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Engine light flashing never seen that before?

h0wl0ngcanitbe

h0wl0ngcanitbe

Lifer
So my 97 GTP was accelerating up a hill at about 50 and then I was getting a light shudder or maybe more like an engine gurgle. It was anything too bad and I wouldnt have been too bothered by it but the check engine light started blinking as it was happening and I have never seen that?

So heres what im thinking? Maybe a heat issue? My heat gauge will creep up too 210 pretty quickly and will drop when the engine is not under load. And I was smelling a light burning smell after the hill climb.

I have recently replaced the Idle Air Control Valve, and the MAF, did and oil change. I have not replaced the coolant or the Tran fluid and it just hit 140k. I havent replaced the thermostat which I will do probably in a the next week or so.

Any thoughts before I take her into the shop? As I drove her around some more the gurgle only occurred at high speed and under load while going up a hill. As always the help is always appreciated.



Edit: Is this a good work up of how to replace a thermostat?
http://www.ehow.com/how_4590724_change-thermostat-pontiac-grand-prix.html
 
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Specifically it means that your catalytic converter is overheating. If you drive like that for any length of time it will melt internally.
 


Ok thanks for the input, im gonna take her into the shop tomorrow, but before i get my ass handed to me by the dealership what should I ask to be done?

Obviously diagnostics, but should I just go in their and be like its missfireing and I need new plugs and wires? Check my cat? I just dont want to get caught off guard and have them take me for a ride.

Thanks again for all your help guys as always you guys rock!

Edit: Also what is better a 180* or 160* thermostat?
 
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I've had this happen your car probably ate a spark plug. Check all your plugs or just replace them all. Same goes with the wires.

That whole catalytic converter convo above is a bunch of BS!
 


rynoman03 said:
I've had this happen your car probably ate a spark plug. Check all your plugs or just replace them all. Same goes with the wires.

That whole catalytic converter convo above is a bunch of BS!
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Not exactly misfires have a very big potential to cause over heating in the Cats. As the chemical reaction takes place in the cat it actually gets warmer than the exahust flow itself. Add that with any unburnt gas making its way into the cat and it can actually ignite in the cat itself causing the cermaic to melt
 
If you are going to take it somewhere to get the work done, ask to see the plugs afterwards. If one or more than one is smashed, you have bigger issues to worry about. So ask to see the old parts, and make sure you tell them before hand so they don't throw them out in the process.
 
Zef_66 said:
If you are going to take it somewhere to get the work done, ask to see the plugs afterwards. If one or more than one is smashed, you have bigger issues to worry about. So ask to see the old parts, and make sure you tell them before hand so they don't throw them out in the process.
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Im pullin the plugs myself this evening so Ill let ya know, If it is as you say it may be whats the full extent of the damage?
 


h0wl0ngcanitbe said:
Ok thanks for the input, im gonna take her into the shop tomorrow, but before i get my ass handed to me by the dealership what should I ask to be done?

Obviously diagnostics, but should I just go in their and be like its missfireing and I need new plugs and wires? Check my cat? I just dont want to get caught off guard and have them take me for a ride.

Thanks again for all your help guys as always you guys rock!

Edit: Also what is better a 180* or 160* thermostat?
Click to expand...

195 is better.
 
Flashing does means there is harm being done to the cat, everyone that says that is wrong is talking out their ass. Most of the time it is a missfire and can be fix by doing plugs in wires.
 
When I am ratcheting out the engine after unhooking the dog bones how much should the engine ratchet out? Its just kinda freaking me out cause with just to dog bones out it seems like the motor should stay put. But once I pulled the second bone out the engine rocked into the fire wall itself I just dont want to over do it and break anything.
 
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