I love my Cat but I have 8 codes!!!!!!!!!!!

[gjinx]

I have a Cat that used to start without any problems but in the last week, it has left my wife (and mother in law) stranded several times. When it doesn't start it cranks fine but wont fire. After the car sits for a few hours or overnight it will start fine again. This sounds like other threads so I hoped my problem was also the crankshaft position sensor Unfortunately, Autozone told me I had 8 codes and none of them had to deal with the crankshaft position sensor.

So now I'm here asking for help from my fellow Catera owners. Can anyone tell me if of the codes below have to deal with the crankshaft position sensor or a reason for the sporadic starting issue?

1) 1870 - manuf controlled transmission - what the !@#%$%^#$! I too like several other owners have the "occasional" transmission light that comes on once in awhile and I plan to address it soon but if the tranny is going I may be doomed.

2) 0171 - system too lean bank 1
3) 0174 - system too lean bank 2
Could these be the result of octane booster I added? Long story short, wife filled up with the cheapest gas possible and car began to idle rough. After reading threads I disconnected the mass airflow sensor (which helped ). I need a MAF but Autozone and a couple of other part stores don't know they exist in our cars. So I'll have to search the internet.

4) 1161 - computer controlled air monitoring. I'm pretty sure this is the MAF
5) 0100 - VAF circuit malfunction (could this also be the "MAF")
6) 0300 - random cylinder misfire
7) 0301 - cylinder 1 misfire
8) 0303 - cylinder 3 misfire

Again,I was planning on changing the crankshaft position sensor but I don't know if it will help me or not. Any suggestions fellow Catera lovers?

[Warez]

Codes 2, 3, 6, 7 and 8 are most likely all caused by a faulty MAF. I was getting the same codes and it was the MAF.

Cheapest place is www.rockauto.com about $115 IIRC.

A faulty CPS will most likely manifest itself in the engine spontaneously cutting out and not starting properly.

[Warez]

Originally Posted by gjinx

1) 1870 - manuf controlled transmission - what the !@#%$%^#$! I too like several other owners have the "occasional" transmission light that comes on once in awhile and I plan to address it soon but if the tranny is going I may be doomed.

This code means that excessive torque convertor clutch slippage is being detected.

The transmission is not a problem area on out cars and I bet that this is actually an electrical issue. Someone mentioned that they fixed a similar problem by cleaning the wiring harness that plugs into the tranmission that was corroded. Worth checking out.

Does you TC light turn on when the Port light flashes as well?

Originally Posted by gjinx

4) 1161 - computer controlled air monitoring. I'm pretty sure this is the MAF

This is a fault with the O2 sensor, see if the code goes away after you replace the MAF. Otherwise replace the respective O2 sensor.

Originally Posted by gjinx

5) 0100 - VAF circuit malfunction (could this also be the "MAF")

This is indeed the MAF.

[frank moran]

I would first check for vacum leaks all around all the intake area including the MAF sensor, also up near the power brake booster etc. also check the fuel pressure, possible filter problem. does it easily reach road speed once you get it running???

[gjinx]

Thanks to all for the help. I have ordered a MAF sensor from Rock Auto and saved quite a bit (thanks). This should take care of most of the codes....and I think I got lucky because car stalled while driving yesterday and wouldn't start, so I'm off to Autozone for the CPS.

Hopefully these two sensors will do the trick.
Do I need to clear the codes once the sensors have been installed?
If so, how do I do it? Thanks again.

[Warez]

Just disconnect the battery for a few minutes to clear the PCM.