C
Cap'n Cody
My 2001 Pontiac Grand Am GT won't start. It rumbles like normal but just dies when i try to start it. Also, when it did run the RPMs would jump from 2 to 3 for no reason, and make my car run all jerky. And when it would do that if I slowed down to a low speed or stopped it would usually die and I'd have to start it up. Upon starting it up and moving again the RPMs would jump up again but it usually wouldn't die again, but sometimes it would. But usually after a mile or two it would run fine. And the other day when i tried to start it, it made sputtering sounds and sounds that reminded me of a backfire popping sound. When I start it now and pump the gas to try and get it to start, the lights kinda fade in and out, the car shakes, makes the stuttering sounds and just dies. I'm at a complete loss.
The 1 2 b, the service engine soon light is on, but when I get it checked it gives me the 0420 code, which is the catalytic convertor, vacuum hose, oil leaking into the engine, or the 02 sensor.
I have only smelled smoke twice and that was the other day when i kept pumping my gas to try and get the engine to start. And also, no black smoke comes out of the tail pipes. I don't think that's the problem.
I've had 2 brand new catalytic converters in the past 2 years that I've owned the vehicle. So I don't think that's the problem either.
So, how can I test the vacuum hoses and the 02 sensors? I also got the engine diagnostics about 2 months ago and didn't bother with it since I wasn't having problems. But I got that at AutoZone, and I heard their tests aren't as good as a mechanics, but I can't get it to start therefore i can't take it anywhere to be tested.
The 1 2 b, the service engine soon light is on, but when I get it checked it gives me the 0420 code, which is the catalytic convertor, vacuum hose, oil leaking into the engine, or the 02 sensor.
I have only smelled smoke twice and that was the other day when i kept pumping my gas to try and get the engine to start. And also, no black smoke comes out of the tail pipes. I don't think that's the problem.
I've had 2 brand new catalytic converters in the past 2 years that I've owned the vehicle. So I don't think that's the problem either.
So, how can I test the vacuum hoses and the 02 sensors? I also got the engine diagnostics about 2 months ago and didn't bother with it since I wasn't having problems. But I got that at AutoZone, and I heard their tests aren't as good as a mechanics, but I can't get it to start therefore i can't take it anywhere to be tested.
