Car turns off when gear is switched

Tiny
NAEB83
  • MEMBER
  • 1984 PONTIAC TRANS AM
  • 5.0L
  • MANUAL
  • 35,000 MILES
Smog tech disconnected the 4 wire connector to my distributor and said he had to to test the timing and ran my engine "My shop manual says "not" to disconnect the 4 wire connector and to disconnect the single wire connector that comes out the wiring harness. Well since the smog tech did that my car doesn't drive pass 45 mph now. Why?
Wednesday, December 2nd, 2020 AT 7:32 PM

16 Replies

Tiny
JACOBANDNICKOLAS
  • MECHANIC
  • 110,176 POSTS
If it is a fuel-injected vehicle, only one wire is disconnected. If it is carburated, then a 4 pin connector gets disconnected. See attached pic 1

Do me a favor. This has an OBD1 diagnostic system that doesn't require a scan tool to retrieve diagnostic trouble codes. All you need is a short jumper wire or even a paper clip.

Follow this link and let me know if any codes are present:

https://www.2carpros.com/articles/buick-cadillac-chevy-gmc-oldsmobile-pontiac-gm-1983-1995-obd1-code-definitions-and-retrieval-method

Let me know what you find or if you have other questions.

Joe

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Wednesday, December 2nd, 2020 AT 8:01 PM
Tiny
NAEB83
  • MEMBER
  • 11 POSTS
Well, there's no codes flashing, but the air pump is shaking and rattling when the car is running. Do you know if that's causing my car to not run pass 40 MPH?
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Wednesday, December 2nd, 2020 AT 8:35 PM
Tiny
JACOBANDNICKOLAS
  • MECHANIC
  • 110,176 POSTS
Hi,

It can cause problems. It should have a V-belt driving it. Remove the belt and see if it makes a difference.

Also, if you could record the engine running and let me see what is happening, it may help me.

Let me know.

Joe
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Thursday, December 3rd, 2020 AT 7:56 PM
Tiny
NAEB83
  • MEMBER
  • 11 POSTS
Okay, but I'm away from my car right now. Tomorrow I'll do it.
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Thursday, December 3rd, 2020 AT 9:50 PM
Tiny
NAEB83
  • MEMBER
  • 11 POSTS
Thank you.
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Thursday, December 3rd, 2020 AT 9:50 PM
Tiny
JACOBANDNICKOLAS
  • MECHANIC
  • 110,176 POSTS
Hi,

You are very welcome. Let me know what happens and if possible, record it for me and upload it here.

Take care,
Joe
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Friday, December 4th, 2020 AT 8:25 PM
Tiny
NAEB83
  • MEMBER
  • 11 POSTS
This is his wife. I'm not sure if he did what you asked, but this is what it looks and sounds like. He just put on a new carburetor.
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Saturday, December 5th, 2020 AT 5:48 PM
Tiny
JACOBANDNICKOLAS
  • MECHANIC
  • 110,176 POSTS
Has the new carburetor eliminated the stalling issues? Also, what is that clicking sound I'm hearing? Is that one of belt-driven accessories or is it coming from the engine? It almost sounds like it could be timing chain slap. If you place a timing light on it, does it stay consistent or is timing jumping around?

Let me know.

Joe
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Saturday, December 5th, 2020 AT 8:55 PM
Tiny
NAEB83
  • MEMBER
  • 11 POSTS
I removed the belt off of the secondary air injection pump. And then I turned on the engine. The rattling noise disappeared. The carburetor did not fix the stalling I think because of the secondary air injection pump. Since I put on the carburetor it feels like the car wants to go but it won't go past 20 MPH.
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Monday, December 7th, 2020 AT 3:22 AM
Tiny
JACOBANDNICKOLAS
  • MECHANIC
  • 110,176 POSTS
Hi,

Is it possible for you to record what is happening and upload it for me to hear? Also, check the pulley on the air pump. I just found a technical service bulleting (TSB) related to the noise. The bolts on the pulley can get elongated and cause the problem.

Let me know.
Joe
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Monday, December 7th, 2020 AT 6:25 PM
Tiny
NAEB83
  • MEMBER
  • 11 POSTS
Yeah, I took off the secondary air injection pump I wiggled around the the pulley and it seems that the secondary air injection pump is loose and it's shaky.
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Monday, December 7th, 2020 AT 7:03 PM
Tiny
NAEB83
  • MEMBER
  • 11 POSTS
Secondary air injection pump.
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Monday, December 7th, 2020 AT 9:05 PM
Tiny
NAEB83
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Engine.
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Monday, December 7th, 2020 AT 9:07 PM
Tiny
JACOBANDNICKOLAS
  • MECHANIC
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Hi,

The pump needs to be replaced. What is happening when it refuses to go over 20 MPH? Can you make a video of that so I can see and hear it?

Let me know.

Joe
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Tuesday, December 8th, 2020 AT 12:41 PM
Tiny
NAEB83
  • MEMBER
  • 11 POSTS
I'll take a video of the car and how it runs after I install the new secondary air injection pump

This picture that I'm sending you with the yellow circle circling around that ported valve towards the back of the firewall into the manifold I don't know what it connects to. Do you know by any chance?
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Thursday, December 10th, 2020 AT 4:22 AM
Tiny
JACOBANDNICKOLAS
  • MECHANIC
  • 110,176 POSTS
Hi,

It's been a while. LOL I see the hoses. Can you follow them? There was a thermal vacuum control valve that ran to the intake and was designed to prevent the EGR from opening when the engine was cold (below 60°F if I recall). It would block vacuum to the EGR until the temperature was reached.

See if you can follow it to any point. If you look at the attached pic, it shows the EVAP system vacuum schematic. See if that helps.

Let me know.

Joe
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Thursday, December 10th, 2020 AT 8:18 PM

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