Ive got a 1996 Camaro. She ran great till today, i had a long trip in traffic and my car doesn't like the heat. Idk why but being at a red light for quite a while and then going forwards caused the car to shut off. The idle was good and i only got P0101. Ive already changed the maf earlier so do i need to clean my K&N filter or how/where do i check the wiring. It also became sluggish, at low speeds its fine but accelerating when going 50kph makes the rpm high and unstable. Any help would be nice

 

I’m going to ASSume you have the LT1 V8….. although you didn’t post this in the “LT1 Based Engine Tech” forum, and did not mention which specific engine.

P0101 sets when the air flow readings from the MAF sensor do not match the PCM’s calculated value of mass air flow. The PCM calculates mass air flow using the speed-density method. That involves the readings for RPM, MAP, and IAT. The problem could possibly be caused by faulty data from the MAF sensor, or faulty data from the MAP or IAT sensors. Since you indicate P0101 is the only code, it reduces the chances of the MAP or IAT sensors being the problem. When P0101 sets the PCM should default to speed-density.

Faulty MAP sensor readings can be caused by (straight from the factory service manual):

- wiring problems like a misrouted harness, rubbed through wire insulation, broken wire inside insulation.

Personal observation - The 1997 LT1 wiring harness is notorious for a broken MAF sensor signal wire inside the harness. But a complete break would set code P0100. Maybe damage is not a complete break.

- un-metered air bypassing MAF sensor signal wires - vacuum leak, PCV system vacuum leak, incorrect PCV valve, engine dipstick not fully seated. And others not in the service manual - tear in the rubber 90° inlet elbow, or bottom of the elbow not being fully on the throttle body. Or, MAF internals coated with oil/dirt from an over-oiled K&N. For reference, K&N recommends cleaning every 50,000 miles if vehicle is not exposed to harsh environmental conditions…. namely dust from unpaved roads.

Further caution….. this site is relatively dead. Only maybe a 1/2-dozen of us, mostly LT1 owners, still left on the site.

 

Thanks for the reply. Ill tinker around some more. Thanks for guiding me in the right direction. For some reason it only happened to me recently when driving in heavy traffic so a lot of stop and go or staying still at lights.

 

Just a wild guess... Check the MAF intake for dust...etc. I had similar issue after a clown at an oil change site did not fasten down the air filter housing and I got a lot of dust inside.