|
|
Bad hesitation, dash lights flash, speedo needle jumps
|
|
|
| |
|
|
tygressjanie
Novice
Nov 18, 2010, 4:11 PM
Post #1 of 16
(3586 views)
|
Bad hesitation, dash lights flash, speedo needle jumps
|
|
|
I have a 1995 Buick Lesabre, 3.8L. Mileage is currently about 132,000.
A few months ago the serpentine belt broke, and I had it fixed, though I don't know if this is related, but the symptoms started a week or two later. The first symptom was I was sitting at a traffic light and I felt a huge BANG, almost like a car when the transmission is getting ready to go out and you shift it from park and then into reverse, but amplified times about 5. It scared the CRAP out of me! I wasn't able to determine WHY the car did it, but it never did it again. Then about a week later, I was driving and the speedometer needle started jumping about 10-20mph higher than I was driving a couple of times.
Then about another week later it became a fairly regular (every other day to daily) occurrence that between speeds of 25-35mph, or most commonly 55-65mph, the car will act as though it has lost power or maybe lost gas flow, and it will hesitate (not as if it's trying to shift into another gear or as if it's missing, but almost as if it's backfired without the engine slipping...I know, hard to picture, but it's very hard to explain as well), at the same time this happens about 80% of the time the dash lights will flash on and off quickly, and 90% of the time the speedometer needle will jump about 10-15mph ahead and then it will seem like the engine "figures out" what it's supposed to do and it keeps going. It usually does this once and it's then on it's merry way, however, I have had it do this three times in a row before. My fiance drove the car once and it actually cut off completely and he pulled over, but it started right back up.
I have had it to a tranny shop (the tranny was rebuilt a year and 15,000 miles ago) and they determined it not to be a transmission issue after being able to duplicate the issue. I have had the fuel pump, fuel filter, and the camshaft sensor replaced. Additionally I have replaced the plugs and wires though I didn't suspect them as being an issue.
There are a long line of things I suspect but I don't know how to rule any out or in without replacing them one by one. Every mechanic I've spoken to has never seen an issue like this so it's sort of difficult for me to just leave the car there when they don't even have an idea of what to do for certain. I'd like to do the repairs myself to save money so if I could find someone who has seen something similar it would be very helpful as then I might have a better direction to go in, or at least if it wasn't something I could do, I could save some on labor by giving the mechanic something specific to replace instead of saying "here's my car, go for it, and when you're done 2 weeks later, I'd love to see the bill!"
I really appreciate everyone's help!
(This post was edited by tygressjanie on Nov 22, 2010, 12:51 PM)
|
|
| |
|
|
Hammer Time
Ultimate Carjunky
/ Moderator
Nov 18, 2010, 4:50 PM
Post #2 of 16
(3582 views)
|
|
Re: Bad hesitation, dash lights flash, speedo needle jumps
|
|
|
I really don't understand how your expecting anyone to diagnose your car "sight unseen". That's just not how things are done in this business. Sounds have to be analyzed as to what they sound like and where they are coming from. Things have to be inspected to get direction. Diagnosis takes time and somebody has to pay for that time.
Maybe you just need the crystal ball approach.
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
We offer help in answering questions, clarifying things or giving advice but we are not a substitute for an on-site inspection by a professional.
|
|
| |
|
|
tygressjanie
Novice
Nov 19, 2010, 7:32 AM
Post #3 of 16
(3576 views)
|
|
Re: Bad hesitation, dash lights flash, speedo needle jumps
|
|
|
First of all, it was seen, by the transmission shop, which I did mention, and I have taken it to other mechanics as well, so obviously I am not expecting anyone to diagnose the problem "sight unseen." But this is an INTERNET FORUM, not a car shop, let's be practical here. I can't upload my car onto the internet for you to look at, so it should be obvious that I'm not expecting anyone to diagnose the problem via a visual inspection. What I AM hoping for is that someone may be able to point me in the right direction. I am asking if anyone may have had or seen any similar problems and can give me a generalized direction to go in. I'm not expecting someone to be a saint and come and say "yes, I know EXACTLY what problem that is." I'm not ignorant, I am an IT technician and cars, much the same as computers, can have about a million things go wrong with them. The troubleshooting process is subjective. You start in a generalized area and if that's not it, you try try again. I am hoping for at least a "generalized area," or even part if possible, to start with, as I don't really know what that might be. I thought I might get that here. From the initial response I have gotten, I am thinking I may not. :(
(This post was edited by tygressjanie on Nov 19, 2010, 7:33 AM)
|
|
| |
|
| | |
|
|
Sidom
Veteran
/ Moderator
Nov 19, 2010, 8:02 PM
Post #5 of 16
(3558 views)
|
|
Re: Bad hesitation, dash lights flash, speedo needle jumps
|
|
|
Since you had a belt break, I would inspect all the harnesses at the frt of the engine, I've had problems with the belt cutting thru some of those creating problems. Also check around the coil pack for pinched wires.
These also have problems with the harmonic balancers breaking & trigger wheels for the ckp sensors getting loose..
Thats probably where I'd start on this one.......
|
|
| |
|
|
tygressjanie
Novice
Nov 22, 2010, 7:41 AM
Post #6 of 16
(3551 views)
|
|
Re: Bad hesitation, dash lights flash, speedo needle jumps
|
|
|
HammerTime: The transmission shop drove the car around an entire day and experienced the car doing the issue, but as I said, they indicated it wasn't a transmission issue. Additionally, they said it wasn't something they'd seen before so they weren't sure who to even send me to to fix the issue. So where exactly am I giving someone no time with the car? Furthermore, where are you getting the idea that I'm expecting someone to magically give me an answer? You are obviously NOT reading what I'm saying so there really isn't even much reason to respond to anything else you have to say since you're not even paying attention in the first place.
Sidom: Thank you for actually READING my post and replying appropriately to what I've said. I appreciate your advice and will look into those areas with a mechanic who can see if the issues may be the cause of the problem :)
(This post was edited by tygressjanie on Nov 22, 2010, 7:48 AM)
|
|
| |
|
|
Hammer Time
Ultimate Carjunky
/ Moderator
Nov 22, 2010, 8:42 AM
Post #7 of 16
(3544 views)
|
|
Re: Bad hesitation, dash lights flash, speedo needle jumps
|
|
|
I read you posts. You brought a driveabilty issue to a transmission shop whom obviously couldn't help you with that issue and no other shop has had the car long enough to look into the issue.
Is that not what you did?
We're in the same boat they are. We don't have the opportunity to look at things and investigate anything either. Maybe if they had had the time to look at it, they may have discovered some hard facts that could lead to something but at this point we have nothing.
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
We offer help in answering questions, clarifying things or giving advice but we are not a substitute for an on-site inspection by a professional.
|
|
| |
|
|
tygressjanie
Novice
Nov 22, 2010, 9:17 AM
Post #8 of 16
(3540 views)
|
|
Re: Bad hesitation, dash lights flash, speedo needle jumps
|
|
|
I brought it to a transmission shop because the transmission went out on it a year ago and it was still under warranty. Because the initial symptom was a loud bang, and it was acting as though it was having problems shifting initially since the speedometer needle was moving, I thought it may be a transmission issue. Obviously I was not going to take it to someone who would charge me $2000 if it was another transmission problem, when I still had it under warranty with someone else if that was what the problem was. Why don't you stop making assumptions and waste your time on someone else's post?
|
|
| |
|
|
Hammer Time
Ultimate Carjunky
/ Moderator
Nov 22, 2010, 10:38 AM
Post #9 of 16
(3534 views)
|
|
Re: Bad hesitation, dash lights flash, speedo needle jumps
|
|
|
I'm not assuming anything. I'm reading what you are posting. Regardless of what your reason was for going to a transmission shop, you were made aware that it was not a transmission problem and needed to be checked by an engine technician and you have not done that.
Is that not what you said?
No one but a transmission shop has examined this car. That is what you stated.
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
We offer help in answering questions, clarifying things or giving advice but we are not a substitute for an on-site inspection by a professional.
(This post was edited by Hammer Time on Nov 22, 2010, 10:38 AM)
|
|
| |
|
|
tygressjanie
Novice
Nov 22, 2010, 12:11 PM
Post #10 of 16
(3527 views)
|
|
Re: Bad hesitation, dash lights flash, speedo needle jumps
|
|
|
No, I said I took it to the transmission shop FIRST, and as I just said, this was because it was UNDER WARRANTY. I took it there first ONLY to make certain that it wasn't a repair that could be covered under my warranty. I then proceeded to say that EVERY OTHER MECHANIC I had spoken to didn't have any ideas as well (most didn't even want to look at it). This implies I've taken it to MORE THAN ONE mechanic. Like I said, you DON'T READ my posts. I really don't know why you are even bothering to keep replying, all you are doing is further proving that you are not paying attention, and wasting both your own time, and mine. Please go help someone else, because you are certainly not helping me.
(This post was edited by tygressjanie on Nov 22, 2010, 12:13 PM)
|
|
| |
|
|
Hammer Time
Ultimate Carjunky
/ Moderator
Nov 22, 2010, 12:21 PM
Post #11 of 16
(3522 views)
|
|
Re: Bad hesitation, dash lights flash, speedo needle jumps
|
|
|
Look, your not helping yourself. I have told you the issues here and you can seem to get the point. Your car needs to be inspected to get some pertinent facts that can be pursued more but right now you have nothing to work off of. The car has not been examined by a knowledgeable tech and until it is, you have nothing to give us. We need facts like exactly what system is having a problem. You can't expect us to have answers when you have no facts to offer.
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
We offer help in answering questions, clarifying things or giving advice but we are not a substitute for an on-site inspection by a professional.
|
|
| |
|
|
tygressjanie
Novice
Nov 22, 2010, 12:38 PM
Post #12 of 16
(3518 views)
|
|
Re: Bad hesitation, dash lights flash, speedo needle jumps
|
|
|
It has been inspected, by four mechanics, all of whom have told me they have no idea what the problem is. I have also spoken numerous mechanics who don't have any ideas either (and they wouldn't even look at the car). I simply don't have unlimited funds to waste on having a bunch of shops look at it, which is why I have taken the route of posting in forums. You have made it quite clear that you don't have any ideas. You don't have to tell me FIVE times that you don't have any idea what the issue is, I got that the first time. Somehow I think that if you were told to go into a round room and piss in the corner, you'd find a way to do it. So thank you for your input, but if someone ELSE has any ideas besides YOU, I would really like to hear them.
|
|
| |
|
|
Sidom
Veteran
/ Moderator
Nov 22, 2010, 1:23 PM
Post #13 of 16
(3510 views)
|
|
Re: Bad hesitation, dash lights flash, speedo needle jumps
|
|
|
Ok I try to explain this a little more indepth where it might make some more sense..
In the automotive world there are easy diags & hard diags and because of this you will see shops with 2 completely different diag rates. Shop B @ $50 & Shop A @ $150. The difference is how they come to their conclusion.
Easy diags both shops have a real good idea whats wrong on the test drive. The difference, shop B might pull a code maybe a quick test and then give it the best guess and with easy diags are right most of the time. Shop A will go all the way thru regardless and there is no guesses, they are as positive as you can be in this profession of the bad part/area.
The hard diags usually Shop B won't even do, there are no clues, no common failure pattern and a "guess" at this point is very low odds...It will take a tech that can test the system all the way thru... This is why some of those shops are passing on this job and they are smart enough not to get in over their heads and waste your money and time......
I can't see this car but from what you've posted, it really seems like it may be an electrical problem. If you don't have the experience to track this problem down, what you can do is what I suggested early. Visually look at all the harnesses and connections for damage/loosen/disconnected/melting/fluid saturation, check the battery and fuses. After that your only real options will be to take it to a shop that has the experience to track it down. This shop won't be as cheap as the B shops because they don't guess, they take the time to find the problem and finding problems like this can be time consuming....
Just don't think that because their rate is double or triple of the B shops they are dishonest..... They have all the right equipment and will spend more time to find the problem. If shop B can't find the problem in under an hour and 2 or 3 wrong guesses......They are off it...... and like I said....This is why you aren't finding a shop that will look at it..... You are looking at all the shop Bs & no As.......... Bs aren't going to take this one in if they are smart....
(This post was edited by Sidom on Nov 22, 2010, 1:27 PM)
|
|
| |
|
|
tygressjanie
Novice
Nov 22, 2010, 1:51 PM
Post #14 of 16
(3499 views)
|
|
Re: Bad hesitation, dash lights flash, speedo needle jumps
|
|
|
Sidom: Yes I think there are only two shops that have that ability in my area. From what I've researched with the symptoms, I am leaning toward the Crankshaft Position Sensor as the next one to look into, and it was one of the one's that you had mentioned. I am going to one of the shops that I have had a lot of car work done at and trust this afternoon as I have to get some tires thanks to a piece of siding with a nail in the middle of the road this morning :(
At any rate, I plan to talk to them about it once more and see what their thoughts are on the Crankshaft PS being the culprit. After writing up the symptoms again for the forum I recalled a couple additional details I'd like to mention to this particular mechanic. He is very good and willing to take extra time on your car, but since they are so busy it usually means having to leave it there for a while. Therein lies one of the problems I had had with being able to get him to take the time he would have needed with it. It was, up until a month ago, my only mode of transportation, so I couldn't leave it there for him to look at. I am hoping that if the sensor turns out not to be the problem, I will be able to leave there car there and he'll have some time to look at it. But since the holidays are coming up it may not be the case.
I will keep you updated when I find out the cause :)
(This post was edited by tygressjanie on Nov 22, 2010, 1:54 PM)
|
|
| |
|
|
tygressjanie
Novice
Dec 15, 2010, 9:31 AM
Post #15 of 16
(3424 views)
|
|
Re: Bad hesitation, dash lights flash, speedo needle jumps
|
|
|
I indicated that I would let you all know what has been going on with the car. I have had to leave the car with a mechanic every day for a week so far and the car has added a new symptom to the list: it now stalls in the middle of driving and continues to coast along as if nothing has happened - except the fact that it no longer has any power, but the fans/radio/etc, are all still running.
The mechanic has been able to get the car to replicate the symptoms only a handful of times - one day he and his other mechanics drove it all day and it didn't do anything at all, and then of course I get the car back and half a mile down the road it does it! How frustrating. Anyway, first he thought from the electrical symptoms and NUMEROUS codes, that a stripped screw on the negative battery cable may have been causing the intermittent issues as the cable wasn't sitting tightly. He cleaned this up and $250 later (diagnosis fee and labor, etc), it did it again.
Next, his thought was what mine was as well, that perhaps it was the crankshaft position sensor, however, after that was replaced, within 1/10th of a mile it did the same thing again. So the next two days he looked at it again, trying to get it to duplicate the issue with the scope on, and he is now leaning towards the computer because there are no codes, but it seems to be showing as entirely an electrical-based symptom. He is trying to located a used computer for the car and is supposed to be contacting me to let me know what he can find. I will update you all again when that has been replaced to see if it fixes it. I guess here is where I start praying. :)
|
|
| |
|
|
tygressjanie
Novice
Feb 24, 2011, 12:27 PM
Post #16 of 16
(3337 views)
|
|
Re: Bad hesitation, dash lights flash, speedo needle jumps
|
|
|
Well, I changed out the car's ECU, and haven't had any more issues so far!
|
|
| |
|
Auto Repair Home
SEARCH
WHO'S 
LOG 
Drive Shaft Repair
2006 Toyoto Camry XLE Driver Side Electric Window Trouble
Grounding Cable, 2017 Jeep Renegade Trailhawk
Howdy
