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stalled and died going 45 150 miles from home
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mikeokowski
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Jan 25, 2009, 5:46 PM
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stalled and died going 45 150 miles from home
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1999 pontiac montana 3.7l (i think) rebuilt engine replaced 2 years ago with about 30k on it.Check engine light came on 20 minutes or so before, but went off for a few minutes, then came back on again....(does that sometimes for like 2 years, and they can't figure out why at the shop, so not a huge biggie) unsure about oil pressure , no gauge , but idiot light didn't come on and had right amount of oil. Temp was perfect.
Stalled as I was slowing , tried to restart it , and it was making a light clanging sound ,( not really , really loud ) but spooky nonetheless. and would only kick on for second, then sputtered out, got a jump after three tries , sputtered and kicked , but the clanging sound was gone or almost faint. Pushed to side of road, waiting for a ride, 30 minutes later , tried to start again, (about 6 times) almost started but sputtered out and died, (no abnormal spooky sounds) , 30 minutes later , tried again but not enough juice to even crank. I have one shot to fix before the snow comes. Is it possible that 1) the alternator died and I was driving on battery for a few and then it died? but would that cause the engine to shake/sputter like that?!? 2)a computer chip thing-a-ma-bob sent a signal to the fuel telling it shut down because of not enough juice? or does it sound like a bigger deal? . . . going up with a new alt, and a new spare bat , tomorrow after work , or is this a waste of time. can get a tow for 100 or can buy an alt and bat for about the same if that is what it needs. Any help or suggestions would really help me out alot. !! Thanks
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Loren Champlain Sr
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Jan 25, 2009, 6:20 PM
Post #2 of 10
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Re: stalled and died going 45 150 miles from home
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Mike; Sounds like a charging system issue, but not sure what the noises would be. Take a very close look at all of the pulleys that the serpentine belt drives.
Loren
SW Washington
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mikeokowski
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Jan 25, 2009, 6:57 PM
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Re: stalled and died going 45 150 miles from home
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yep , that was the spooky part. It ALMOST sounded like a busted rod *yikes* but not quite. But that sound only came AFTER it stalled out and died, and was not heard prior to. Was hoping to hear that running on just the battery causes some new fangled processor to shot off fuel circulation or some stuff.  and that fixing any limited electrical malfunction should/could possibly rectify that problem.....hate to waste time driving back with new alt and bat , only to find it was some 20 dollar chip reset thingy  . also hate to blow a 100 on a tow for the same, when it could be just one of those 2. and really hate leaving my piece of poop on the side of the road , even though it's a real hunk. so unless someone else comes on here and stops me, I am going up tomorrow night to replace bat and or alt. .....and maybe something else,cause, they shoot horses don't they?
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Loren Champlain Sr
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Jan 25, 2009, 8:41 PM
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Re: stalled and died going 45 150 miles from home
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>>they shoot horses don't they?<< Hmmmm. Sounds like a good title for a movie. You might get away with putting a fully charged battery in it and driving it home (in the daylight), and go from there. If the computer loses enough voltage, it'll 'run home to mama' (stolen from another movie) and the car will run (if at all) like...you know what. But be sure that the belts are intact before driving. If you lost a water pump, which could take out a belt, driving it would be out of the question.
Loren
SW Washington
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Tom Greenleaf
Ultimate Carjunky
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Jan 25, 2009, 8:52 PM
Post #5 of 10
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Re: stalled and died going 45 150 miles from home
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Just doing some math here: Quote" I can get it towed for 100 {$?} "
Ok - that means if you don't go go there with a friend in another car 150 miles and if you are successful two come home 300 miles = 450 miles of driving for $100 to try to save what? At best it's guessing right now so I'd tow it to where you want to work on it and then go get parts as needed.
Alt and bat may cause the issue of dying out on you but also could be a pulley, tensioner, belt or something else altogether and you'd still be stuck if you don't have those with you and it may not be any of those.
A good battery would give you more than a few tries. Ordinary attempts my guess is a good battery will try at least 20 times without extended cranking which is of no use anyway.
New battery may not be fully charged so if you do go back with one have the place charge it first or do it yourself before you go. Good luck whatever you do,
T
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mikeokowski
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Jan 26, 2009, 7:54 PM
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Re: stalled and died going 45 150 miles from home
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Okay, had it towed , and it's a good thing, here is where I am now : switched out battery with new spare , 98 percent charge. Engine will not turn over at all now. tried clicking the ignition numerous times , until I began to smell burning wire smell. Am guessing the smell is coming from the starter cylinoid(spelling>?) or the starter itself, hard to say , not a mechanic , but it is in the front of the engine between the radiator and engine with a couple of bolts with lead wires going to it, so I am assuming it looks like a starter cylinoid, to me, ( give me back my 67 ford mustang  )
so , now the engine will not even turn over battery is out of a chevy suburban with 30 more cranking amps then the pontiac bat, but it was the only spare I had and the guy at the auto store , who made sure it was charged , said it would probably be fine. Why would it not even turn over now? I went from stalling out at 45 to, clanging-ish \stuttery-ish noises with no constant running capabilities , to a no start or turnover at all. What have I done? or rather what have I not done?. . . I did a visual check on all the outer fuses and all seem to be okay, not to sure about the ignition relays ( don't know how to check if they are fine or not) but why should they even be bad in the first place, a bad starter relay would not cause a stall out going 45 slowing on incline to a stall would it? I am thinking electrical here , but would a thrown rod cause my starter to seize up and thus give me a burning smellish of electrical wire? or is this a combined failure of some sort, like maybe a safety device for the vehicle thinking it was being stolen? ?!?! as you can tell, I am at a serious loss of ideas , and before someone says go to an asc cert, just know that I am teetering flat broke and an auto mech, is way out of budget for the family mini van at the moment. was so hoping it was bad alt and I ran on bat for a bit and that was the cause, but now this .... HELP ? PLEASE?
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Loren Champlain Sr
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Jan 26, 2009, 7:58 PM
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Re: stalled and died going 45 150 miles from home
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Mike; Good thing that you took Tom's advice rather than mine. I think you'd better try turning the engine over by hand to make sure the engine isn't seized. This is beginning to sound not so good.
Wish I had my '67 Mustang, too!
Loren
SW Washington
(This post was edited by Loren Champlain Sr on Jan 26, 2009, 7:59 PM)
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mikeokowski
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Jan 27, 2009, 6:34 PM
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Re: stalled and died going 45 150 miles from home
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how does one go about doing that manually? I am imagining it to be rather difficult. not a scared , just unsure how to do it..... no rush on the response, it's snowing here and icing tomorrow, but would like to know what it is I am in for when the weather breaks. hope not to be parting this puppy out, but if it is a busted rod or something of that nature, then it is time to cut my losses. open to all suggestions of any type, including, but not limited to; deflating all 4 tires and refilling them with fix-a -flat ... lol , but seriously, if any of you automotive gods and goddesses, have anything to offer to my current situation, I am most appreciative, you ALL have been more than helpful already, and I am sure that using this forum alone, you all would be able to help me rebuild my wifes van. so , I stalled and that was probably a ______ that has caused me to be at this point. Could an interior problem like a busted rod, cause me to stall, without any prior sound ? It's a mom van and has been driven ever so gently. more help , pretty please? if it is not to bothersome, THANKS
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Loren Champlain Sr
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Jan 27, 2009, 6:46 PM
Post #9 of 10
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Re: stalled and died going 45 150 miles from home
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Mike; The bottom pulley on the engine is where the crankshaft is. There will be a bolt in the center of the pulley.
You can attach a wrench, or maybe a socket with a short extension, and a ratchet to see if you can turn it clockwise. (counter-clockwise will loosen the bolt). It would probably be best to remove the spark plugs, first, so you don't break the bolt if the engine is seized. With the plugs out, it should turn rather easily. If it does, turn it several revolutions, just to be sure you haven't thrown a rod.
Loren
SW Washington
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mikeokowski
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Jan 27, 2009, 8:37 PM
Post #10 of 10
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Re: stalled and died going 45 150 miles from home
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okie-dokie, will try that, after the ice is gone, and will let you know how that goes, or doesn't go, whatever the case may be. Please be thinking of the trillions of what ifs, , if, it is not seized. If I am unsuccessful , I will still let you know , but it probably won't be until this weekend. I will be checking in from time to time until then, just in case there is another person with additional 'fun' things to try and do  , and if it is seized, would you happen to know, the round about expense I am looking at , by chance? or is it a , get a new engine type of thing? Do people fix a busted rod, or is there a bunch of technical stuff that makes it better all around to just start over again with another 'new/used' engine?I guess the high school could always use a new beat em minivan to smash for a dollar a whack. if they even still do that .. Thanks again , really !!!
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