Cause I just can't figure this out. Hopefully you can help assist me.

1996 Eclipse GS 420a 124,000 5spd

Sometimes when I turn on my car the rpms just drop and the car shuts off. However, when I apply gas and raise the rpms the car will run fine. As soon as I begin to drive and then come to a stop, the rpms drop to 0 and the car shuts off. After a little driving and the car beings to warm up, the rpms are good and the car doesnt shut off when I stop. It will hunt for an idle for a bit and then quit. Now this only does it sometimes. I would say 1 out of every 10 or so starts. It has no trend.

Also, my rpms never drop to normal when I drive and put the clutch in. They stay anywhere from 1100 to 1500 until I come to a complete stop. That doesn't make sense to me.

Other than that the car runs fine. Has power, no fuel cut, etc etc.

I have been told that maybe it has to do with my IAC. As far as the car dieing on me sometimes on startup I have canceled out sensors cause they don't start working until the engine is warm. And the ECU is brand new and installed by the dealer about 5-6 months ago. (Due to my CAI rubbing through the wiring harness. Oops!!)

Any suggestions? Anybody? Thanks!!

Sensors don't work until your car warms up? You should get that checked out. :P

Do you have any CEL's? I would say it's probably the IAC, TPS, or a bad vacuum leak. Did this start happening all of a sudden or slowly over time?

Originally posted by Slammed0
Sometimes when I turn on my car the rpms just drop and the car shuts off. However, when I apply gas and raise the rpms the car will run fine. As soon as I begin to drive and then come to a stop, the rpms drop to 0 and the car shuts off. After a little driving and the car beings to warm up, the rpms are good and the car doesnt shut off when I stop. It will hunt for an idle for a bit and then quit. Now this only does it sometimes.

I would say either IAC, or stupid question: Do you hear the fuel pump prime when you turn the key to "On"? I know you say no fuel cut, but you say that sometimes it will hunt for an idle then quit, well that could be the pump heating up and quitting. It's happened my old Grand Am. Just an idea.

Originally posted by Slammed0
Also, my rpms never drop to normal when I drive and put the clutch in. They stay anywhere from 1100 to 1500 until I come to a complete stop. That doesn't make sense to me.

That is normal.

Good question. I will have to listen for the fuel pump prime.

Also, and I should have mentioned this before, but no CELs. And it just started happening.

EGR? The ECU recirculates exhaust gas from time to time. I'm not sure when since I deleted mine. In any case, I think it's part of the warm-up process. Someone correct me if I'm wrong.

The idle hang until stopped is normal. The ECU does read the vehicle speed sensor (VSS). ;)

EDIT:
Then again, considering the problem goes away when warm, I wonder if the coolant temp sensor might be involved...

Thanks guys! I appreciate the feedback. I think I am going to look at the IAC and see what I can find there. Maybe try cleaning it for starters.

Originally posted by Slammed0
Thanks guys! I appreciate the feedback. I think I am going to look at the IAC and see what I can find there. Maybe try cleaning it for starters.

Also, like Brian said, coolant temp sensor could also be the culprit...remember that. Good luck.

Originally posted by Slammed0
Also, my rpms never drop to normal when I drive and put the clutch in. They stay anywhere from 1100 to 1500 until I come to a complete stop. That doesn't make sense to me.

That almost sounds like a vac leak to me.

give us an update when you get it fixed. my RPMs drop time to time but not enuff to die just run choppy for a sec then back to normal. sounds like the same problem just not as severe.

I will let you all know.


Its funny on the hanging RPMs issue. It seems to be right up the middle.

1/2 of DSMers say it is normal.
The other 1/2 say it is not.

LOL! I am confused!!

My car did that exact same thing some time ago. Every morning on my way to work it would shut down on the driveway a few times until I got it more or less warmed up. Then It would shut off at the first few stop signs and sometimes randomly on the streets.

Heres what I recomend:

1) Remove your Throttle Body, unbolt and take out the IAC. Get yourself some B12 Chemtool or your favorite carb cleaner and a soft brush (I used old tooth brush, don't ask why I kept it). Then clean the inside of your TB it's prolly caked with crrapp. Clean the little conduit that the IAC uses to bypass idle air and the IAC "sensor" itself.

2) If you hear the fuel pump as you turn the key then my guess is that its more then likely fine. Before you consider changing it change your fuel filter. My car was shutting off on me randomly on the street, so I changed the fuel filter. Never did that to me again.

Originally posted by 96RSCLIPPER
My car did that exact same thing some time ago. Every morning on my way to work it would shut down on the driveway a few times until I got it more or less warmed up. Then It would shut off at the first few stop signs and sometimes randomly on the streets. Heres what I recomend: 1) Remove your Throttle Body, unbolt and take out the IAC. Get yourself some B12 Chemtool or your favorite carb cleaner and a soft brush (I used old tooth brush, don't ask why I kept it). Then clean the inside of your TB it's prolly caked with crrapp. Clean the little conduit that the IAC uses to bypass idle air and the IAC "sensor" itself. 2) If you hear the fuel pump as you turn the key then my guess is that its more then likely fine. Before you consider changing it change your fuel filter. My car was shutting off on me randomly on the street, so I changed the fuel filter. Never did that to me again.

Thanks. I plan on doing that. Hopefully this week. Its been in the garage but I have been so busy with the holidays. The fuel filter is fairly new, so I'm thinking and hoping that it is not that. That thing was a pain to change too. If I have to change that, oh brother. lol

And Merry Christmas everybody!

I think this relates to a coolant temp sensor issue. I could be wrong, but it sounds just like what my car used to do. The only way to really tell if its bad or not though is to get a scanner and look at what it is reading. You wont have a CEL for it because it could still be working, but its throwing the wrong #'s at the ECU.

For example, when mine went bad, it was showing the PCM the wrong degree of the coolant obviosuly and the PCM was trying to correct it.

Originally posted by eclipse982nrRST
I think this relates to a coolant temp sensor issue.

+1

As far as the RPM hanging while moving and in neutral, that's normal. My 2gnt did, 2 of my previous mustangs do it, and my current mustang does it. I unhooked the VSS and it dies when I push in the clutch while moving.

Well I think I am going to replace the Coolant Temp Sensor anyways. I just always thought that the sensors never talked to the computer until the car was warmed up all the way.

I could be wrong. I have been known to be wrong before. lol

Originally posted by Slammed0
Well I think I am going to replace the Coolant Temp Sensor anyways. I just always thought that the sensors never talked to the computer until the car was warmed up all the way.

If that were the case the ECU would never know the car is warmed up. ;)

Well I cleaned the hell out of the throttle body and so far this problem hasn't happened to me again. - Knock On Wood LOL!