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Engine stalling and loss of power while driving

LePrix

LePrix

New member
Last night I was on the road, halfway to my destination when, after creeping from a red light, the car bucked like a thorough-bred, could barely get in gear but after 4-5 seconds it went back to normal and I continued to get on the highway. I thought it was my tranny finally dying, I have the p1811 code for my tranny and got a shiftkit but I knew it would eventually fall apart. But it appears to be something else.

After reaching my destination, and returning to the car, I turned it on and the RPM kicked a few times with no input, pulled out on the road and was to make a slow left when, in the middle of my left turn, I lost all power and the car stalled, everything locked and I just managed to pull over and turn on my hazards, middlle of downtown. Embarassment aside, had this happened on the highway I might have lost my life. The car starts again and the check engine light is on. I did not dare get back on the road and got a flatbed to take me and the Prix home. I currently do not have money to get anything done but I wuld like to know what is going on.

NOTE FOR ANYONE WHO CAN HELP: I think this info is important, about 2 months ago my car started stalling at idle due to RPMs getting low without manual input, took it to GM and they said it was my mass airflow sensor, they replaced it and I was good to go, until now. They also warned me that my cat converter was not the original one and that it looked rough but they told me I have some time with it.

Can anyone guess at what's going on? Nothing is worse than loosing all power on the road.
 


I actually had that happen to a Laser Turbo I had a long time ago. The cat just let loose with no warning. I thought it was a fuel related issue until I checked the rail. Scratched my head a while. Friend came over, shook my cat, told me it was bad. Changed it out, car was perfect. Might not be your case but they can just go without warning. They're fickle.
 
Pretty tough to diagnose from your description.

"bucked like a thoroughbred, could hardly get it in gear". Your car is mechanical and thoroughbreds shouldn't buck. Couldn't get it in gear meaning you can't move the shifter? See what I'm saying? If you could give us some more info, maybe reword it..likely it'll be easier to try and diagnose.

I understand that most folks aren't well versed in terms etc that a mechanic would like to hear for a good diagnosis, but we can definately get something figured out.

My first guess would be a plugged cat, maybe a tune up or other small things.
 
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