DrewCanaday
New Member
- Joined
- March 19, 2009
- Messages
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Last week I filled up at Murphy's gas station and the next red light I came to I noticed the car seem to shudder and the rpm's went as low as 500. It just shudders and low RPM's. I have heard no whining, or clacking, it just shudders. No unusual sounds from the engine compartment that I can tell.
While driving the car it acts normal, but whenever I came to a red light it acts like it wants to stall. I called the gas station and they gave me the number of the district manager and he said he hadn't heard any complaints.
The next day at a red light it shuddered and cut off on me and the check engine light came on.
I looked at forums like this and some said run the gas out and refill with super unleaded and see if that works. I tried that and I still have the same problem.
The first few stop signs I come to when the car isn't fully warm yet it doesn't do it as bad, but the more I drive it, the more likely it will stutter and stall at a red light.
Today it scared me because it actually died while going around 20 mph. It is the first time that has happened and my power steering and power brakes went away.
So I went to auto zone to figure out the code, but the trouble code reader didn't work when the guy hooked it up. He said maybe a fuse was blown.
Also, on his way he said it will probably be the gas cap but then he said maybe a fuse when the reader didn't work. So I checked all the normal fuses and found one blown, #17 which looks like the lighter. I don't really know about the big fuses under the hood but I checked all the little ones. (Hope I put them back in the right spot )
Now back to the gas cap. I'm not sure but it seems like it is acting normal. Is there anyway to figure out if its the gas cap by hand. If I start it and then try and hold in down real tight would that tell me is there is a problem there?
I was hoping the reader would say idle control valve because I saw some easy instructions to fix this, but I am somewhat of an imbecile when it comes to fixing things, so even that worries me.
To be honest the car is running great except for this idle issue. I am petrified of car dealers because I don't have a lot of money and it's never, ahh it was only the gas cap, $50 and I'm on my way. I'm thinking they will find all kinds of stuff and I will at their mercy, but I am at my wits end.
Tricky situation because now I'm worried the car will cut off again while driving, and at the same time, I could go through a series of troubleshooting and be left in the same spot while changing a bunch of things that don't fix the problem.
I am so sorry with my long winded post. The car hasn't had an issue since I've owned it after buying it used a couple years ago, but I'm nearly flat broke so I'm trying to avoid the dealer.
Thanks for reading this long winded monstrosity and I look forward to any advice, even if it's take your fool ass to the shop and let a professional look at it.
Drew
While driving the car it acts normal, but whenever I came to a red light it acts like it wants to stall. I called the gas station and they gave me the number of the district manager and he said he hadn't heard any complaints.
The next day at a red light it shuddered and cut off on me and the check engine light came on.
I looked at forums like this and some said run the gas out and refill with super unleaded and see if that works. I tried that and I still have the same problem.
The first few stop signs I come to when the car isn't fully warm yet it doesn't do it as bad, but the more I drive it, the more likely it will stutter and stall at a red light.
Today it scared me because it actually died while going around 20 mph. It is the first time that has happened and my power steering and power brakes went away.
So I went to auto zone to figure out the code, but the trouble code reader didn't work when the guy hooked it up. He said maybe a fuse was blown.
Also, on his way he said it will probably be the gas cap but then he said maybe a fuse when the reader didn't work. So I checked all the normal fuses and found one blown, #17 which looks like the lighter. I don't really know about the big fuses under the hood but I checked all the little ones. (Hope I put them back in the right spot )
Now back to the gas cap. I'm not sure but it seems like it is acting normal. Is there anyway to figure out if its the gas cap by hand. If I start it and then try and hold in down real tight would that tell me is there is a problem there?
I was hoping the reader would say idle control valve because I saw some easy instructions to fix this, but I am somewhat of an imbecile when it comes to fixing things, so even that worries me.
To be honest the car is running great except for this idle issue. I am petrified of car dealers because I don't have a lot of money and it's never, ahh it was only the gas cap, $50 and I'm on my way. I'm thinking they will find all kinds of stuff and I will at their mercy, but I am at my wits end.
Tricky situation because now I'm worried the car will cut off again while driving, and at the same time, I could go through a series of troubleshooting and be left in the same spot while changing a bunch of things that don't fix the problem.
I am so sorry with my long winded post. The car hasn't had an issue since I've owned it after buying it used a couple years ago, but I'm nearly flat broke so I'm trying to avoid the dealer.
Thanks for reading this long winded monstrosity and I look forward to any advice, even if it's take your fool ass to the shop and let a professional look at it.
Drew