I was driving last night, and the engine wouldn't rev above 5000 rpm. Then all of a sudden it sounded like complete @!#$ and kept trying to stall. It stalled a few times trying to get home and it took like two minutes to start each time, and I had to keep revving the engine to keep it running. It's a 2004 sunfire. Has this ever happened to someone else? Thanks.
Any CEL??
DiamlerChrysler Certified Technician
ASE Certified Technician
Option D Racing Member
no, not at all. But I had to move the car today and it started right up, but still won't rev and still sounds like crap. It almost sounds like something is rattling too. I'm thinking detonation but I'm not sure.
As one odd suggestion, my coworker spent a week on a Ford Tempo that did exactly what you describe before finally refusing to run at all. It turned out to be freezing moisture in the fuel lines. A couple of bottles of gas anti-freeze later and she was good as new.
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Sounds like water in the fuel.use the gas line-antifreze..It also could be your fuel filter is pluged if you have not change that in some time..Or worse case could be fuel pump is on the way out...but start with the easy fix first..
I live in PA and the temperature and been changing between warm and cold every day, so moisture in the gas lines is a possibility. I went to start the car this afternoon to see how it was and it took about 15 seconds to start. Sounds almost normal now except that near the front of the engine near where there timing chain is, there is a very loud rattling/tapping sound. So I'll try out the dry gas. And the school I go to has thousands of dollars of worth of scanners and other diagnostic equipment, so tomorrow I'll find out if they'll be able to look at the car for me. And then hopefully I can get the car towed up there wednesday or thursday.
just a guess - crank position sensor or cam shaft sensor. I have the same symptoms on my second car and it makes me mad, because it all started yesterday and I got to know that reason that this might be things mentioned above. Oh, and coolant temp sensor also can cause some engine running problems. If you have ability to check these out, why not to try.
I got the car checked out at school today. And it's not good. It's got rod knock and is going to need a bottom end rebuild. On the bright side I was planning on getting it bored out in march, so I guess my plans are just being shifted. I just hope that there isn't any damage to the crank.
If you couldn't diagnois this issue. How are you going to rebuild a long block?
DiamlerChrysler Certified Technician
ASE Certified Technician
Option D Racing Member
Haynes Degree in automotive repair...
So what was it?
Turbo 2003 White Cavalier LS
