stupid car ...

[ThePrettyPhysicist]

So I went out to my car this morning to start it. I drove it last night with no problems - car drove normally, no strange noises, etc. She has less than 50K miles. First try, the car wouldn't start. Second try, the car started, but stalled out. On the third try, it stayed running, but the SES light and Trac Off light were on and the car sputtered. I put the car in drive and the engine was rocking and shaking and bucking. There is a horrible sulfur smell coming from the exhaust, which is also shaking. My husband thinks it sounds like the car is only running on 3 cylinders. Any thoughts? Does anyone have experience with this? I'm afraid to drive it to the shop in its current condition. I am REALLY hoping that it is something the warranty will cover ...

[Redog]

Could be a lot of things.

If it's running on 3 cyl, you'd hear a popping since the car would be backfiring a lot. Could be bad plugs and or wires, maybe one of the wires had the coating burned or rubbed off. The MAF could be dirty, bad fuel pump? clogged fuel filter?

You're really into cars, do you have a scanner? SES and Trac off could be a wheel hub, but that wouldn't cause the problems you're having.

With the car being 4 years old and under 60K, if you got the extended warranty and you didn't do any mods that would cause this, I don't see why it wouldn't be covered

[ThePrettyPhysicist]

no scanner - Fiero codes can be read with a paper clip. :)

the car only moved 5 feet from outside the garage into the garage, so I'm not sure how it behaves other than at idle. there was no backfiring - but after reading other posts and thinking about it more, my husband thinks it sounds like when the traction control is off. i purchased a GM extended warranty that is good for another like 40K miles, but i'm afraid to try and drive it to the dealership ...

[Redog]

Call them and have it towed. Request a flatbed truck ;)

I know about the OBD I being read with a paperclip. I fixed the Delta's SES light by taking out the bulb ;)

[Cliff8928]

The last Ecotec I saw with a problem like that had a bad ignition module. It takes all of 5 minutes to change.

[ThePrettyPhysicist]

is that something that would be covered under warranty? i just don't want to shell out a lot of money for this ... :angry:

[[ion] C2]

isn't everything covered under warranty, especially the powertrain? lol you're car is under warranty, anything that goes wrong with it mechanically should be covered

[super white alero1]

Sulfur scent usually a bad cat. Under federal law that is covered if original for 8 year/80,000 miles. IF you got the code P0420 - catalyst below threshold that confirms faulty cat. However a misfire could damage the catalytic converter, which is what the dealer will probably tell you its your fault for letting the engine damage the exhaust and most likely sell you both O2 and a cat. In conjunction with correcting misfire. I suggest taking care of misfire first then bring it to dealer for the P0420 code.

[ThePrettyPhysicist]

is there a way to check the codes without a code reader? I don't have one, and i will not drive the car anywhere to have it done.

to be honest, it sounds like what other people have described when they had problems with their hubs ... but i don't know.

[Redog]

No.

If it was the hubs the car would still run and drive correctly

[[ion] C2]

hmm i'm pretty sure i replied above you yesterday saying something like "Wheel hubs don't cause engine problems..." maybe i forgot to hit submit, lol.

[ThePrettyPhysicist]

my husband took her for a short drive today - wouldn't go over 15 mph. She has been towed to the dealership for repair ... so we'll see.

[ThePrettyPhysicist]

just heard from the dealer. ignition coil and ignition module ... all covered under warranty ... so i should have Raccoon Killer back tomorrow ... :)

[cherrington17]

hooray for warrentys.

[ThePrettyPhysicist]

yes ... i am very happy that i purchased the GM protection plan after my warranty expired ... the dealer said it would have been close to $600 without it ...

[Midgear]

my car does that every now and then, its like the traction control tries to work for some retarded reason, and it wont accelerate for crap, and i just roll for about 20 - 30 seconds and i hear a clicking sound and the dash will beep 3 times and then the car drives normally, so im guessing my wheel hubs are -trying- to work, but arent..

the lights were ripped off the instrument panel from the previous owner, so i cant tell which lights are coming on, they literally ripped the instrument panel out of the dash, and took a pair of pliers and crushed the LED's that light up the trac off, SES, ect ect.. all the trouble lights are broken apart..

[Redog]

Good to know what the problem is and even better to know it's a free fix ;)

[ThePrettyPhysicist]

brought her home last night and she drives great! apparently the problem had been brewing for a while, because she drove a lot better than she had before the "incident". i hadn't realized how much i love driving that car until i got back into it. i was driving my husband's intrigue all week - and its not nothing on the alero (probably because i can't reach the gas pedal very well in the intrigue!) ... so thanks to everyone who contributed and helped ...

[Redog]

Always willing to help, esp the pretty girls ;)