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04/13/2010 03:09:18 PM · #1 |
I have a 2005 Pontiac Grand Prix with 144k miles on it. Its been my daily driver and have had very little problems with it. This morning when travelling to work on the highway at about 70mph the engine just seemed to no longer supply power to continue the car going forward. I pressed the gas multiple times with no response.
All the instruments stayed on and the car itself stayed on and once we got to the speed of about 35-40mph it all the sudden worked fine again and had no issues driving the rest of the way to work.
Anyone have any ideas on what this could be? Thanks in advance for your advice. |
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04/13/2010 03:22:09 PM · #2 |
| So you are traveling at 70mph and the car just begins to slow down until 35-40mph? Pressing the gas pedal did nothing? Sounds like a fuel issue. My best guess is the fuel filter but I'm just a shade tree mechanic and my shade trees seem to be running fine. Do you do your own maintenance? When was the last time you had the filter replaced? FYI, if that is the issue it will only get worse... |
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04/13/2010 03:24:03 PM · #3 |
Originally posted by kleski:
So you are traveling at 70mph and the car just begins to slow down until 35-40mph? Pressing the gas pedal did nothing? Sounds like a fuel issue. My best guess is the fuel filter but I'm just a shade tree mechanic and my shade trees seem to be running fine. Do you do your own maintenance? When was the last time you had the filter replaced? FYI, if that is the issue it will only get worse... |
It would be my best guess that the fuel filter has bever been replaced. |
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04/13/2010 03:54:35 PM · #4 |
at first glance this sounds like a fuel filter to me as well. there was no sputtering, no "hiccuping", just simple loss of power momentarily then resumed?
I would go to a local pep boys or auto zone ask them to put the car on their computer (free) to diagnose any error codes that may come up (the check engine light didn't come on?) I had a very similar experience with my chrysler and it turned out to be a combination of a bad air filter as well as a bad cam sensor. (about $55 in parts to repair myself)
Joe |
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04/13/2010 04:01:12 PM · #5 |
| I had the same thing happen with my MG, going fast then suddenly slowly, it felt like there was no fuel going to the car, ended up it was the fuel pump.. It will cost you a lot less to replace than the 76 MG |
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04/13/2010 04:46:37 PM · #6 |
| I had that happen once but it never did it again and that was about 80K miles ago, in my case I think it was some bad gas which is always a possibility. |
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04/13/2010 05:23:57 PM · #7 |
Originally posted by Hot_Pixel:
It would be my best guess that the fuel filter has bever been replaced. |
ouch I change the fuel filter every 50,000KM thats roughly 20,000miles(i think) and thats with the sparkplugs and air filter, these things should be routinely changed!! |
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04/13/2010 05:28:07 PM · #8 |
| It's almost surely a fuel delivery issue. The question is, is it the filter or the pump? It's also possible that it's the injector, if the car has a throttle body injector (not multi-point injection). If it's the pump, you are looking at about a $500 fix; it's an in-tank pump. I believe the filter is also near the fuel tank, so it is a bear to get to, but it it user-replaceable. |
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04/13/2010 05:29:17 PM · #9 |
Originally posted by Hot_Pixel:
It would be my best guess that the fuel filter has bever been replaced. |
If you have had the car maintained by a dealer or reputable mechanic, "by the book", that fuel filter should have been replaced at least 2-3 times in 144,000 miles, sheesh. Maybe you're just not aware it has been, it's a routine part of certain specific maintenance intervals. But if it HASN'T been, that's like walking around in underwear you haven't changed in 2 years :-(
R. |
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04/13/2010 06:30:52 PM · #10 |
| Another thing it might be is the catalytic converter. Sometimes they break apart inside and pieces will lodge inside the muffler and partially block it. Usually you can hear if it is blocked. The exhaust will be making an unusual sound, you know, like it is blocked. :} |
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04/13/2010 06:41:10 PM · #11 |
Originally posted by JulietNN:
I had the same thing happen with my MG, going fast then suddenly slowly, it felt like there was no fuel going to the car, ended up it was the fuel pump.. It will cost you a lot less to replace than the 76 MG |
The fuel pump for the Pontiac will be about three times what it is for your B.
The symptoms could be either an electrical/electronic or fuel pressure total failure in an intermittent manner. This is prolly the precursor to further problems, and without any history, or the ability to examine the car, it's going to be shooting in the dark.
Some further info would be helpful, but a few suggestions.....
If you cannot fairly quickly nail down when the last time the fuel filter was changed, it's been too long. The cvar is injected, and that means that high line pressure is needed to pop the injectors, so if the fuel filter is becoming clogged, two things can happen.....one is that if there's too much crap already in it, it can cause the fuel pump to shut down because it's overheating. That'll create a problem like this, though usually it'll take longer than seconds to come around. The other thing is that it could be obstructing the flow enough that there isn't enough line pressure. The pressure dropping enough in the rail will produce this exact symptom along with its miraculous cure, and not having a recurrence 'til later. GM's pumps also have a known track record for quitting in this manner......shutting down here and there at intermittent/random times 'til one day it stops and won't come back. The downside is that you never know 'til it's done.
It's possible that you have an electrical/electronic issue, but usually when that happens, you'll lose the instrument cluster as well, so that's IMO a secondary concern.
Get the fuel filter replaced if it's been a while and cross your fingers.
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04/13/2010 06:44:10 PM · #12 |
Originally posted by Hot_Pixel:
It would be my best guess that the fuel filter has bever been replaced. |
Originally posted by Bear_Music:
If you have had the car maintained by a dealer or reputable mechanic, "by the book", that fuel filter should have been replaced at least 2-3 times in 144,000 miles, sheesh. Maybe you're just not aware it has been, it's a routine part of certain specific maintenance intervals. But if it HASN'T been, that's like walking around in underwear you haven't changed in 2 years :-( |
It has been my experience that because they're generally a PITA to get at, and because they spray and drool gas everywhere during changing that many places will NOT change fuel filters. I have changed many 100K+ fuel filtersd......and beci=ome a hero numerous times for a fuel filter replacement simply because I was willing to do the work.
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04/13/2010 06:49:47 PM · #13 |
Originally posted by kirbic:
I believe the filter is also near the fuel tank, so it is a bear to get to, but it it user-replaceable. |
If you have 5/8 & 3/4 line wrenches and know to bleed the pressure off the fuel rail first....
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04/13/2010 07:04:45 PM · #14 |
| Don't forget to cross those fingers. That always helps. |
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04/13/2010 08:37:45 PM · #15 |
| 140K is in electric fuel pump replacement territory. They can be spotty before they finally go for good. |
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04/13/2010 08:42:07 PM · #16 |
Funnily enough, as much as  NikonJeb act like a divorced couple, he would be the only one i would turn to for mechanical advice on here (apart from my Dad, who is not on here) |
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04/13/2010 10:08:58 PM · #17 |
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04/13/2010 10:10:00 PM · #18 |
Originally posted by Bear_Music:
Originally posted by Hot_Pixel:
It would be my best guess that the fuel filter has bever been replaced. |
If you have had the car maintained by a dealer or reputable mechanic, "by the book", that fuel filter should have been replaced at least 2-3 times in 144,000 miles, sheesh. Maybe you're just not aware it has been, it's a routine part of certain specific maintenance intervals. But if it HASN'T been, that's like walking around in underwear you haven't changed in 2 years :-(
R. |
You mean you're supposed to change your underwear?
Seriously, I had a similar issue on my high mileage 2001 Ford Focus and changed the fuel filter, which seemed to fix the problem. Of course, as my own mechanic, it's my own damn fault. I just dread the day the fuel pump fails because that involves pulling the whole gas tank. |
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04/13/2010 10:25:52 PM · #19 |
I had the same prob on a truck I used to own......It turned out to be a simple fix. It was a fuel filter. I found this out after much expense and a trial and error system.
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04/13/2010 11:09:46 PM · #20 |
Originally posted by David Ey:
Another thing it might be is the catalytic converter. Sometimes they break apart inside and pieces will lodge inside the muffler and partially block it. Usually you can hear if it is blocked. The exhaust will be making an unusual sound, you know, like it is blocked. :} |
Start with the simplest fixt first, the fuel filter. But I also agree with David here about the catalytic converter as Ive had 2 cars where they have come apart inside and cause exactly the same odd loss in power. If the fuel filter is clogged the power loss wouldnt change at all but with the converter it can lose power and come back as the guts shift around.
Standing at the back sometimes if you rev it up while its in park you can get small whiteish balls come out of the tail pipe which can happen when some converters go bad.
-dave
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04/13/2010 11:17:09 PM · #21 |
Originally posted by NikonJeb:
and without any history, or the ability to examine the car, it's going to be shooting in the dark.
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If you're going to be shooting in the dark you may want to use a high ISO or a slower shutter speed. :)
If it were me I would just check the right tail light bulb, spray some WD40 on the glove box hinges (if they aren't plastic) and make sure that your tire pressure is 2 pounds under the suggested PSI. If that doesn't work out for you then you may need to preform the blinker diagnostic test in which case if your not SAE certified your pretty much screwed. :):)
BIG BUCKS NO WHAMMIES!
Message edited by author 2010-04-13 23:20:58.
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04/14/2010 06:03:18 PM · #22 |
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04/14/2010 07:26:05 PM · #23 |
Originally posted by PhotoDave:
Standing at the back sometimes if you rev it up while its in park you can get small whiteish balls come out of the tail pipe which can happen when some converters go bad. |
They haven't used pellets in years......they're all ceramic matrix now. The pieces can shift around and block exhaust flow, and then shift around to open up, but generally something happened first to melt it, with the accompanying driveability issues to go with it. Usually when they break up and have clog size pieces, the converter sounds like a can of marbles.
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