Hi everyone, I've got an 89 firebird formula 350 with 70k miles and when I start it up it wants to die right away. Some times it will idle, but when I put it into gear it will die. It only does this for the first 5 minutes and then it is fine after that. I jumped out the A and B on the connector and got a code 34. My chiltons manual says a code 34 is in the MAP sensor circuit, but my car does not have one. It has a MASS air flow sensor. Does any one have any thoughts on this, or is this not enough information. Thanks!

 

I thought all third gens had a MAP from 88-92?

Its a small black box with a vacuum line going to it and a connector (obviously). Usually was on the pass. side of the intake I think.

 

All tbi cars in those years had a map sensor, but tpi cars did not get them until 1990.

 

Someone told me that my problem may be with the air filter that I installed. I put in a K&N filter and I was told that sometimes these filters can come with to much oil on them from the factory and that the oil can get on the filaments inside of the mass air flow sensor. Any thoughts on this. I will be checking it out tomorrow.

 

Find new friends that know more about cars. The K&N filter is not the cause and the code 34 may be the Maf relay on the firewall, may need replacing..

 

if you get it running and it can stay running, lightly tap on the MAF with the end of a screwdriver and if the idle changes during this then its your MAF. im willing to bet its your MAF.
to detrmine which relay is what, as you fire up the car you can reach over by the booster and put your hand on the 3 relay there. one os MAF power, another is MAF burn off and the other is fuel pump. the fuel pump looks a lil diff than the burn off and the power.
the FP will click when you fire it up as should the power so if you feel 2 relays click then you know your power is good and its your MAF. your burn off relay will click a sec or 2 after the car is shut off, this s to burn off the impurities the air brings in. you can pull the inlet bellow and have someone shut the car off and you can see the wires heat up and go out.

 

I would buy a MAF relay and try it...its cheap and if it doesnt work you can take it back.

Sounds MAF related, or a vacuum leak to me.

 

Ok, I finally got around to looking at the car and used some of the ideas listed. When I tapped on the maf with a screwdriver the idle of the car did change but maybe only a few hundred rpm's. So, I pulled the maf out and it was full of red looking oil. There's only one place this would have come from. The K&N air filter I installed. I used a light amount of compressed air to clean it and put it back in the car. So far I have not had any problems with it in a few days. I have never had a problem with these air filters before and my friend told me he see's it all the time at the gm dealer he works for. I'll keep everyone informed of how it run's after a week or so.

 

<<<< has K & N and has no issues. use a lil alcohol on a Q tip and carefully wipe the wire on the MAF. this should clean it.

 

Next time after you put new oil on the filter let it dry overnight before putting them back in and driving the car....that should help you not have this problem anymore.

EDIT: Also, its not a good idea to blow the MAF out with compressed air...it can damage the tiny things the actually measure teh air coming in and your screwed. Use the rubbing alcohol and q-tip like mentioned above.

 

Car is still running great. I will pull it back out and clean as said by a few. Also I did not oil this filter. It came right out of the box and into my car. There is only about 150 miles with the filter.

 

I would look at your Idle air control valve.

Will is stay running if you give it gas while you shift into gear? If so, thats your culprit.