Rough Idle, horrific smell

Tiny
CARO1985
  • MEMBER
  • 2002 PONTIAC MONTANA
  • 3.4L
  • 6 CYL
  • 2WD
  • AUTOMATIC
  • 148,000 MILES
(At the bottom of this note, I will provide what I have replaced on the vehicle)

About two weeks ago, my oil pressure sensor went bad and I spilled almost all the oil out of the vehicle. Got that fixed but still had the left over oil all on the engine and such. About four days later, my starter went out-I fixed that too. Now when I went out to start my van to "warm it up" and came back to it about five to seven minutes later, the engine was shut off but the heat was still on (cold though from not warming up all the way) and the radio was still on. When I started it back up-it ran extremely rough as if the spark plugs are trying to fire all at once and I noticed an awful smell coming from the air vents. It smelled like burning plastic/wires or as my wife describes a strong nail polish remover. It threw two codes, one of which was P0137-02 sensor circuit low voltage bank 1 sensor 2 and P0300-Random/multiple cylinder misfire. I just recently replaced the spark plug and spark plug wires. With the way it runs at start up-its not drivable at all. Any idea where I should begin or any idea what it is? I have talked to three mechanics whom unfortunately have not looked at the vehicle, but they all do not have a clue.

Here is what I have done to the vehicle within the last one to two years:

Serpentine belt.
Spark plugs and wires.
Starter.
Oil pressure sensor.
Oil change regularly.
Motor mounts.
Ignition control module.
Upper and lower intake gaskets.
Coil paks.
Thermostat.
Cv axle (front driver and passenger).
Wheel bearings.
Wheel hub assembly (driver and passenger).
New tires.
New window switches.
Washer fluid pump.


I have spent a great deal into this van! I hope you can help. Much appreciated!
-Adam
Wednesday, December 27th, 2017 AT 2:09 PM

3 Replies

Tiny
STEVE W.
  • MECHANIC
  • 12,961 POSTS
The "burning smell" sounds like a wiring short. I would start looking at the wiring that leads to the starter and anything that runs near the exhaust system. It could be that while replacing the starter the harness moved just enough that it is hitting on the exhaust. Then the wiring shorts out and depending on which wires shorted you get a no start and the burnt plastic smell.
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Friday, December 29th, 2017 AT 7:57 PM
Tiny
CARO1985
  • MEMBER
  • 4 POSTS
So far-we checked the wires to the starter and nothing. So we tore the dash apart checking the wires on the inside and outside. We did find in the 2 air filters in the glove compartment for the central air that a mouse has been trying to build a nest LOL so we have to replace those. We then popped the hood again and started looking. I found (see attached pictures) that one of the coil paks had oozed out this black plastic stuff and had been cracked. The horrific smell actually came from the spark plug wires. (WIRES) The one end of the spark plug wire snapped to the coil pak terminal; it was what smelt horrific. I changed all 3 coil paks and 2 spark plug wires. It seems to still run the same when I reeve the engine up. What would cause the coil pak to do that?
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Friday, January 12th, 2018 AT 5:05 PM
Tiny
STEVE W.
  • MECHANIC
  • 12,961 POSTS
Mice are always a pain. The most common reason a coil does that is a bad driver circuit that keeps the coil ON instead of pulsing it. Next would be a bad plug wire or plug that doesn't spark. The energy in the coil tries to find another path to ground and cooks it. In your case the second one is more likely to be what killed the coil. I would pull all the plugs and check the gaps, then test the wires to be sure they are all good.
Also check the wiring to the ICM and be sure it is grounded very well. Then can cause this issue if they fail.
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Saturday, January 13th, 2018 AT 8:39 AM

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