• The site migration is complete! Hopefully everything transferred properly from the multiple decades old software we were using before. If you notice any issues please let me know, thanks! Also, I'm still working on things like chatbox, etc so hopefully those will be working in the next week or two.

Car dying in heat, not overheating

T

Tony Smith

New member
I have a mystery problem. My car has done this twice in 2 years now, always in 90 degree heat and after driving 100-150 miles on the interstate with the cruise control set. The temperature gauge indicates all is well there. Then the RPMs drop to 2000 or less and if I continue to try to give it gas to maintain my speed, it will die. I can let off the gas and most times it will drop to 500 RPM then jump back to 2000 where I then can give it gas and just keep it at 2000 RPM to try to limp home. Then while trying to make it home sometimes it will start driving normal again for a while. Then the problem started again with the 2000 RPM problem. No check engine light or trouble indicated anywhere on the dash screen or gauges. Mechanic is stumped since there isn't anything to read and he's unable to recreate. Only has happened on the interstate, never in the city driving. Help!
 


Tony Smith said:
I have a mystery problem. My car has done this twice in 2 years now, always in 90 degree heat and after driving 100-150 miles on the interstate with the cruise control set. The temperature gauge indicates all is well there. Then the RPMs drop to 2000 or less and if I continue to try to give it gas to maintain my speed, it will die. I can let off the gas and most times it will drop to 500 RPM then jump back to 2000 where I then can give it gas and just keep it at 2000 RPM to try to limp home. Then while trying to make it home sometimes it will start driving normal again for a while. Then the problem started again with the 2000 RPM problem. No check engine light or trouble indicated anywhere on the dash screen or gauges. Mechanic is stumped since there isn't anything to read and he's unable to recreate. Only has happened on the interstate, never in the city driving. Help!
Click to expand...


things to check would be, fuel pump and ignition coils. take off your coils. look for any burn marks, sniff them, do they smell like burning electronics?

i have had a fuel pump go bad after high heat and highway driving, and do the same thing your describing.

good luck
 
Could be the ICM getting too hot and showing a weak spot. Also wonder if the fuel pump resistor is having an issue.
 
Follow-up info, today the check engine light came on so I had them read the code...showing a bad catalytic converter and possibly O2 sensor. Do you think that would cause the problems I had? TIA
 
Well I just got done ordering a Magnaflow Cat from Autoanything.com for $369 rather than buying from my local Napa cuz Napa wanted $580 for the stock cat. The lady at Autoanything was extremely helpful and because I need the thing before a trip, they only charged me $2 for 3 day UPS instead of $23. Hopefully this fixes everything, but might have them replace the O2 sensor too.
 


Tony Smith said:
Well I just got done ordering a Magnaflow Cat from Autoanything.com for $369 rather than buying from my local Napa cuz Napa wanted $580 for the stock cat. The lady at Autoanything was extremely helpful and because I need the thing before a trip, they only charged me $2 for 3 day UPS instead of $23. Hopefully this fixes everything, but might have them replace the O2 sensor too.
Click to expand...

I assume you're getting the entire down pipe?

ZZP sells that for $200 and about $20 shipping freight. Probably $50 or $60 for 2 day ship.
 
You must log in or register to reply here.
Back
Top