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Jim Grant's Tech Tips
'91 Olds Cutlass Supreme,
Phantom Stalling
Q: I have a '91 Olds Cutlass Supreme with the large V6. The car was
bought used and ran great for about 3 months. All of a sudden it started to
phantom stall when idling for a short time or when the brakes were applied to
stop in a hurry. Typically it will stall at an intersection (when it does stall)
and I have no idea that it stalled until I go to accelerate when the signal
turns green and the car does not move. It also has an erratic idle- surge high,
then low, then stall.
A: Have the minimum
idle speed checked. The minimum idle speed is the engine’s idle rpm without
the computer controlling it. It’s common for this setting to change, mostly
due to deposits with age and result in an erratic idle and engine stalling condition.
Performing the necessary cleaning, checking and resetting if needed, of the
minimum idle speed takes under 1 hour and can correct the idle problems you’re
describing.
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