Subject: Hard start & rough idle+sputtering/stalling/dying at de/acceleration
My car has had a rough idle for about a year. I changed the spark plugs and air filter last fall, as that was about the extent of my tools and experience. About six weeks ago I noticed it was taking longer to start (especially if the engine was still warm/hot, thank you August heat)--it'd turn over for anywhere from three seconds to forever before starting. It never completely failed to start--perseverence was key? This difficult starting eventually progressed to nearly every time I tried to start it (within about 2 week period).
Two weeks ago I noticed the engine "popped" as it was warming up. Thought maybe I was just hearing things. I shifted into reverse, and once I let off the brake it stuttered and died. I put it in park and tried again. Ran like a charm (a rough-idle-charm). A couple days later I noticed it sputtering as I slowed to an intersection. I thought maybe there was water in my gas as that's happened before. Heet didn't help. Within one week, my car would stutter and spit and "pop" (I'm so descriptive! like a backfire... but in the engine? Can cars do that?) at every turn and intersection and it would cut out upon acceleration. It started dying at deceleration first, then at acceleration, too. At first I could start it right away and continue on my merry, sputtering, spitting way until I got over 35mph. The last two days I drove it, I noticed as it died, I had to sit there (or to where I had pushed it) for perhaps 1-2 minutes before it would start again.
I finally resolved to take it to a mechanic, who discovered the vacuum hose was unhooked from the MAP sensor. We both rejoiced with hope that my problem had been solved, though the rough idle was still there.
It seemed to run smoother (not idle wise... but intersection manners seemed remedied) that evening and the next day (which would be today), but died on the last turn to school (of four). It was much less dramatic than before, and I was actually surprised to find I had no power steering, and, oh look! my dash lights have come on, and my engine isn't running anymore. Perhaps I should pull off the road...
I feel like I'm back at square one. I don't have much in the way of diagnostic tools myself (wrenches and screwdrivers...) but would love some help brainstorming what sort of things to have the mechanic check first (as if he doesn't already know what he's doing...).
Oh, codes! When we first checked the codes by jumping the two terminal thingies under the steering wheel, there was only the open O2 sensor circuit, which was my bad. It'd been my father's quick fix for that rough-running idle after changing the O2 sensor didn't help (unplugging it did though...). When my engine started acting up, I plugged it back in (with hopes that might make a difference). Presumably the computer stored the code. Eventually, presence of O2 sensor didn't seem to make a difference in my drivability problems. A rough idle is the least of your worries when you die at every stop sign or behind slow right-turners.
I will be paying more attention to any new/disappeared symptoms now that the MAP sensor's doing its business. I've only driven it for two five minute trips.
There is my lengthy explanation of my car's running problems. Any ideas are welcome. :)
My car has had a rough idle for about a year. I changed the spark plugs and air filter last fall, as that was about the extent of my tools and experience. About six weeks ago I noticed it was taking longer to start (especially if the engine was still warm/hot, thank you August heat)--it'd turn over for anywhere from three seconds to forever before starting. It never completely failed to start--perseverence was key? This difficult starting eventually progressed to nearly every time I tried to start it (within about 2 week period).
Two weeks ago I noticed the engine "popped" as it was warming up. Thought maybe I was just hearing things. I shifted into reverse, and once I let off the brake it stuttered and died. I put it in park and tried again. Ran like a charm (a rough-idle-charm). A couple days later I noticed it sputtering as I slowed to an intersection. I thought maybe there was water in my gas as that's happened before. Heet didn't help. Within one week, my car would stutter and spit and "pop" (I'm so descriptive! like a backfire... but in the engine? Can cars do that?) at every turn and intersection and it would cut out upon acceleration. It started dying at deceleration first, then at acceleration, too. At first I could start it right away and continue on my merry, sputtering, spitting way until I got over 35mph. The last two days I drove it, I noticed as it died, I had to sit there (or to where I had pushed it) for perhaps 1-2 minutes before it would start again.
I finally resolved to take it to a mechanic, who discovered the vacuum hose was unhooked from the MAP sensor. We both rejoiced with hope that my problem had been solved, though the rough idle was still there.
It seemed to run smoother (not idle wise... but intersection manners seemed remedied) that evening and the next day (which would be today), but died on the last turn to school (of four). It was much less dramatic than before, and I was actually surprised to find I had no power steering, and, oh look! my dash lights have come on, and my engine isn't running anymore. Perhaps I should pull off the road...
I feel like I'm back at square one. I don't have much in the way of diagnostic tools myself (wrenches and screwdrivers...) but would love some help brainstorming what sort of things to have the mechanic check first (as if he doesn't already know what he's doing...).
Oh, codes! When we first checked the codes by jumping the two terminal thingies under the steering wheel, there was only the open O2 sensor circuit, which was my bad. It'd been my father's quick fix for that rough-running idle after changing the O2 sensor didn't help (unplugging it did though...). When my engine started acting up, I plugged it back in (with hopes that might make a difference). Presumably the computer stored the code. Eventually, presence of O2 sensor didn't seem to make a difference in my drivability problems. A rough idle is the least of your worries when you die at every stop sign or behind slow right-turners.
I will be paying more attention to any new/disappeared symptoms now that the MAP sensor's doing its business. I've only driven it for two five minute trips.
There is my lengthy explanation of my car's running problems. Any ideas are welcome. :)
Sep 22, 2010 at 8:39 PM