98 Chevy Malibu stalls and quits if I let my foot off the gas pedal. Is the fuel pump going out?

Question

The car starts fine but will not idle with car parked or while driving.

Answer 1

No.
If the fuel pump was bad, your car would idle fine, but not accelerate.

I'd tend to think you have a vacuum leak in the intake. A hose may have come off a vacuum port on the intake manifold.
Listen for a hissing noise with the engine running, and look around for vacuum hose that came unplugged from the engine.

Either that, or the EGR vlve is stuck open.

Answer 2

Hello Rachel, You did not mention what engine option you have in your Cougar: The 2.0L 4 cylinder or the 2.5L DOHC V-6 engine? (There are different things on each engine that will cause your problem) If yours has the 2.0L (4 cylinder) chances are the problem is a split PCV hose elbow. ADDED: @ keith p, Including yourself! There is no adjustment on this engine of ANY kind, the PCM (Powertrain control module) has full control of the entire engine! ADDED NOTE: The engine will still idle @ about 500-550 RPM with the IAC unplugged! This is how the minimum air rate is adjusted!

Answer 3

first thing i would do is check it for any hoses that might be off,look real closely at the vacuum hoses on the engine,and look for the large one,the pcv valve hose,if all seem to be on ,and in good shape,check the idle air control valve on it,this may be clogged up.or just going bad,that is what helps it idle good,and if it goes out or gets clogged up it will die when you let off the gas,because it supposed to go back to the idle position,that will cause it to do this,good luck with it hope this helps.

Answer 4

First replace your fuel filter, if you have a habit of running your gas tank real low this is most likely the problem. Should costs less than $10, and most likely will clear up the problem

Answer 5

Did the battery go low on you before the problem?
If so there May be a computer chip that needs to re-calibrate itself. Just go for a twenty min drive in the country and it will fix itself.

Answer 6

i agree with the others that said vacuum leaks.if it was the fuel pump,you wouldnt be able to drive it at all.check for vacuum leaks,by spraying some starting fluid around all fittings and hoses,also the intake.

Answer 7

it could be the fuel pump but you should clean the fuel injector sensors first

Answer 8

idle speed controler

Answer 9

to find the problem have a diagnostics check run

Answer 10

sounds like it