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What is wrong with my 99 malibu with 3100 v6? Car dies when warm and dies imedietely when turning on air-con?

I've posted in the past, and gotten some answers that "could" have been the problem. After replacing some parts and still no luck, I thought I would try again. The car is a 99 malibu w/ 3100 v6. I can drive the car to work wich is aprx 12 miles with no problem. I can drive the car at lunch without problem, then I can drive the car home without problem, even in 100 F temps outside. If I drive home (aprx 12 miles) cut the car off, the try to drive again, I get the ding ding ding chime, then car starts cutting out like the fuel or spark is being cut. It will do this for a while, then act right a few miles, then ding ding ding, it starts right back over, and will do this until the car sets for a while and cools completely down. Also, if you turn the air conditioner on at any point, the symptems start imedietely and the car lopes like it has a race cam, the dies within about a minute. This happens even if you turn the a/c on first thing in the morning before the car heats up, as well if the car has been running a while. Whatever happens to the car when it heats up, happens imedietely, even with engine cool, when I turn the a/c on. I watched the compressor, and the clutch just kicks in and out before it dies. when the a/c clutch does engage, it blows cold air, but then the clutch disengages then the car dies (it even cuts out when you keep your foot on the gas). Just like the spark or fuel is being cut to the engine intermidently. Here is the history on the car. The motor has been replaced in the past, and it run fine after the engine was replaced. It orgininally had a J code engine, not the M code, but everything run fine after engine was replaced. the car set up for a while after having some break issues, that I have since fixed. After fixing the breaks, and started back driving the car, the problem started. Since the problem started, this is what all I have replaced:

PCV valve

ECM (computer)

Cam sensor

Crank Sensor

Fuel relay

Intake gasket (upper and lower)

cleaned butterfly

fuel injection cleaner

MAP sensor

Idol control valve

egr valve

fuel rail o-ring

spark plugs

air filter

Please help, the temperature is reaching 110 heat index and I have no a/c. The wife and young kid are driving a vehicle with 266,000 miles on it and it's just a matter of time before it completely dies. I'm trying to get this one fixed so they can use this one and have a vehicle with air.

Other observations are that there are no water mixed with the oil, and no miss when it is first cranked in the morning or on the trip to work (unless you turn the a/c switch on). The A/C compressor spins freely with the belt off of it (although I didn't try it with the clutch engaged). PLEASE HELP.

Update:

also, I checked the mass air flow sensor and it was filthy (used to live on a dirty road). I cleaned it with maf cleaner and the car seem to act alot better (but did not affect how it acted when turning the a/c on). The problem used to be all the time, after cleaning the maf, it's only after the engine heats up and you shut the car off and re-start it or when you turn the a/c on. Could the MAF be going bad and in a default mode? I unplugged the MAF with the car running at idle (when first cranking it in the morning) and the car died.

2 Answers

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  • Rudy H
    Lv 7
    1 decade ago
    Favorite Answer

    I still say it's the idle speed controller. You should test it. It's very easy.

  • ?
    Lv 4
    1 decade ago

    WoW! What a deal. and you gave a great explanation.

    It can be something as simple as a ground issue or a short in the a/c system. Turning it on, power to a/c, bang straight to ground as a short. diverting all the power to run the car straight to ground. Check the a/c wiring for continuity.

    As for the starting, i had a car that would refuse to start after it ran. It would have to set and cool off.

    The starter was drawing to many amps. It was replaced and a heat shield installed. Worked great.

    Possible the coil is breaking down when hot. The when it cools it will work again.

    Man. good luck with this. Hope you get it.

    GOD bless.

    Source(s): experince
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