Losing power, getting it back, losing again

[aleros_eat_rice]

I'm thinking it may be the cat and maybe one other thing, but I will ask here. I didn't see my exact question on the search.

Today on my way to work, my car started losing power. I usually drive around 75mph or so. When I left home, it took off reasonably quick, and up until a certain point on the interstate, it ran fine, at 75-80mph it usually runs about 2000 to 2250 rpms. Today, it suddenly started dropping to about 65, and stayed at 2250 or so.
When I hit the gas, it would bog down, and when I let off a bit, it would smooth out. Then on the exit ramp to work, it got pep back in its step. I floored it and it accelerated like never before. Didn't even hesitate or stumble. Then about 5 miles later, it dropped from 60 to around 25 on a hill. I pulled over and put it in park and floored it, and it started hesitating and wanting to stall, topping out at around 2000 rpms. I was able to limp it to work.
When I stopped, it put off that smell like it was overheating.
Any ideas?
Thanks

[Shiwnath]

Check your MAF.. It may need to be cleaned. That would be where I would start.

[aleros_eat_rice]

I was thinkingabout cleaning that anyway. I'll do that in the a.m.

[Papa Rad17]

cat and dirty maf both sound reasonable. If its getting it when you get on it and running fine then I would think it would be more of a sensor issue somewhere. if was more mechanical you'd probably notice other problems.
just thought- could be a fuel or spark issue. fuel pump or dirty filter maybe, even bad gas. or if plugs or wires are going out it might not be getting a sufficient spark.

[aleros_eat_rice]

Did a tune up a few months ago, usinng AC Delco iridium plugs, premium wires, fuel filter was changed in october, and I'm running 93 gas.

If it were the maf, wouldn't it throw a code?

[Papa Rad17]

Did a tune up a few months ago, usinng AC Delco iridium plugs, premium wires, fuel filter was changed in october, and I'm running 93 gas.

If it were the maf, wouldn't it throw a code?

not necessarily. have you tuned to run the higher octain? I know boosted motors and some others require it and will cause problems if you run to low octain. not sure what happens if you go the other way like you are. I could see that being a problem if your not tuned to run it, may have combustion at the wrong time causing things to get out of whack.

[sleepyalero]

Honestly. You should not be running premium. There is no benefit with these cars. And they are not meant to run premium unless you are pushing some high hp numbers.

Mine is tuned to run mid grade gas. If I run premium. Ot basically burns the fuel quicker. And I get no added hp gain or mpg gain....


And you would be suprised. Sometimes sensors dont throw codes.

[aleros_eat_rice]

I was thinking of weaning it down to regular. Go to 89 then after a fill up or two go back to regular. But no, it isn't tuned for 93.

But why would it suddenly fly fast then start to bog down again? If it is the maf, I could get one cheap from rockauto, same as the icm. If its the cat, I might just take out the precat o2s and run it like that until I get a new one. I found a new cat online for like $125.

[Redog]

Did you swap the ICM yet?

[aleros_eat_rice]

Not yet, but I was going to get one on this paycheck. I may just take out a loan tomorrow and pay off with my check.

[a.graham52]

Pull the pre cat 02 sensor and see if u get your power back . That will tell you if it's the cat or if u should keep looking. Ur maf sensor cleaning is pretty cheap but if you ICM is going bad, that could also cause these issues.

[aleros_eat_rice]

Redog already shed some light on that, and I was going to replace it anyway. Work has been rained out a few times lately (concrete), so hours have been short, and haven't had a good enough check to get one.

I did read about the precat, and I was going to try that as well.

But again, why would it suddenly act a whole lot better, only to drop back off a few miles later? Either way, I'm getting a new ICM, just gotta wonder if its that, the cat or maf.

[03glgold]

send some of your rain to western kansas...it will give you time to work and get rid of all the dust blowing around here...two problems solved :awesome:

I specify western kansas because eastern kansas isn't as dry and my dad is overloaded with work he needs to get done (masonry)

[Redog]

don't take out one of those "payday loans" total ripoff. Some interest rates are as high as 98% :eek:

Replace the ICM, and see if the problem goes away. You had another post relating to ICM problems before so it's not like your throwing money at it ;)

[aleros_eat_rice]

I meant so I could get one quicker. Like go to autozone and get one now to keep going for now.

[aleros_eat_rice]

I just started thinking about it. I had a blocked egr passage, and that white sludge had to go somewhere. It probably is a clogged cat because of all of that sludge built up.

I'm going to pull the precat o2s and see if that's it.

[aleros_eat_rice]

It was overheating. Looked in the overflow, and I needed to add water. It still stumbles if I floor it (off the line or moving), but it drove like normal all the way home. It even stayed at about 2250 to 2500 rpms at 75 to 80mph.
I looked around for a leak, and I think its the radiator. Oh well, I already have a replacement for it. I just need to go to autozone to get a new tstat and maybe cts, since it'll be accessible already.

The ICM is getting replaced regardless, and the maf is getting cleaned, but at least it wasn't a bigger issue.

[Papa Rad17]

That will narrow things down at least. When you refill the new radiator don't use just water. 50/50 mix is what I've always put it.

[negolien]

That will narrow things down at least. When you refill the new radiator don't use just water. 50/50 mix is what I've always put it.

People do that still? :eek: lol the fact this turned out to be overheating scares me you don't have a temp sensor?

[03glgold]

the fact this turned out to be overheating scares me you don't have a temp sensor?

I am somewhat in agreement here...if the 3400 likes to occasionally lose gaskets anyways then overheating won't help, but all you can do is put it back so it doesn't do it anymore and hope for the best

[Nas Escobar]

People do that still? :eek: lol the fact this turned out to be overheating scares me you don't have a temp sensor?

I did it to my Camaro when my water pump went out and it kept spitting back out the dexcool from the radiator. It's cheap, it works, but it freezes in the winter.

[negolien]

Overheating issues scare me. Nothing worse than getting stuck somewhere on the way to or from work. I get my cooling system checked every year before it heats up. I'd much rather spend $100 once a year than get stranded even with triple A. Amazingly I have never had issues with gushing Lowers or overheating issues in general :p

[aleros_eat_rice]

I have a cts, but remember- right now she has 257k miles. Parts are bound to wear out sometime. As for the coolant mix, I usually run around 75/25 dex-cool/water to 60/40. Other than the radiator, tstat and cts, everything else is new or in good condition. I replaced the radiator hoses (both large hoses and the small one from the overflow to the radiator), put a new water pump in last year, so everything else is good to go.

I talked to my ex again, and she mentioned the metal line running from thhe housing to the overflow. She says the end can sometimes get clogged and cause it to run hot as well.

[Redog]

I didn't think you were supposed to mix Dexcool with water :blink:

Anyway. I run Prestone all makes/all models, 50/50 mix in all my cars. I changed over to the green a while ago, then put in fresh green when I did my water pump back in 2011. When I did the WP, I changed both the upper and lower hoses, just because they were orginal.

Is the coolant being pushed out of the overflow tube?

[Papa Rad17]

I did it to my Camaro when my water pump went out and it kept spitting back out the dexcool from the radiator. It's cheap, it works, but it freezes in the winter.

Water by its self also does not cool things as well. My step brother re-filled my radiator with a mix he makes himself to run in derby cars, ran a noticeable amount cooler with it. before that though I was spending money on coolant just to get around, switched to just pouring water and it wasnt as dramatic but it did run hotter. Their is a reason the manufacture says not to just go poring water in there. if your having to refill daily its not worth it but once the problem is fixed flush that out and put in a mix.

[aleros_eat_rice]

I don't think the coolant is coming out of the overflow tube, that area isn't wet and doesn't smell of antifreeze. Just under the radiator.

If it can hold out til the weekend, I'm in good shape. I can also get the tstat and cts and put them in.

[Nas Escobar]

Water by its self also does not cool things as well. My step brother re-filled my radiator with a mix he makes himself to run in derby cars, ran a noticeable amount cooler with it. before that though I was spending money on coolant just to get around, switched to just pouring water and it wasnt as dramatic but it did run hotter. Their is a reason the manufacture says not to just go poring water in there. if your having to refill daily its not worth it but once the problem is fixed flush that out and put in a mix.

I didn't plan to permanently run straight water, it was a band aid until I did my LIM gaskets.I need to do a complete flush anyways, the dexcool turned into sludge since it was never flushed... or so I think because I got it that way.

I didn't think you were supposed to mix Dexcool with water :blink:

Anyway. I run Prestone all makes/all models, 50/50 mix in all my cars. I changed over to the green a while ago, then put in fresh green when I did my water pump back in 2011. When I did the WP, I changed both the upper and lower hoses, just because they were orginal.

Is the coolant being pushed out of the overflow tube?

You're not supposed to mix any type of coolant with water if it's 50/50 out the box. You can however mix straight Dexcool with water same way you would do so with the green stuff... well at least that's what the Prestone non 50/50 dexcool says.

[aleros_eat_rice]

I never get 50/50. You're paying for a 1/2 gallon of antifreeze and a 1/2gallon of what you get out of the garden hose. I know its an exact mix, but I just don't feel like paying for them to add water.

I'll also need to get another gallon or two of dexcool for when I change the radiator.

[a.graham52]

I never get 50/50. You're paying for a 1/2 gallon of antifreeze and a 1/2gallon of what you get out of the garden hose. I know its an exact mix, but I just don't feel like paying for them to add water.

I'll also need to get another gallon or two of dexcool for when I change the radiator.

tecnicaly you need distilled water. your not supposed to use tap water. never know what minierals are in it.

[Papa Rad17]

tecnicaly you need distilled water. your not supposed to use tap water. never know what minierals are in it.

^this guy. :awesome: Ever see those hard water and lime buildup around your sink or whatever? Thats what your putting in your radiator if you pouring it in there regularly. For temporary solution yes, by means put water in there over nothing.

[negolien]

Did your temp gauge never read an issue that's boggling me. I watch mine like a freaking hawk though it's an Alero so ..

[Nas Escobar]

^this guy. :awesome: Ever see those hard water and lime buildup around your sink or whatever? Thats what your putting in your radiator if you pouring it in there regularly. For temporary solution yes, by means put water in there over nothing.

Putting it in your radiator?

That's what you're putting in on your body when you shower or in your mouth when you brush your teeth. I'm pretty sure the radiator is the least of your worries, but I digress.

BTW if you have a water filter/purifier, use that for your rad water instead.

And Aleros eat rice, the price difference is $2. Are you really getting a better deal?

[a.graham52]

Putting it in your radiator?

That's what you're putting in on your body when you shower or in your mouth when you brush your teeth. I'm pretty sure the radiator is the least of your worries, but I digress.

BTW if you have a water filter/purifier, use that for your rad water instead.

And Aleros eat rice, the price difference is $2. Are you really getting a better deal?

keep your butt hole shut while you shower and for god sakes didnt enyone ever tell you not to swallow? lol

[negolien]

keep your butt hole shut while you shower and for god sakes didnt enyone ever tell you not to swallow? lol

That's just good natured teasing but holy crap I was :rotflmao:

[aleros_eat_rice]

I was going to flush before doing all of this anyway.

[Redog]

I never get 50/50. You're paying for a 1/2 gallon of antifreeze and a 1/2gallon of what you get out of the garden hose. I know its an exact mix, but I just don't feel like paying for them to add water.

I'll also need to get another gallon or two of dexcool for when I change the radiator.


Exactly. I only buy the 50/50 when I'm in a pinch. Like the year I drove to ASS thru Canada with a crack head gasket and combustion gasses pushed coolant out the overflow, on the side of the road, in upstate NY.


tecnicaly you need distilled water. your not supposed to use tap water. never know what minierals are in it.

Yes. I stopped using tap water a few years ago. Now for every gallon of antifreeze I buy, I buy a gallon of distilled water. It's only 69 cents a gallon ;)

[Nas Escobar]

keep your butt hole shut while you shower and for god sakes didnt enyone ever tell you not to swallow? lol

LMAO wow. I thought this was Aleromod, not prison!

I guess this is a good time as any to say watch your back and don't drop the soap! :haha: :haha:

[aleros_eat_rice]

I cleaned the MAF. It went from black to gray, so yes, it was needed.

[aleros_eat_rice]

Sweet Jesus, the acceleration is amazing with a clean MAF. No hesitation or stumble.

Already paid for the ICM anyway, so I'll probably put it on when it arrives.