiring or the maf...see if this help...(when u changed the maf was it a new maf or a known working maf?)

[D-Roc]

I will try driving it without it, it might choke, but hopefully it will default the ecu. i dont think its a wiring problem as it did work fine, the only split in wire would be where i tried a stock maf and had to switch in a new plug. when that didnt work i even found a lot nicer looking stock plug to make sure that was good, along with the new maf (which is just a known working one). But i think ecu somehow because it did rev without choking the other day. but now its like it backtracked to the point now where...start it with the maf connected, revs up and down for 3 secs then stalls, start it without the maf, runs at perfect idle. thanks for the tips so far...

[D-Roc]

nothing yet, i actually drove it out of the shop to park it without the maf, but it still stalls when its in

[s13sr20chris]

if it stalls all of a sudden at idle then its not a cylinder specific problem. watch maf voltage and stuff.

[D-Roc]

i just found out that the maf wire was spliced so im goin to take a look at that first.

[s13sr20chris]

good call. remember, when it comes to engine fuel control the maf is the most powerfull thing you got. the engine can litterally drown in fuel or lean out to a stall. no other fuel control part has that power. next in line is the coolant temp sensor.