Hello all,
Whenever I have a problem that I'm not sure exactly what the DILLY-yo is, someone on here is like, "it's you Kineuten Valve"...and you're right. So here's my problem.
I have a 2000 Firebird (naturally aspirated) w/ a 3800 hooked up to a manual 5-Speed trans. with just over 100K miles on the odometer. It is garage kept at night. Last night I stopped and put $30 worth of fuel in on my way home at the usual gas station. While on my way into work today, it suddenly died on me when I shifted up into 2nd gear. The car (off the line) had almost no power and was sluggish. Once I shifted into second gear, the engine shut off. After that point the car would not start. Prior to that, the car was running like a champ!
I managed to get it safely off the street, and cranked it over a few times. The car would NOT start once again. The starter is strong and cranked over several times with all kinds of power. Upon cranking, the car sounded like it was choking, but didn't sound like a misfire and the car did not BACK fire. I let the car sit for an hour and when the tow truck came to bring the car home, I did manage to get the car to start. It took a few tries and when it did turn on, it ran for maybe a second (like one...tw.....) and died. The exhaust smelled like gas, as if something wasn't catching or if the engine was flooded.
HISTORY:
Earlier this year, I had the dash out of the car because the Heater Core was plugged from the Dex-Cool breaking down and turning into sludge. I also replaced the Radiator around Thanksgiving, because there was gunk in the cooling system and couldn't get to the heater core at that time. When I finally made the time, I replaced the heater core. The car NOW has green coolant in the Radiator.
At times, I could smell coolant outside of the car. It wasn't all of the time...maybe once every week or two-TOPS! When I could smell it, it was ONLY when I was standing in front of the car on the drivers side (by the headlights) or when I exited the car. If I bent down into the engine bay, there was almost no smell anywhere around the motor or heater core. I say 'almost' because there was a slight hint on the drivers side of the engine, but I couldn't see any anywhere on the engine and there was never any on the ground.
When this happened and I turned the car back on and tried to find the coolant smell, there was nothing anywhere around the engine...only in those two places.
On occasion, the check engine light would come on, but it would always shut off before I had the opportunity to swing into a auto parts store for a scan. The light would literally be on for a minute and turn off. Sometimes it would be on for an hour, but the car is psychic. The second I went to Auto Zone, Advance or O'Reily, the thing would turn off.
Any ideas on what could be the issue?
I was thinking about checking the ignition coils, or the plate the coils plug / screw into. Other than that, it sounds like an ignition problem.
Whenever I have a problem that I'm not sure exactly what the DILLY-yo is, someone on here is like, "it's you Kineuten Valve"...and you're right. So here's my problem.
I have a 2000 Firebird (naturally aspirated) w/ a 3800 hooked up to a manual 5-Speed trans. with just over 100K miles on the odometer. It is garage kept at night. Last night I stopped and put $30 worth of fuel in on my way home at the usual gas station. While on my way into work today, it suddenly died on me when I shifted up into 2nd gear. The car (off the line) had almost no power and was sluggish. Once I shifted into second gear, the engine shut off. After that point the car would not start. Prior to that, the car was running like a champ!
I managed to get it safely off the street, and cranked it over a few times. The car would NOT start once again. The starter is strong and cranked over several times with all kinds of power. Upon cranking, the car sounded like it was choking, but didn't sound like a misfire and the car did not BACK fire. I let the car sit for an hour and when the tow truck came to bring the car home, I did manage to get the car to start. It took a few tries and when it did turn on, it ran for maybe a second (like one...tw.....) and died. The exhaust smelled like gas, as if something wasn't catching or if the engine was flooded.
HISTORY:
Earlier this year, I had the dash out of the car because the Heater Core was plugged from the Dex-Cool breaking down and turning into sludge. I also replaced the Radiator around Thanksgiving, because there was gunk in the cooling system and couldn't get to the heater core at that time. When I finally made the time, I replaced the heater core. The car NOW has green coolant in the Radiator.
At times, I could smell coolant outside of the car. It wasn't all of the time...maybe once every week or two-TOPS! When I could smell it, it was ONLY when I was standing in front of the car on the drivers side (by the headlights) or when I exited the car. If I bent down into the engine bay, there was almost no smell anywhere around the motor or heater core. I say 'almost' because there was a slight hint on the drivers side of the engine, but I couldn't see any anywhere on the engine and there was never any on the ground.
When this happened and I turned the car back on and tried to find the coolant smell, there was nothing anywhere around the engine...only in those two places.
On occasion, the check engine light would come on, but it would always shut off before I had the opportunity to swing into a auto parts store for a scan. The light would literally be on for a minute and turn off. Sometimes it would be on for an hour, but the car is psychic. The second I went to Auto Zone, Advance or O'Reily, the thing would turn off.
Any ideas on what could be the issue?
I was thinking about checking the ignition coils, or the plate the coils plug / screw into. Other than that, it sounds like an ignition problem.
