Check Engine Light after MAF Change

[Kevin Oraha]

I drive a 1990 Buick Lesabre 3.8L. I had made the mistake of using Carb cleaner to clean the MAF sensor. (I know, big mistake). I started to get a check engine light regularly and was wasting a lot of fuel.

With that, I replaced the MAF sensor, and everything was fine for a while. About 2-3 months later the check engine light turned on for about 10 seconds then turned off. I was curious so I checked the code again, and it was the code (13). I ignored this, due to the fact that I kept reading around that the car needs to adjust to the new MAF sensor. It continued to happen, about once a week maybe.

Now (2 months later) the check engine light comes on regularly, but turns off shortly afterwards. An important note, when it does turn on, I notice significant hesitation, but this ONLY occurs when the check engine light turns on.

If it is of any help at all, when I am at a complete stop at a light and not giving it any gas and the check engine light turns on, my RPM’s will drop and my car will eventually stall. When I see that the check engine light turns on, I have to put my car in Neutral and keep my car’s RPM’s up so that it does not stall.

For the record, I have changed the spark plugs/wires already and I do not hear any vacuum leaks.

I am curious to know what the problem may be? What are my options here? I’m thinking that it could be something with fuel delivery? EGR valve?

For your reference, – 1990 Buick Lesabre 3.8L 83,000 miles.

I cannot afford to have it looked at by a professional. Any advice would be very helpful.

Topic

[John Hugon]

First of all you should check and see what trouble code(s) are stored. If it is a MAF sensor code make sure you have a good connection at the MAF sensor connector, also;check your engine air intake duct work for external air leaks…it has to be sealed.

[college man]

code 13 is for the o2 sensor not maf. see if this helps.

http://www.justanswer.com/buick/34sh0-92-buick-lesabre-saying-code-13-check-fir.html

http://www.trishield.com/Directory/troublecodes.shtml

[Bill]

Code 13 is set by a bad O2 sensor. It was a known problem on those cars. If you don’t have the means to test it replacing it will probably cure the problem.

[Kevin Oraha]

Come to think of it, I did see a little bit of smoke coming out of that part of the engine a few months ago, before the problem arose, it was on a rainy day so I figured maybe it was just the rain hitting the hot engine. I checked it again later on that same day and the smoke was no longer coming.

Could this be the culprit to my current problem? Could it possibly be the fuel filter or IAC Valve??

[Kevin Oraha]

I would like to verify, this is where the smoke was coming out of. Is this by chance the o2 sensor?

It is directly on the back of the engine. Is this what I am looking for? The connection for the wire is mounted near the Blower motor of the vehicle.

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[Its me]

That is the O2 sensor… Having smoke come out in that area is not a good sign… A cracked exhaust manifold can cause the O2 to not properly report the Fuel/Air mixture and can cause performance issues…

-Karl

[EricTheCarGuy]

Sounds like you have an O2 issue as pointed out. I will also suggest you look for any air leaks in the hose that goes from the MAF sensor to the engine. Any holes here can cause performance problems. More info here.

http://www.ericthecarguy.com/faq/solving-automotive-performance-issues

Good luck and keep us posted.

[Kevin Oraha]

Just want to say thank you to everyone.

I changed my o2 sensor, and drove for a full hour and a half with no Check engine light or stalls/hesitation. Before the o2 sensor was replaced, I couldn’t even drive for 10 minutes.

Thanks again

[dayton]

Thank you for all the responses!
It can help really great… :stick:

[EricTheCarGuy]

Glad you got it solved. Thanks for the update and for using the ETCG forum.

[college man]

Glad you worked it out. Thanks for the update and the fix.

[Author]

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