View Full Version : Car trouble!
blownz281
09-26-2012, 04:05 PM
2003 Chevy Monte 3.4L 134,000 miles. Past few days the car has zero power from the time you put it into drive from up to 55mph then its better but not perfect. My first thought was converter clogged or muffler? 2 hr ride and neither one where red hot underneath. I reved the car up in park to 6grand and it didn't seem to have any issues.
The car when you give it gas sounds like its inside a glass bottle real muffled. Transmission shifts in and out of drive and stuff smooth. Then when it finally goes into gear its smooth. I tried to gas it good at 20mph it does nothing and I watched the rmps from 1,000-2,000 go up and down like a miss from a spark plug. Car idles perfect and no check engine lights.
How would I tell if the cat or muffler or resonator needs replaced?
Is the stall converter the cause of this? I would be surprised as they last forever as far as I know. I know a decent amount about cars,but not sure whats the issue here. Never messed with a transmission anymore then removing it and putting it back in place on my Z28 to install a HP stall.Thanks for any help.
Car temp is normal.
Abnshrek
09-26-2012, 05:23 PM
Put some NPK tridium plugs in it next time. They last longer and fire better than run of the mill plugs.
blownz281
09-26-2012, 06:32 PM
It has AC Delco Platinum that's what they call for which are great plugs! But the plugs aren't the issue as they are less then a year old. Like what was said idling isn't a issue.
Delco 41-101 is iridium and fits lots of stuff, even your car!
AC Delco Iridium/Spark Plug (41-101) | 2003 Chevrolet Monte Carlo 6 Cylinders E 3.4L SFI | AutoZone.com (http://www.autozone.com/autozone/parts/AC-Delco-Iridium-Spark-Plug/2003-Chevrolet-Monte-Carlo/_/N-jk359Z8gctd?itemIdentifier=391388_0_0_)
after they're used up in cars they work awesome in most lawnmowers
I'm using one right now in my Honda push mower :ha:
suckers never foul with the little electrode :08:
plug based misses are often present at idle and smooth out with increased rpm
I would have guessed MAF, but that should also be present at idle
I kow this isn't brilliant freakin advice but.... try a can of Berryman B12 Chemtool cleaner in the fuel.
They make one you can pour and Walnart sells it for $3.25, $5 at AutoZone
Check the voltage with the engine running. 13.5-14.5v
I recently saw higher voltage casue a bunch of problems but nothing more specific than "runs like crap"
I've only seen 2 clogged converters EVER. One of those wasn't clogged rather a chunk had come loose and was blocking the exhaust.
The other was a heavy smoker.
wish I could be more helpful.
Why don't you hold the throttle open until it sets a code? :0519:
cincinnana
09-27-2012, 06:12 AM
Try Seafoam
Go to Youtube to see how to use it.
Using it is fun for the whole family !:08:
I had similar symptoms with my Ford truck.
I had multiple cracked plugs.
RandyGHO
09-27-2012, 06:13 AM
Here is couple of things I have ran into on different model cars.
1.Fuel filter
2.On multiple coil models one coil going bad.
3. A single bad plug or wire.
designshark
09-27-2012, 10:03 AM
Maybe timing chain/belt?
yeah the fact is you should start by pulling inspecting plugs, wire ends inside boots for burned conductor ends and check ohm readings , verify spark on each coil pack terminal
plug reading can give you a great idea of fuel situation
it could be tons of things and EVERY TIME I SKIP AROUND THE TROUBLESHOOTING CHART I REGRET IT
I still say WOT until it sets a code.
Better yet read it anyway, maybe the light is blown.
Abnshrek
09-27-2012, 11:45 AM
I put platinum plugs in my suburban it ran ok for a while but over loaded my coils, (I had to replace one) when I went back to iridium the problem went away. I guess they fire more efficiently than platinum.
never heard of overloaded coils but when I put platinum in my 97 Riviera with da SupaChaga it ran like crap after a few months
changed to Delco 41-101 and got 70K miles before plug failures occured
I'm not saying that I think sparkplugs are the only possible problem or that yu should buy (oh god no) a new set of plugs.
I am providing a similar experience so Abnshrek doesn't sound like a shade tree kook with his overloaded coils.
I do think that without more clues, or a trouble code, you should start plugs/wires/coil inspection.
You have no idea how many times it's the first thing you didn't check.
Abnshrek
09-27-2012, 12:37 PM
Well they were the double platinum and they weren't in it long.. I can tell you that. You can call it what you want but I know all the misfiring stopped when I put the old plugs in it. What a waste of 35 bucks.. :^)
blownz281
09-27-2012, 02:55 PM
Thanks everyone. I pushed it hard today and check engine light came on. So Advanced said the scanner showed clean EGR valve or replace. car ran better after light came on,night and day difference. Computer changed the tables to even it out.
You shouldn't put platinum in a car that doesn't call for it and like wise.
Yep, I hate trouble shooting as well and sucks on a 3.4L as half the plugs are behind the motor :) . Work,kids equal no time.. Hahaa
blownz281
09-27-2012, 02:58 PM
Also me and lots of other people running Camaro's, Transam's with blowers,turbos we always used AutoLite 103-104 as they run cooler.:08:
blownz281
09-28-2012, 11:23 AM
Well all that for nothing. Took 4hrs to take it off and put it back together including,cleaning everything. Nothing was dirty really. Car didn't want to start at first for a while then it did. Played around with reving it,then drove it 1000ft and it drove horrible again. So must need a EGR valve. The pvc hose that runs to the valve cover,then runs up to a little plastic box,then to a 3" long hose. Well that hose is all collapsed. Completely when I give the car gas. It has nothing to do with the egr though. Wonder if that's the problem and throwing a code for egr?
I use to love working on cars,but with working 10hr days and two kids,Wife working 10plus and school. I'm starting to think this is my last time,patience is lacking with this stuff. Plus side this is the first thing needing fixed on the cars for a long time.
$45.89 free shipping on ebay for brand new egr valve.
Scuba_Dave
09-28-2012, 01:45 PM
I had a collapsed vacuum tube on a car & it ran like crap on & off
As I gave it the gas the tube would collapse & power would drop
As power dropped tube would open up & power return - cycle repeated
Drove me nuts til I found it
blownz281
09-29-2012, 01:34 PM
Dave - now I did find a small hose for the EVAP Purge Valve Soleniod,hose would collapse with throttle. Has to be the issue,guess I will find out tomorrow.
sounds great
the last egr problem I fixed was on a Ranger
there was a separate 3 wire device from the egr that actually caused the problem
whatever the part was, it was easily testable with a DMM and no amount of valve cleaning or swaping would have fixed the problem
I doubt the systems are the same, and I'm just throwing in my most recent egr exp.
I cleaned the valve.... nothing..... went to google.... hmmm let's test this part.... TADA
there are too many finicky little items in cars lately with little published data on testing or untestable with DMM
makes it a real pain in the A
blownz281
09-30-2012, 07:27 AM
cars are made a certain so that just not anyone can work on them. So the dealer can charge you tons of money just to look at it and through parts at it. Then say ah yeah we had to replace all those others parts too. Even though they have nothing to do with your problem they were bad too. NOT!
Abnshrek
09-30-2012, 09:57 AM
I can tell you GM has been engineering their products to make it harder for the backyard mechanic to work on for over 3 decades, especially mid-size vehicles.
blownz281
09-30-2012, 10:06 AM
That's the truth.
Nicolas Naranja
09-30-2012, 06:49 PM
Totally unrelated to your problem, but here's the problem I have had recently with 2 trucks. The computer wouldn't recognize the key and the truck just quit running. Absolutely nothing was wrong mechanically. I had to replace the computer and get new keys.
The other problem I have had and I have determined why GM almost went bankrupt was poor quality. I have a Buick Lesabre and within the course of 2 weeks I had both rear window motors break. They have to be the most convoluted cheaply engineered motors I have seen.
blownz281
09-30-2012, 07:04 PM
Well I don't feel its the egr valve at all since like I said all was good with it. Need to find a new purge valve hose though. Of course no one carries that except the dealer I hope!! Even ebay and google found nothing. A guy I talked to still swears its my converter,sounds like what he has fixed at where we works. I call Autozone -Advanced they don't rent exhaust pressure gauge tools :( In Ohio they rented you everything. So now I'm not sure what to do? I'm going to have to check at some local exhaust shops and see if they can test pressure and hope they don't charge much just for something simple. Found aftermarket SS converters for cheaper with shipping then Auto-Advance.< These places use to be cheap for parts.
why GM almost went bankrupt was poor quality. I have a Buick Lesabre and within the course of 2 weeks I had both rear window motors break. They have to be the most convoluted cheaply engineered motors I have seen.
Amen to that.
I have a 99 Regal GS with the same CRAP window regulators.
Actually it has crap almost everything. The more I worked on it, the more I hated it.
After fixing each window 1-3 times I finally just parked the car.
It's now PARTS for my 97 Buick Riv. extra L67 and 4T65E-HD
Totally unrelated to your problem, but here's the problem I have had recently with 2 trucks. The computer wouldn't recognize the key and the truck just quit running. Absolutely nothing was wrong mechanically. I had to replace the computer and get new keys.
I had a problem with a 99 Ranger with the PATS (electronic anti theft stuff).
I was replacing the ignition switch (easy money) and then the truck wouldn't start.
OH what a bother.... panicked customer asking lots of questions like they know a damn thing about cars... (fix it yourself?)
Turns out someone had replaced the ignition key cylinder with a non electronic type.
The original key was in the original ignition key cylinder tucked under the dash.
I had bumped it while lowering the column and loosened the key so the anti theft was disabling the truck.
I pushed it back in 1/8 inch.... TADA !!!
Anti theft measures have seriously complicated ignition systems over the last 20 years.
Call a Toyota dealer and ask about a key for your 2006+ Pruis. (better sit down)
Well I don't feel its the egr valve at all since like I said all was good with it.
What weas the particular code set? (P0401, P0403, P0404, P0405)
did you test it? (AWESOME LINK)
Part 1 -GM EGR Valve Test (P0401, P0403, P0404, P0405). (http://easyautodiagnostics.com/gm_egr_diagnostic/egr_valve_test_1.php)
as far as the cat..
smells? rattles? exhaust leaks?
Actual clogged cats are (comparatively) rare.
You can remove an O2 sensor pre-cat to check for excessive pressure.
I'm going to go see what I can find concerning the purge valve/hose setup.
Chrysler is the worst of them.
I refuse to work on Chrysler ANYTHING ever since they hooked the fuel and ignition signals to an untestable component and cost me some REP.
Chrysler is pure trash PURE TRASH.
RandyGHO
09-30-2012, 09:39 PM
I my wife had a car several years back that would not start for my wife but would start for me every time. It turned out, the car would only start with the door open. The dealer installed after market security system but failed to crimp the power wire properly so the only way it would work is open the door and the back feed from the door light would energize the security system to allow it to start.
Abnshrek
09-30-2012, 09:42 PM
I my wife had a car several years back that would not start for my wife but would start for me every time. It turned out, the car would only start with the door open. The dealer installed after market security system but failed to crimp the power wire properly so the only way it would work is open the door and the back feed from the door light would energize the security system to allow it to start.
Now that's Hodge podge work.. lol :^)
car alarms can cause all sorts of phantom intermittent starting problems
opps.. not can... DO
BTW I ONLY solder in cars, even crimp stuff, and especially stereos
blownz281
10-01-2012, 06:10 AM
They didn't say,computer just said egr issue.. We have always smelled alittle bit of a exhaust like once in a while. Not so much in the car but outside of it even when it wasn't a windy day? Open the car door and poof. Something rattles but sounds like a heat sheild. Now if I removed a o2 what would that tell me? The cat was clogged. That's what I thought its really rare for that to happen..
blownz281
10-03-2012, 04:21 PM
Well $300.04 later I have a new cat installed. What a nightmare this shop turned out to be. Glad the car is fixed and don't have to deal with them again. Thanks all for the help.
Nicolas Naranja
10-03-2012, 07:08 PM
Well $300.04 later I have a new cat installed. What a nightmare this shop turned out to be. Glad the car is fixed and don't have to deal with them again. Thanks all for the help.
Many years ago I went to Midas and I asked for them to make me a pipe about 24" long with flares on both side. The guy asked if I was removing my catalytic converter and I just winked and said I'd never do anything like that. Of course, this was on a car that didn't have much of a computer.
blownz281
10-03-2012, 07:31 PM
Yep my 1994 Z28 has a straight pipe as its below the age of emissions :) .
so it was the cat and is fixed now?? :lurk:
if that is the case then I clearly didn't help at all LOL
blownz281
10-04-2012, 06:28 PM
Yes, Car runs awesome. Cat must have been slowly falling apart cause its a huge jump in power! Nope I wouldn't say that,you gave the board ideas of possible problems :)
vBulletin® v3.6.8, Copyright ©2000-2020, Jelsoft Enterprises Ltd.