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bonnie knox

question for those auto mechanically inclined *update*

bonnie knox · [Insert Acts Pun Here] Posts: 14803 **5/3/17 9:51 am**

What could be the cause of my car backfiring and stalling when I put it into gear?
I have a high mileage car that recently had a starter replaced. The mechanic says I'm losing pressure in one of my valves (so I guess that's like saying I ain't hittin on all 6 cylinders). For a while, I've not had much power on acceleration which I am attributing to the valve that is losing pressure, but I had not had a problem with stalling until this past Saturday.
Chronology:

(What was a bummer was that I missed getting together with a friend this past Monday because of the transportation issues. aarrrrghhh.)

Now the reason I even mentioned the rain was because years ago I drove a VW beetle that would get moisture under the distributor cap after a rain and wouldn't want to start until that moisture was wiped out, BUT our mechanic didn't think the rain had anything to do with my issues with this car.
Darling husband drove the car a little this past Sunday afternoon to see what was happening. He said it drove fine (except for stalling once Rolling Eyes

).
I was going to drive it around a little Sunday evening (not knowing he had apparently already tried) and it stalled a couple of times in the drive, so I didn't even try to take it up the street.
Monday morning I did drive it up the street and back, but then it seemed very reluctant to start again the second time I tried to crank it.
Darling husband drove it to the garage today, mechanic took it for a test drive. Other than being reluctant to start, they claimed it was driving like it always has.
I'm not confident I should trust it on a long trip.
Thanks for any info.

c6thplayer1

Hon. Dr. in Acts-celeratology Posts: 6385 **5/3/17 10:34 am**

Definitely sounds like an ignition problem. A faulty valve seat that allows poor compression would deliver more consistent problems than what you are experiencing.

The problem could be with the ignition system itself or the spark plug wires cross firing.

Depending on the type of ignition system you have the cost will vary. The plug wires will cost around $40 bucks.

bonnie knox

[Insert Acts Pun Here] Posts: 14803 **5/3/17 12:08 pm**

Thanks for the suggestions.
(I'm hoping another car will be in my not-too-distant future.)

Cojak

01000001 01100011 01110100 01110011 Posts: 24285 **5/3/17 1:51 pm**

If it is dark at your house (no street lights) just after dark you could start it up with the hood raised and see if you could see any arc-s. That could eliminate the outside chance they are cross firing.

With the 'newer cars' (after 1980) I am about lost. Too much electronics in the firing system and timing. BUT any mechanic should have noticed that right away. Maybe it was something to do with moisture (humidity). If it is stalling less and less.

One more thing, you just may have picked up a bad load of gas. A can of the hi octane additive would clear that , but it would have to be running or driven a good bit to get it cleared up.

Personally I do not think a valve would make it lose a LOT of power (backfire yes, but stall and loss of poser in my opinion, NO). I just had one replaced in our diesel and it is impossible to tell any difference except the engine no longer throws out a lot of smoke.

A broken valve could cause it, but you, and especially the mech, would definitely hear it.

I would say take a hair dryer to it, but I would not not know where to say point it. Most likely any moisture problem should have been dispelled with the 9 mile trip.

Auto problems are no fun. Hope you get it cleared up... Confused

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Old Time Country Preacher

Re: question for those auto mechanically inclined

Acts-pert Poster Posts: 15570 **5/3/17 2:02 pm**

UncleJD

Golf Cart Mafia Consigliere Posts: 3147 **5/3/17 3:32 pm**

The thing with diagnosing systems based on symptoms is that 10 different very experienced people can have 10 different guesses. What you describe to me sounds like one or more cylinders losing compression (power loss) and/or a valve not closing on the compression stroke (allowing fuel into the exhaust and backfiring). But, it could also be ignition like C6th says. A mechanic should be doing compression, voltage, and other tests.

Cojak

01000001 01100011 01110100 01110011 Posts: 24285 **5/3/17 10:43 pm**

bonnie knox

[Insert Acts Pun Here] Posts: 14803 **5/4/17 6:00 am**

The valve problem is already a given. We know I have been having a valve problem (but I had not had a problem with stalling prior to last Saturday).
Yeah, the mechanic had suggested I find a car like mine and buy the motor for my car. It seemed like a joke because my car body has a dent from a deer collision, extensive hail damage, and peeling paint. I have 364,000 miles on it, so I guess the handwriting is on the wall. It's been a good car (except to the 3 deer we've hit with it).

UncleJD

Golf Cart Mafia Consigliere Posts: 3147 **5/4/17 8:23 am**

Very few cars make it to 364K on the original engine. That's pretty impressive, it should be given a decent burial and maybe a 21 gun salute. Unless its a special/rare/collectible car, the engine transplant would likely run more than just buying a similar car with much less mileage.

bonnie knox

[Insert Acts Pun Here] Posts: 14803 **5/4/17 8:36 am**

I've been sitting here reading the phrase "run more" over and over.
It finally dawned on me you are talking about costs. I guess I was hitting a mental block because I really want a car that runs, lol. I was thinking "run more" was a good thing. Laughing

I think I'm headed out to Pikeville to see if I can find Clem. If he likes playing horseshoes, I might not come back to NC.

bonnie knox

[Insert Acts Pun Here] Posts: 14803 **5/4/17 8:44 am**

I think it's my EGR valve.

bonnie knox

[Insert Acts Pun Here] Posts: 14803 **5/4/17 8:47 am**

or an exhaust leak...

...I did notice smelling exhaust on the last long trip I took (about a month ago) that I hadn't noticed smelling before

Cojak

01000001 01100011 01110100 01110011 Posts: 24285 **5/4/17 11:17 pm**

Cojak

01000001 01100011 01110100 01110011 Posts: 24285 **5/4/17 11:21 pm**

bonnie knox

[Insert Acts Pun Here] Posts: 14803 **5/5/17 7:12 am**

Cojak, in reading about the EGR valve, I read that a leak in the exhaust system could cause the same symptoms (but what do I know; I didn't even know before a couple of days ago that I even had an EGR valve).

4golf

Cam problem.

Bound By Beaulah Posts: 1003 **5/5/17 7:01 pm**

It sounds like a lob wore off of the cam.
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bonnie knox

Re: Cam problem.

[Insert Acts Pun Here] Posts: 14803 **5/5/17 7:10 pm**

Cojak

Re: Cam problem.

01000001 01100011 01110100 01110011 Posts: 24285 **5/5/17 10:23 pm**

c6thplayer1

this would solve your problem Bonnie

Hon. Dr. in Acts-celeratology Posts: 6385 **5/6/17 10:57 am**

You would look amazing driving this ,

bonnie knox

[Insert Acts Pun Here] Posts: 14803 **5/6/17 1:46 pm**

Katy, bar the door!