themadtongue
08-03-2009, 06:12 AM
Hey guys, I have a 2000 Grand Am 2.4 with high miles (175,000).
The only thing I've had an issue with in the last couple of years is about 6 months ago my Service Engine light came on. They read it and said it was the #2 Oxygen Sensor. About 2 days later the light went off.
About a month later the light came on again. Read it again and it was the same. It was on for a week.
Last month it came on again for a few days.
So yesterday I'm driving on the highway at about 65 for 25 miles. I take an exit, turn onto another highway, and my "Trac Off" light comes on. A few seconds later my Service Engine light came on and I lost most of the power trying to accelerate. The rpms went high and the transmission would hesitate to shift. I pulled over. I noticed the Service Engine light would stay solid for about 20 seconds or so, and then blink about 20 times.
There was a slight burning smell but I honestly don't know if that was coming from outside or not. It smelled like it outside the car too. I opened the hood and saw nothing of concern. I checked the oil and it was 2 quarts low, which is unusual.
After that it would start but it would die in reverse or drive, but if I put it into a low gear (first or second) I could SLOWLY drive it about a 1/4 mile to my friend's house.
When I start the car it idles fine for the most part in terms of the sound under the hood, it's just slightly rougher then before. However, the sound coming from the muffler is HORRIBLE. It's a loud, crappy sounding glug-glug noise.
A tow back to my house or even to my city would cost $200 which I can't afford, and there's no one near my friend's house that can hook up and scan the Service Engine light. I'm really kinda screwed unless I can figure it out where it's at now.
Would an Oxygen Sensor going out cause big problems like this? I remember once I disconnected the Intake Air Temperature Sensor and it caused all kinds of craziness that seemed to be unrelated, like the transmission wouldn't shift and it lacked power. Could this be similar?
PLEASE help guys....
The only thing I've had an issue with in the last couple of years is about 6 months ago my Service Engine light came on. They read it and said it was the #2 Oxygen Sensor. About 2 days later the light went off.
About a month later the light came on again. Read it again and it was the same. It was on for a week.
Last month it came on again for a few days.
So yesterday I'm driving on the highway at about 65 for 25 miles. I take an exit, turn onto another highway, and my "Trac Off" light comes on. A few seconds later my Service Engine light came on and I lost most of the power trying to accelerate. The rpms went high and the transmission would hesitate to shift. I pulled over. I noticed the Service Engine light would stay solid for about 20 seconds or so, and then blink about 20 times.
There was a slight burning smell but I honestly don't know if that was coming from outside or not. It smelled like it outside the car too. I opened the hood and saw nothing of concern. I checked the oil and it was 2 quarts low, which is unusual.
After that it would start but it would die in reverse or drive, but if I put it into a low gear (first or second) I could SLOWLY drive it about a 1/4 mile to my friend's house.
When I start the car it idles fine for the most part in terms of the sound under the hood, it's just slightly rougher then before. However, the sound coming from the muffler is HORRIBLE. It's a loud, crappy sounding glug-glug noise.
A tow back to my house or even to my city would cost $200 which I can't afford, and there's no one near my friend's house that can hook up and scan the Service Engine light. I'm really kinda screwed unless I can figure it out where it's at now.
Would an Oxygen Sensor going out cause big problems like this? I remember once I disconnected the Intake Air Temperature Sensor and it caused all kinds of craziness that seemed to be unrelated, like the transmission wouldn't shift and it lacked power. Could this be similar?
PLEASE help guys....