Car died on the highway tonight

[SolScuba]

Wow, this is seeming to be nothing but problems lately with everything I do to the car. Today, I replaced my header gasket which involved pulling the whole s/c system off. I pulled the TPS sensor off and the MAF sensor out. I put everything back together and started it up. I let it sit for a couple minutes, and my fuel trims are finally fixed. But now there's a new problem. I revved it up and it choked out and started acting weird. I checked for codes and there weren't any. I decided to drive it and drove appx. 3 miles and went back home. Any time I got on the gas it would choke out. Even if I went slow it couldn't get about 3-4000 rpms. So I went home, reset the ECM, and decided to drive some more. It was good the first time I got on it a little bit, and then it started acting up again. I went out on the highway and somehow managed to get up to 70mph. I cruised along but if I hit the gas it would choke out. I went 10 miles, turned around, and on the on ramp it completely choked out and shut off. I tried to restart it, but there's nothing. It won't even turn over or click. We tried push starting but it won't work. The dashhawk won't stay on, and isn't recognizing the CAN system and says either this vehicle doens't have CAN or the ignition is off. My low fuel light is on, my DIC is all messed up and isn't reading anything. It just has dashes. Like ---.-- Trip A, etc. The battery isn't dead, because no lights are dimmer at all. Please help!!

[marlboromike]

You did this yourself as u now realize...take your lumps and have it towed into Saturn and let them undo what u did...and then u will have to pay for it...money is a good teacher.

These cars r not computer friendly...without touching these cars, they find a way to mess themselves up....let sleeping dogs sleep.

[Sol-Candy]

Originally Posted by marlboromike

You did this yourself as u now realize...take your lumps and have it towed into Saturn and let them undo what u did...and then u will have to pay for it...money is a good teacher.

These cars r not computer friendly...without touching these cars, they find a way to mess themselves up....let sleeping dogs sleep.

I think he has a Solstice.... I'm sick because I haven't done any mods except for the Street Racer Exhaust (which I love) and my Solstice is sitting at the dealers with the message "Engine Power Reduced". My husband drove it down as I followed and it was like he had no power at all. As I have stated many times I love my car but I have about had it with all the trips to the dealers. I had a new computer put in around 2 months ago and it was running great then out of the blue I get this message. I pray that they can fix it without waiting for parts... I do drive this car every day and it sucks when I have to rely on someone else to haul me around.....

[MidniteBlues]

Originally Posted by marlboromike

You did this yourself as u now realize...take your lumps and have it towed into Saturn and let them undo what u did...and then u will have to pay for it...money is a good teacher.

These cars r not computer friendly...without touching these cars, they find a way to mess themselves up....let sleeping dogs sleep.

I will only make ONE small correction here, I THINK, he needs to take it to a PONTIAC dealer.., not a Saturn dealer. I would also say, he probably has no more warranty left on his Sol. I would submit, that this is what will happen to those of us who go on this "MOD binge" on these new roadsters, and then, watch as our cars go crazy with these "unexplained" problems & issues arise...Costs? oh yea, it will be interesting to say the least, what is Solscuba's "engine" problems, sounds to me rather serious issues here...I hope he can "fix" them "cheaply".. Sounds electrical to me at this point... (sensor issues)..

[Kappa Fan]

Originally Posted by marlboromike

You did this yourself as u now realize...take your lumps and have it towed into Saturn and let them undo what u did...and then u will have to pay for it...money is a good teacher.

These cars r not computer friendly...without touching these cars, they find a way to mess themselves up....let sleeping dogs sleep.

Wow .... so anyone who chooses to modify their car and has any problem should not be allowed to come onto an enthusiast site and ask for help?

I don't see solscuba whining ... he is simply stating that everything he has done lately seems to cause a problem and this last one has him baffled.

If it wasn't for some people doing modifications to their cars early on Skys and all '07 Solstice owners may NOT have a door unlock feature.

[marlboromike]

Originally Posted by Kappa Fan

If it wasn't for some people doing modifications to their cars early on Skys and all '07 Solstice owners may NOT have a door unlock feature.

I don't mind using a key...did u ask what a KEY was? I don't even mind reaching over to unlock the door manually....this embracing electronics is the damnation of the industry.

[ihawk95]

Originally Posted by marlboromike

I don't mind using a key...did u ask what a KEY was? I don't even mind reaching over to unlock the door manually....this embracing electronics is the damnation of the industry.

Yeah, but I have an 06 so no door lock/unlock button for me and I have to say it's a pain. Since I have a manual, my doors don't unlock until I turn the car off. I don't have a garage door opener so I leave the car running when I hop out to open the garage door. I'm short and my seat is pretty far up so it's not easy for me to reach clear behind me to unlock the door. So I end up fiddling with the remote on the keys to open the door. Like I said, it's a pain...an unlock button would have been nice on the 06. Not complaining...love the car!

Oh btw...I should mention I have to reach over my shoulder and behind me to reach the door lock cause I sit so low in the car. It's really pretty awkward.

[Skip]

When you redid the gasket did you pinch any wires? Did you leave the battery unhooked while the electric was unscrewed? Sounds like you either pinched a wire or blew a senser....Skip....

[marlboromike]

I never heard any complaints from the owners of MG midgits or MGBs or Triumphs in the 60's....guess we were used to using our hands....(for other things also)

[reedred]

For the record, MM doesn't have a door lock switch either...

[jayman]

Originally Posted by reedred

For the record, MM doesn't have a door lock switch either...

For the record...MM drives a Conestoga wagon...love those wood rims, Mike

[RickyD]

First off let me say this. If one of our family needs help we should try to help them. Also if no one ever modded or tried to do things to get more power out of the engines we wouldn't have the cars we have today and I am pretty sure automobile racing wouldn't exist either.
OK. It sounds like there is a wire problem. As far as most Eng sensors like O2, MAP and such if you unhook the battery for a while ( I like a couple hours myself) it will wipe most things clear then when you hook it back up you really need to start driving it like you always do so the ECM can relearn what it needs. I mean, if you drive your car pretty hard you need to start driving it that way as soon as you hook up the battery again. In your case where it wont even turn over and or click I would be double checking your battery connections along with the wire going from the O2 sensor that is on the catalytic converter, if you still have one on the car. Also when you say "choking out" are you saying that it is running very rich (too much fuel) or do you mean it just looses power? when it does that and you get it restarted have someone sniff the exhaust. If it smells rich (very gassy) then yes it is getting to much fuel. Now this can be caused by this. If the O2 since wire if broke,cut,disconnected, ect. The ECM thinks the car is cold and keeps adding fuel to compensate for the lean mixture there for "choking it out" If it ran fine before it is something you did. Retrace your steps.
OK well let us know what you find out.

[Rustyknight]

RickyD

this is sound advise, whenever a problem arises after working on the car first step is to trace back through everything that was done it could be anything from a disconnected 02 sensor to a pinched wire to a short (since it sounds like a dead battery on the road)

good luck keep everyone advised.

and mm, just because some modify their car it's no reasson to dump on them, or maybe just hold off until they get it back running.......

[cerberus]

SolScuba, please let us know what turns up. Hope you're back up and running soon. Not the first to say this, but many of us would hope our Kappa forums would be exactly the place to turn to should we have problems. I'll spare the venim and leave it at that.

[Bogie]

Originally Posted by marlboromike

I never heard any complaints from the owners of MG midgits or MGBs or Triumphs in the 60's....guess we were used to using our hands....(for other things also)

Technology is a two edged sword. It enables us to optimize things and engineer things to levels of precision and performance that is unachievable without the technology. On the down side, it sucks when a two bit sensor fails, bringing our technological wonder to its knees.

Also, a word to the wise on modifying a mechanical system that is married to electronic optimizations. In the old days, you could screw around all over the place under the hood because the engine mechanics were not controlled by a computer. Nowadays an optimization of a mechanical part might improve the mechanics, but the improvement might result in an output outside the expected range, resulting in a computer-triggered fault condition.

[ihawk95]

Originally Posted by jayman

For the record...MM drives a Conestoga wagon...love those wood rims, Mike

Bahahahahaha!!! Bet the ride is a bit rough!! But he likes it rough!!!

[xmicro_Redline]

Solscuba....Sorry to hear of your troubles. I would go to a good Local Mechanic first to try and undo things, this way you do not damn your warrantee right away. You may just be overlooking something small. Once you go to the dealer and tell them what was done, goodbye warrantee.

It is going to cost you either way, this way you can alsways convert back to stock if there is a real problem down the road and need support. Just my ---GOOD LUCK

Ahhhhh the wonderful world of computerized engines and moding

[lil goat]

Let me say several of you need to learn some manners, he needs help and asked for it, I hope none of you ever need help. He has not voided his entire warranty, this sounds like an electrical issue. The supercharger and other mods will not void his warranty on the electrical. It sounds like a cracked fuse block to me and THIS IS COVERED as it is a known issue with the cars. Matt is one of us and has been for a long time, show him some courtesy PLEASE!

[Mallard]

Scuba - I agree with what was said above. Re-check everything you pulled off the car. Did you pull to ground off the block that is just above the exhaust manifold?

[SkyMarshall]

I use my cash for mods on my bike(s) I can go muuuuuch quicker/faster. not going to f-up a new...yet