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My car died...any thoughts?

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Old 08-10-2006 | 02:48 PM
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My car died...any thoughts?

Well...on the way to work today I was accelerating from a traffic light. I got half way accross the road and the car lost all power. Another 10 seconds later the engine quit. I tried to start it again. but no luck. I'm going to have to get it towed. I don't like the sund of this. It was really weird when it died. It felt like when you fill a ballon too much. You can feel the presure and then pop...nothing.


I just had it hooked up on the flatbed and taken to the dealer. I just couldn;'t bring myself to take a picture of it. I didn't want to end up in Brothervoodoos site.


So...anybody have some guesses as to the problem?

Blocked cat?
Old 08-10-2006 | 02:56 PM
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sounds like lack of fuel. Could be a cloged line or fuel pump, not sure but I hope thats what it is and not something more major. good luck man.
Old 08-10-2006 | 02:56 PM
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Blocked cat wouldn't make your engine quit all together.

How well could you hear the engine when all this happened? You didn't mention the infamous coins-rattling-in-a-can analogy so you didn't get severe detonation, or throw any seals, I'd guess. Also if you're NA I don't think detonation would make you throw a seal.
Old 08-10-2006 | 02:59 PM
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Originally Posted by WantedTwo
sounds like lack of fuel. Could be a cloged line or fuel pump, not sure but I hope thats what it is and not something more major. good luck man.

I don't think so. I went back to my car an hour after it happened and tried to start the car. After a couple of tries, it started but it sounded light a truck (low engine note) and when you gave it any gas, there was no power. I quickly shut it down again.
Old 08-10-2006 | 03:00 PM
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have em check the coilpacks... fouled plugs.. etc.. Has it been hot where you live lately?
Old 08-10-2006 | 03:04 PM
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Originally Posted by Red Devil
Blocked cat wouldn't make your engine quit all together.

How well could you hear the engine when all this happened? You didn't mention the infamous coins-rattling-in-a-can analogy so you didn't get severe detonation, or throw any seals, I'd guess. Also if you're NA I don't think detonation would make you throw a seal.


The engine sounded fine the whole way to work. I took off from the light and then all the power went away in an instant. The engine is stock. I use the highest grade fuel and have all the TSB's done.
Old 08-10-2006 | 03:05 PM
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Originally Posted by brothervoodoo
have em check the coilpacks... fouled plugs.. etc.. Has it been hot where you live lately?


It has been hot but the weather changed today and it's down around 60 f.
Old 08-10-2006 | 03:06 PM
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Originally Posted by rotten42
I don't think so. I went back to my car an hour after it happened and tried to start the car. After a couple of tries, it started but it sounded light a truck (low engine note) and when you gave it any gas, there was no power. I quickly shut it down again.
eww thats not good. did you notice a heavy smell of fuel in the air? are you getting any cel's? is the idle rough? I hope you didn't pop a seal.
Old 08-10-2006 | 03:09 PM
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Originally Posted by WantedTwo
eww thats not good. did you notice a heavy smell of fuel in the air? are you getting any cel's? is the idle rough? I hope you didn't pop a seal.


no fluid leaks on the ground
no smells of any kind
no cel
no rough idle up to when it happened.
Old 08-10-2006 | 03:11 PM
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This sucks, I don't want to become the founding member of the 3rd Engine Club!
Old 08-10-2006 | 03:22 PM
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Its kinda lookin that way man
Old 08-10-2006 | 03:26 PM
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Originally Posted by WantedTwo
eww thats not good. did you notice a heavy smell of fuel in the air? are you getting any cel's? is the idle rough? I hope you didn't pop a seal.
Didn't you lose an engine also?

Doubtful it's the seals, I think. If he'd thrown a seal he should have heard it rattling around in the housing. In the old engines - REW, 13BT etc...when you lost a seal it would go out through the exhaust port and spare your housings. Now apparently they don't go so easily through the sides ports and chew up your housing along the way.

Hopefully it is something simple like your ignition gone haywire...
Old 08-10-2006 | 03:29 PM
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Could be coils, but I think it's more like a CAT.

Just bring it in for warrenty.
Old 08-10-2006 | 03:29 PM
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let's all hope you just ran out of gas? yea, I'm sure you checked that. Sorry to hear it dude....that really is teh suxx0rz.
Old 08-11-2006 | 11:02 AM
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so I got a call from the service manager yesterday after work. His Tech things that the engine is baked. I'll get a confirmation call this morning after they do a compression test.




3rd Engine Club - Member #0001

Old 08-11-2006 | 12:16 PM
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Sorry to hear that. Are you going to keep the car?
Old 08-11-2006 | 12:59 PM
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I leased this car for this very reason. I never buy a car if it is the first year of production. Oddly enough, I still love the car but I'll probably let it go when the lease is up. Hello G35
Old 08-11-2006 | 02:23 PM
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Originally Posted by rotten42
His Tech things that the engine is baked. I'll get a confirmation call this morning after they do .......

3rd Engine Club - Member #0001
Well that is f'ing unbelievable.. Sorry rotten, I haven't followed too closely regarding your "other" engine replacements but the wtf... have the same mechanic/dealership done the work everytime? I would start to question their aptitude and competence.
Old 08-11-2006 | 03:19 PM
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different dealer this time
Old 08-11-2006 | 07:32 PM
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Originally Posted by Red Devil
Didn't you lose an engine also?

Doubtful it's the seals, I think. If he'd thrown a seal he should have heard it rattling around in the housing. In the old engines - REW, 13BT etc...when you lost a seal it would go out through the exhaust port and spare your housings. Now apparently they don't go so easily through the sides ports and chew up your housing along the way.

Hopefully it is something simple like your ignition gone haywire...
Yup I've lost one. Your right about the seal but the prob isyou don't hear the seal banging around it gets imbeded into the housing and takes out the rest of the seals thats what happened to me after one of my seals **** the bed.

I'm sorry to see that I was right about the engine. Hope things taken care of quickly for you dude.
Old 08-13-2006 | 10:34 PM
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Originally Posted by WantedTwo
Yup I've lost one. ..
It wouldn't hurt to let all know that you had it turbocharged. Some ppl might not know that little tidbit of info as they read this...
Old 08-14-2006 | 01:26 AM
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Does anyone know if any stock 6 port US engines have ever blown up just from hard driving?
Old 08-14-2006 | 08:27 PM
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Originally Posted by CosmosMpower
Does anyone know if any stock 6 port US engines have ever blown up just from hard driving?
Hard driving is what it likes. That said, I can't remember hearing such. The closest we have is the high ambient temps contributing to engine failure.
Old 08-14-2006 | 08:34 PM
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That, and driving it like your dad's Oldsmobile has killed more than a few, says my service manager. The carbon build-up gets so bad, they just have to replace the engine. Ya gotta rev it often!
Old 08-14-2006 | 09:18 PM
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from what i can tell just the way it sounds..........................maybe u fried a coil pack, fouled plug, or possibly a plugged/ multiple plugged injectors???? or maybe ur car just needs a reflash...........dont assume the very worst until the easy stuff has been factored out of the equation........


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