Registered: May 2001
Location: Standing right behind you....
Posts: 502

Any one know anything about cars?

Okay, I just bought this car. Its been running fine. Today I was driving and suddenly my car was jerking a little, it felt like i was driving over gravel but I wasnt. Then my car wouldnt go faster no matter how much gas I gave it, Then it slows competely down. I turn it off, wait not even a minute and turn it back on and it runs fine...untill it does it again 5 min. later. I went to go get my emmisons test today, before it happend. The guy said I could use some transmition fluid. I had someone check it and they said I had too much in there. I took it too a mech. he said I needed a new transmittion and it woul bee 180 for it and 300 for labor! I talked to another one and he said that it wasnt the trans. but somehting else and he had to run tests. I am broke, I cant afford to fix something and come to find it wasnt causing it. Any ideas?

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Registered: Jul 2000
Location: Texas
Posts: 1374

Sounds like clogged fuel filter or hoses. Check that first.

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Registered: Oct 2000
Location: Connecticut
Posts: 196

A clogged catylitic convertor will cause your car to not go very fast and in some cases stall. Its a piece that goes right after the engine in your exhaust. Its there for emissions reasons and the insides resemeble a honey comb. When these get clogged there is a restriction in the exhaust which doesn't let it get out and thereby making the engine run poorly.
As long as the car shifts okay you don't need a new transmision. I would take it somewhere and get the fluid/filter changed if it is indeed overfull. There is a dipstick, check it yourself on level ground with the engine running. Don't trust mechanics.
A basic tune up will cure most problems.
Plugs/wires/filters.

The lack of power like that really makes me think its the convertor.

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Registered: Jul 2000
Location: seattle-ish
Posts: 11568

something in there is either clogged or getting large amounts of air into it. Id go with what ymq said and check your hoses.
Try a few auto cleaners for the fuel system first(if you see no hose problems). It cant hurt. If nothing works and you see no problems with the hoses, get thee to someone who can see the car face to engine :/

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Registered: Aug 2000
Location: Cambridge
Posts: 7113

She said she just bought the car, SS, so unless it's used, I doubt it uses a catylitic convertor.

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'`'My opinions are'`'

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Registered: May 2001
Location: Standing right behind you....
Posts: 502

its, used. PLEASE like my broke ass could buy a new car

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Registered: Jul 2000
Location: zanzibar
Posts: 10477

quote:

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Originally posted by Caffeine:
She said she just bought the car, SS, so unless it's used, I doubt it uses a catylitic convertor.

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Registered: Jul 2000
Location: seattle-ish
Posts: 11568

how old is the car? Id help you out if you lived closer.
I cant work on newer cars because the engines are in fucke dup positions, but if its older than 93 or so I could:/
so describe it a bit better, and Ill see what I can do.

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Registered: Jul 2000
Location: seattle-ish
Posts: 11568

also... have any friends/brothers/father/uncles you can ask to look at it?
and how is it fucking up exactly? is it choking when tryng to get into gear? stalling and then running smooth when you get to a higher gear? requiring constant foot on the gas to work? just running rough in general?

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Registered: Jul 2000
Location: seattle-ish
Posts: 11568

i reread your post again. I still say it sound slike a clog or air getting somewhere. It could also be a connector somewhere. coming off then sliding back into place when the car cuts off. does going bumps make any difference?

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Registered: Jul 2000
Location: Texas
Posts: 1374

Im sticking by the clogged filter idea but, if the car is considerably older, there could be a loss of vaccuum pressure. Check those hoses too.

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Registered: Jan 2001
Location: anywhere but here
Posts: 4420

ok its not strictly true that all cars use catylistic convertors...

ok i had loads of trouble with fuel related incidents with my car and it turned out to be a worn carburrettor.

id say check all the hoses etc, then if that doesnt solve it get it krpton tuned, that will sort out your fuel mix,that or the carb,(at a guess thats what i would say it is, because it sounds like your problem, is interrmitant, and that what mine was).

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Registered: Jul 2000
Location: seattle-ish
Posts: 11568

quote:

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Originally posted by prozacjones:
ok its not strictly true that all cars use catylistic convertors...

ok i had loads of trouble with fuel related incidents with my car and it turned out to be a worn carburrettor.

id say check all the hoses etc, then if that doesnt solve it get it krpton tuned, that will sort out your fuel mix,that or the carb,(at a guess thats what i would say it is, because it sounds like your problem, is interrmitant, and that what mine was).

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and did I not tell you then that it was something with the carburator?

I 0wn j00 4ll.
i said it just needed cleaning, but what do i know, eh?




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Registered: Jul 2000
Location: zanzibar
Posts: 10477

This reminds me.

I have an 86 VW Scirocco 16v. I need to sell it. When I drive it for like 20 minutes the oil light comes on, if I rev it a little the light goes off for like 10 seconds. It has plenty of oil. So I am thinking it needs an oil pump and I take it to my trusty local mechanic. I tell them to fix that and also to fix the wipers because they don't work, they flop all over the place.

They tell me it needs an oil sensor and the bill comes to $300some dollars.

I am out of town when its done and my brother picks it up and tells me that the oil light came on when he drove to get some coffee after picking it up.

I decide to drive the car back to the shop to ask them what the deal is. On the way I notice some pine needles on the windsheild and hit the wipers, they flop all over. The conversation with the mechanic goes like this:

me: Hi, I have a couple questions, first, the wipers aren't fixed and also..

him: one sec

(goes into garage, returns with wrench)
(he turns on wipers)

him: ah, they came loose (tightens wipers)

me: hmm, ok. also my brother said the oil light came on on the way home. I haven't really had a chance to drive it so I am not sure if it was a fluke thing or not.

him: hmmm, sounds like it is probably something electrical. you might never find the source of a problem like that, better off disconnecting it.

me: but you guys checked the oil pressure and it was fine?

him: oh yeah, fine.

(he looks at oil change sticker on the windshield)

him: well we didn't change the oil, so maybe that would help, sometimes old oil gets thin, new oil would bring the pressure back up. Anyway, I never was able to get the oil light to come on.

me: well it comes on after you drive it for about 20 minutes

him: yep, probably electrical

me: um ok, well I will keep an eye on it and see if it was just a fluke thing or if it is still on

him: ok (walks back in garage)

20 minutes after leaving the oil light comes on and I am left to wonder what did I just pay $300 for? Does my car have good oil pressure or not? Did they check? If they couldn't even replicate my problem why did they replace the sensor? Anyway it pisses me off, my family spends a lot of money at this garage and usually I deal with a guy that is great, but now I have to take my car back up there and get some answers. Mechanics can be so stupid/lazy/deceitful. Not all mind you, but its important to find a trusty one.

D

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Registered: Aug 2000
Location: Richmond, VA
Posts: 1353

I would go with the filters too .. check the air filter. my brother's old bike was the same way. the air filter was all clogged up and if you tried to run it it would loose power and stall after a fwe minutes. let it sit a few minutes and the whole thing would start over again.

another goody to check is the oil .. replace the oil and the filter. sometimes when your oil pressure is down the car will run like crap.

it doesn't sound anything like a transmition problem though .. I would avoid going to the shops that told you it was.

also .. is your cat is plugged get a friend to take it off and knock all the insides out with a broom handle. this isn't at all legal, but it'll hold you until you get it inspected. (p.s. on this .. if you live in a state like CA and you get caught, just say you bought the car like that or you might get a big big fine. oh .. and a new cat in CA is about 80 bucks .. hope it isn't that?)

lastly .. I hop it's not your transmittion or all of us here are going to look like asses.

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Registered: Jul 2000
Location: Texas
Posts: 1374

DM! Sell me your car cheap. ; )

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Registered: Jul 2000
Location: seattle-ish
Posts: 11568

dm. why replace an oil sensor? yeah, you wasted money. its easier just to check it on a regular basis. and doesnt cost you 300$ :/

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Registered: Jul 2000
Location: zanzibar
Posts: 10477

quote:

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Originally posted by karen:
dm. why replace an oil sensor? yeah, you wasted money. its easier just to check it on a regular basis. and doesnt cost you 300$ :/

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Registered: Jul 2000
Location: seattle-ish
Posts: 11568

that sucks:/
spray cleaners rule, though. yesirree.

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Registered: May 2001
Location: Standing right behind you....
Posts: 502

Ok, its an 91 ford tempo. I need a new muffler and pipes, but I'm not really worried bout it. I need a new head gasket valve thingy because my oil leeks from it, but my oil levels are good. When I drive the car I get it up to about 30-35 and the gas peddle sticks alittle and I have to punch it a little. Some guy said that it is probably something clogged in the engine that makes my peddle stick. I need some new belts (all of them). The first time it happened was when I first got it, my mome drove it back and forth about 4 time and it happened. She shut it off and 5 min later it worked fine. It was working ok for me untill yesterday when I got my emmison test, it passed. On the way home it was fine, and then it started to drive kinda wierd, sort of jerking, or like I was driving on a bumby road or gravel. Then it would stick at some speed no matter how much gas I would give it, untill it stoped compleatly. I would turn it off then turn it back on and it would be fine for five min. I'll be back on later for any suggestions. Thanks everybody for your help with my peice of shit car.

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Registered: Nov 2000
Location: UK
Posts: 4805

Could it possibly be a messed up fuel pump?

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Registered: Jan 2001
Location: Van Diemen's Land.
Posts: 3607

Just hit it.

And stuff.

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Registered: Jul 2000
Location: seattle-ish
Posts: 11568

quote:

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Originally posted by mIsLeDyOuTh:
Ok, its an 91 ford tempo. I need a new muffler and pipes, but I'm not really worried bout it. I need a new head gasket valve thingy because my oil leeks from it, but my oil levels are good. When I drive the car I get it up to about 30-35 and the gas peddle sticks alittle and I have to punch it a little. Some guy said that it is probably something clogged in the engine that makes my peddle stick. I need some new belts (all of them). The first time it happened was when I first got it, my mome drove it back and forth about 4 time and it happened. She shut it off and 5 min later it worked fine. It was working ok for me untill yesterday when I got my emmison test, it passed. On the way home it was fine, and then it started to drive kinda wierd, sort of jerking, or like I was driving on a bumby road or gravel. Then it would stick at some speed no matter how much gas I would give it, untill it stoped compleatly. I would turn it off then turn it back on and it would be fine for five min. I'll be back on later for any suggestions. Thanks everybody for your help with my peice of shit car.

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Registered: Jul 2000
Location: Delaware
Posts: 5722

hmmm 91 Ford Tempo...

first of all, there is no carbuerator, it's a fuel injected engine. I'd go with the fuel filter or hose suggestion. In my own experience with Fords, they always cost twice as much to fix as other American cars.

Just spent $226 on mine