Car stalls sometimes after running out of gas once, rpm's are super low. have changed spark plugs, fuel filter.

this 17 years old a good run. nothing new here on failures this old.
all car fail that is what they all do eventually. (entropy etc)
let me guess never fails in others hands
and scans show nothing wrong, but sure too late then, they are gone.
so is and engine problem, so we focus there.
engines (gas, in order fail for 3 ways)

1. engine is bad, or cat melted (no) and egr stuck open (no)
2. bad spark (fuel can not burn lacking spark so why skip #2?)
3. bad fueling. too much or too little

in that order,

not enough evidence stated.
RPM's sink on start sometimes dies then usually it catches itself, idles high a few seconds then lines out.

runs great hot engine, so I guess fails only cold engine.
so bad spark plugs, bad spark coil boots or bad COPS
or bad CKP or CMP
why not just put in new plugs and new boots,
17years old those are NEVER GOOD.

ENGINE IS: 3.0L 2v or 4v (means 6x2 =12valvs or 6x4=24vavle heads.???? it has COPS, coil over plugs(spark)
6 cops ,6 new spark plugs and 6 new boots.
or learn now scan and drive,
or scan in the morning dead cold as the RPM go nuts
and does it misfire going nuts the RPM> misfire is spark first
or flooding 2nd the cold fast idle speed is wrong (IAC)

all I here is almost STALLS at cold start means why below 800 rpm hot and 1500 rpm cold so stalling is what MISFIRE?
can you prevent the too low RPM and stall with fast right foot action?
I say bad spark if not bad spark that is leaking injector or pair

learn to listen and feel for misfire,
and to use the right foot , adding throttle extra air to make it burn clean. Misfire s mostly violent. felt , heard, and see if you view the engine shack.
that is all I have but scanning it failing is how you fix cars

nobody can fix working car delivered a work car...
I have scan tool that logs and then play them back and bingo
GOTCHA. (P0306, and number 6 injectors is bad) see?

This sounds like the idle control valve or stepper motor as it's sometimes called needing a good clean out or replacement. When faulty this would cause all the symptoms you are describing.

an 03 has a gen 2 OBD that stores faults (not all faults trip the ck engine light) i would start there by doing a download (all faults)with a code ck'er , could be something as simple as an idle adjustemnt or maybe a vac line got broken/left off when doing the plugs/wire change , happens!!!

why not finish the tuneup, spark and air filter.
also the EGR valve is a 50k service point.
if the EGR sticks open, Just before a stop sign driving
this is a sure sign of a stall ,by EGR. failure (clean it)
my pat gas.
so you are really saying, the rpm drops way below normal?
at idle , then stalls.
but the fast right foot saves the stall?
below 400rpm most cars stall. 300 for sure.
the CEL will flash on just at or just after the stall. RPM based action it is.
and if the stall is easy to save?" is it, super easy,? then the ISC is failing, the idle speed controller.
if on the other hand the skipped fuel tune up, its all nasty bad spark then all hope is lost , for ISC and ALL.
do the tuneup first, see the list?

sounds like an intake manifold gasket leak which will throw of the air fuel mixture and engine cannot account for extra air.also check(maf)(map)(tps)sensors and/or (iac)intake air control valve...hope this helps you. thanks for using fix ya please rate answer.

spark plug cable is lose or one spark plug is faulty.

.A}.could be the fuel filter ..B}.converter is plugging up .C} a vacuum line has come dry-rotted and or is come unattached and is sucking air .D} .idle speed is too low ..E}.The firing order is incorrect ! ....F}.clogged air cleaner ? ...G} check all fluid levels for proper fill levels . or it could be the choke sensor ids sticking or faulty ....have you tried running any fuel injection cleaner and a good grade gas this is just a minor list of points to start with after all we all get bad gas sometimes .

You don't need to change the spark plugs since it has only 31.5 K. The plugs should last 60K. There is a an adjustment at the gas cable end at engine to increase the idle a little bit. You can increase rpm at idle to 600 RPM. Since your RPM at idle is low that why it is shaking at idle, red lights. Let me know it it is shaking at high speed ( 2500 RPM)

when cars idle super low this ussually mean that you fuel filter is clogged.........change the fuel filter.......and if that does not help.....check the air filter.......if dirty change it.......and if that still does not help......check the o2 sensor......and if that does not work......"when was the last time you had a tune up on your car"?

you might need new plugs...........also try runing a fuel injector cleaner....sometimes it is because the injec are dirty......

It sounds like all it needs is a good tune-up. I would check the spark plugs, spark plug wires, air filter and fuel filter.