RPMs go crazy, car shakes & eventually stalls

DOLLA000

MEMBER
1999 SATURN SL2
154,000 MILES

This typically happens about 10 minutes into driving the car. I noticed the engine temperature always stays around 1/4. When breaking the RPM's will spike usually twice before coming to a full stop. Sometimes once at a rest, the engine will stall. I took the car to an auto repair shop and hook it up to code reader. 1 code was p1599. From what I was told this is to replace the crankshaft position sensor, which I plan to do. The other codes are 0336, 1620 and 1581. Any additional help would be much appreciated!

1 Reply

CARADIODOC

MECHANIC
33,742 POSTS

P0336 - Crankshaft Position Sensor A Circuit Range/Performance
P1599 - A/C Pressure Sensor Volts Too Low

Don't have a listing for code 1581 or 1620. A common mistake is replacing parts without performing tests on the circuit. Fault codes never say to do that or that parts are bad. They only indicate the circuit or system that needs further diagnosis. The sensor in question is only the cause of the code about half of the time. In this case it is possible code 336 is the result of the engine stalling, not the cause.

You might consider having your mechanic drive the vehicle with a scanner connected that has a record capability. That will allow him to record the events taking place when the stalling occurs. Later he can replay that while watching what is happening and is being reported by the various sensors.