# 2012 Cruze 1.4 Shutting off **URL:** \ **Category:** Maintenance/Repairs\ **Created:** [March 2, 2023, 12:44am UTC](https://community.cartalk.com/t/2012-cruze-1-4-shutting-off/189388 "2023-03-02T00:44:32Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 11\ **Page:** 1
**Author:** ![g.flores2000](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/g/76d3ee/32.png) [@g.flores2000](https://community.cartalk.com/u/g.flores2000)\ **Post date:** [March 2, 2023, 12:44am UTC](https://community.cartalk.com/t/2012-cruze-1-4-shutting-off/189388/1 "2023-03-02T00:44:32Z")
Hi. First off thanks for taking the time to view/respond to my post. When I start the car, it struggles to stay on. The rpm’s goes up and down wanting to shut off. But after about 20 seconds it comes to a normal idle. I can reverse out of my drive way just fine but when I step on the gas, the car jerks. And when making turns it dies on me. Any ideas on what it might be? Thanks I’m advance. ---
**Author:** ![Tester](https://sea1.discourse-cdn.com/cartalk/user_avatar/community.cartalk.com/tester/32/15976_2.png) [@Tester](https://community.cartalk.com/u/Tester)\ **Post date:** [March 2, 2023, 12:48am UTC](https://community.cartalk.com/t/2012-cruze-1-4-shutting-off/189388/2 "2023-03-02T00:48:12Z")
Has anyone tried cleaning the electronic throttle body? ![image](https://global.discourse-cdn.com/cartalk/original/3X/3/e/3e354d2612211b55199794ceba1ac63c2b496239.jpeg) Tester ---
**Author:** ![g.flores2000](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/g/76d3ee/32.png) [@g.flores2000](https://community.cartalk.com/u/g.flores2000)\ **Post date:** [March 2, 2023, 12:51am UTC](https://community.cartalk.com/t/2012-cruze-1-4-shutting-off/189388/3 "2023-03-02T00:51:00Z")
Yes. It was a while back maybe a month ago. ---
**Author:** ![davesmopar](https://sea1.discourse-cdn.com/cartalk/user_avatar/community.cartalk.com/davesmopar/32/41750_2.png) [@davesmopar](https://community.cartalk.com/u/davesmopar)\ **Post date:** [March 2, 2023, 1:09am UTC](https://community.cartalk.com/t/2012-cruze-1-4-shutting-off/189388/4 "2023-03-02T01:09:47Z")
> [@g.flores2000](#): > > And when making turns it dies on me You may have an ignition switch failing (or wiring in the column), I remember something about them having lots of ignition switch problems a while back… sorry I don’t remember all the details… You might try doing a wiggle test around the engine area (engine running, be safe doing it) checking to see if any plugs are not connected good or broken wires… You didn’t mention any dash light on so I am guessing no CEL on then… ---
**Author:** ![g.flores2000](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/g/76d3ee/32.png) [@g.flores2000](https://community.cartalk.com/u/g.flores2000)\ **Post date:** [March 2, 2023, 2:45am UTC](https://community.cartalk.com/t/2012-cruze-1-4-shutting-off/189388/5 "2023-03-02T02:45:55Z")
There is a code but the light isn’t currently on. It’s a p1101. But that code has been there since I got the car. There was also a p0171 I believe that was new when this started happening but as of right now it went away on its own. ---
**Author:** ![davesmopar](https://sea1.discourse-cdn.com/cartalk/user_avatar/community.cartalk.com/davesmopar/32/41750_2.png) [@davesmopar](https://community.cartalk.com/u/davesmopar)\ **Post date:** [March 2, 2023, 3:15am UTC](https://community.cartalk.com/t/2012-cruze-1-4-shutting-off/189388/6 "2023-03-02T03:15:10Z")
> [@g.flores2000](#): > > There is a code but the light isn’t currently on. It’s a p1101. Try unplugging the MAF sensor and see if it drives (maybe a parking lot not full of cars or someplace with very little traffic) any better, you might have to keep your foot on the throttle pedal to keep it from stalling out… I have seen some MAF sensors make a vehicle drive all kinds of crazy ways, including ,making them feel like a transmission is going out… > [@g.flores2000](#): > > p0171 IF the MAF sensor is bad, it could be giving the ECM/PCM a false signal making it think the system is too lean… ---
**Author:** ![g.flores2000](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/g/76d3ee/32.png) [@g.flores2000](https://community.cartalk.com/u/g.flores2000)\ **Post date:** [March 2, 2023, 3:25am UTC](https://community.cartalk.com/t/2012-cruze-1-4-shutting-off/189388/7 "2023-03-02T03:25:37Z")
I’ll try replacing the MAF sensor then. I cleaned it at least twice already with MAF sensor cleaner and still ran the same way. Hopefully this works. Thank you to anyone who has taken the time to reply to me. I really appreciate it. ---
**Author:** ![davesmopar](https://sea1.discourse-cdn.com/cartalk/user_avatar/community.cartalk.com/davesmopar/32/41750_2.png) [@davesmopar](https://community.cartalk.com/u/davesmopar)\ **Post date:** [March 2, 2023, 3:37am UTC](https://community.cartalk.com/t/2012-cruze-1-4-shutting-off/189388/8 "2023-03-02T03:37:29Z")
I would test it 1st… lol Throwing parts at something and hopping it sticks can get expensive… ---
**Author:** ![g.flores2000](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/g/76d3ee/32.png) [@g.flores2000](https://community.cartalk.com/u/g.flores2000)\ **Post date:** [March 2, 2023, 9:18am UTC](https://community.cartalk.com/t/2012-cruze-1-4-shutting-off/189388/9 "2023-03-02T09:18:01Z")
Sounds good. Will test tomorrow then. Hoping I can get it fixed soon. It’s my work car :,) Thank you! ---
**Author:** ![TXdealer](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/t/50afbb/32.png) [@TXdealer](https://community.cartalk.com/u/TXdealer)\ **Post date:** [March 2, 2023, 2:08pm UTC](https://community.cartalk.com/t/2012-cruze-1-4-shutting-off/189388/10 "2023-03-02T14:08:45Z")
My go to fault on these is a bad pcv/valve cover assembly. Lots of details if you Google the issue. ---
**Author:** ![George\_San\_Jose1](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/g/e5b9ba/32.png) [@George\_San\_Jose1](https://community.cartalk.com/u/George_San_Jose1)\ **Post date:** [March 2, 2023, 10:40pm UTC](https://community.cartalk.com/t/2012-cruze-1-4-shutting-off/189388/11 "2023-03-02T22:40:16Z")
No idea if applies to you, but my older Corolla at one point developed a difficult to diagnose symptom where it would jerk when applying or releasing throttle at slow speeds, rather than smoothly accelerating/decelerating. Noticed most in neighborhood driving, esp when attempting to adjust speed while going around corners. That problem turned out to be the throttle position sensor adjustment (throttle body). Also had a sort of similar problem one time, caused by faulty idle air control. If neither of those pans out, ask shop to measure fuel trims in a situation where symptom is occuring.