gm v6 3100 code po102

[crazyoildude]

any ideas? 1996 oldsmobile ciera with the 3100 v6 (3.1) car would run fine and when coming to a stop just stall but was able to restart immediatly this would happen anytime.. everything checked out fine and no codes were stored.. i figure it sounds to me like a MAF sensor so yesterday the only place i could find a MAF (mass air flow sensor) was at auto zone my customer was at my shop waiting so i installed the new MAF and i told her if the problem is still there to come back.. well everything was ok going 15 miles home (no stalling) but the next day she called and said the check engine light was on but the car was running good.. i scanned it and it showed po102 which is maf circut low input.. i cleared the code and the light came back on..Its strange that there was no check engine light on until i installed the new sensor..
Maybe a defective MAF ??

 

[GMBoy]

MAF's are the #1 defective new part purchased aftermarket. You can get a good one or a bad one because they are remanufacturing them and that don't always work right. The fact that the car is running better proves the old one was bad in some way. Now the code proves the new one is also bad - but in another way that isn't causing the previous problems. I'd replace it again if they will let you exchange it.

 

[crazyoildude]

i exchanged it earlier and will install it tomorrow i just hope this one is good i got it at autozone we do a lot of business with them
I may be forced to get an original part from a dealer i hope not...
Actually i have a bunch of thos engines at the shop problem is they all seem to have the two screw this one has a three screw

 

[punisher]

I had a P0102 caused by a vac leak one time. Ck for something loose between MAF and throttle body as well.

 

[crazyoildude]

Update... Exchanged the old maf sensor and put another one (rebuilt from auto zone) 2nd one and all seems well car runs good and engine light is off i drove it for 5 miles and then gave it to my customer..
I checked for leaks but this sensor is on top of the throttle body..
Also it does seem like we get some bad ones out of the box i noticed that a few years ago..
Why are they so expensive anyway they are rebuilt..

 

[artificialist]

Originally Posted By: crazyoildude
Update... Exchanged the old maf sensor and put another one (rebuilt from auto zone) 2nd one and all seems well car runs good and engine light is off i drove it for 5 miles and then gave it to my customer..
I checked for leaks but this sensor is on top of the throttle body..
Also it does seem like we get some bad ones out of the box i noticed that a few years ago..
Why are they so expensive anyway they are rebuilt..

Hot wire MAF sensors typically have a platinum wire in them, that could explain why reman sensors could cost so much.

On some GM cars, I have seen people simply unplug the MAF, and let the MAP sensor do the work. Sure, it couldn't pass smog, but in FL there is no smog test.

 

[crazyoildude]

wow i did not know Florida did not have a smog test.. I learned something new...
NJ smog tests are just a pain for NJ drivers more and more people are going elsewhere for stickers anyway... Between that and licensing for tradesmen you get ripped off coming and going licensing is a joke all they want is money all the unlicensed guys and there are a lot of them are the smart ones

 

[EricF]

sounds like NJ is taking lessons from California.. except California wants ALL cars off the road.

I just read an article that said california passed a law that all new windshields MUST have a coating on it to reduce incoming heat so a/c doesn't have to work as hard, THUS fuel economy.
AND, the new windshields (even required on door less jeep wranglers, the coating absorbs low frequency devices, like cell phopnes, GPS, etc..