3.1 V6 probs

[pjd1959]

HELLO:

I've got 3.1 V6 with throttle body and automatic tranny.

It runs like a dawg, idles rough and the idle goes up and down and it wants to quit if you don't ride the accelerator. It used to do this only occassionally, then it only did it when it was cold, but now it does it all the time. Now, once I get going down the highway, it runs fairly good and their has never been a problem with shifting, so I assume the TV cable and/or adjustment is okay.

This is what I did to try to fix it (but it only got worse):

New wires, plugs, cap and rotor. Replace the TPS (throttle position sensor),the EGR valve, PCV valve, all with GM replacement parts. I put a new fuel filter on it also.

I bought one of those cheap code readers, but I lost the direction on how to use it, any tips? I know the system goes through the same code twice at first (to let you know it's working) and then it does the code for the prob, any suggestions/tips on that would be also appreciated.

I'd like to fix this myself and have always gotten good advice from this board, thanks in advance!!!

PAT

[Nocturnall]

It gives the same code 3 times, code 12 first 3 times, then the problem codes, then 12 again. You should just be able to plug the reader in, it'll flash the codes. I got the book if you wanna post the codes.

I had a similar problem where the car would just die when I came to a light or slowed down to like 5mph. It just started doing it for no reason, turned out to be the idle strategy. Unplug the bat for 5mins, plug it back in, drive for at least 20mins, 30 if ya can and you should be good. You have to do this everytime you unhook the battery I've found.