My grandmas 95 Se needs help. Here is what I know, it will start only after pumping the gas but it stalls and won't keep running. It puffs out black smoke and smells like gas. I unplugged the MAF and it did not even fire. Is it a sensor? which one?

IIRC, if your MAF sensor is in good health, the stored values from previous runs would be set as defaults, therefore allowing you to start the car. All signs point to a bad MAF, but I've never heard of a car doing something like that... Sounds like it'* running REALLY rich, and I wouldn't run it like that. There'* a whole slew of things that can go wrong when you do...

I thought MAF also but before she spends $150 I hope to pin it down.

150? Email Ed Morad...
Ed at MoradPartsCompany dot com (replace at with @ and dot with . , no spaces...)

He should have what you're looking for. I just bought a MAF from him for about half that

is that for a new one?

No, used, but he'* one of the most trusted vendors on this site. I haven't heard of one problem with them, and I've bought a transmission and a MAF sensor from him. He tests them and checks the car it came from for codes before shipping them out.

Ok I just hope that is the problem. Any other input folks?

Sounds like the exact symptoms that my son had with his '99 Grand Prix. Disconnecting the MAF gave the same result of not starting at all. Replacing the MAF cured the problem. Any codes set?

just another idea. had what seem to be a flooding problem. black smoke and would not stay running. turned out to be coolant sensor. not the one that supplies the temp gauge but the one that tells computer engine temp. sensor was telling computer that it was 0 degrees farenheit when actual outside temp was much higher. fuel injectors were pouring in too much gas.

We have not checked for codes yet. Thanks everyone