ryan.h Posted June 4, 2007 Report Share Posted June 4, 2007 :eek: Okay, I was about 10 miles away from home, sitting at a stop light. RPM's started jumping around and it acted like it was going to stall. It's done this before, but it's never actually stalled before.... this time it came damn close. I power braked it and I could hear it missing somewhat. I get to where I'm going and start coming back, and I pull up to another stop light and my tach is sitting at 1500rpm. It did NOT sound like the engine was actually at 1500. Second, if the engine was at 1500, it would have been pulling me through the stop light, which it wasn't. (At this point I was thinking ignition module/crank sensor) THEN I take off from the stop and it is acting like it's in 2nd or 3rd gear! The 2nd gear start was off, as was the light (I checked). The entire way home, it acted like I had a CVT - that is, it stayed at 2000rpm. 15mph - 2000rpm. 45mph - 2000rpm. Then when I pull into the driveway, go figure, it felt like it went back into 1st. So, WTF is wrong with this POS car? Does this sound like more than one problem to you? '95 GP 3100 btw, Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
mediabandit Posted June 5, 2007 Report Share Posted June 5, 2007 it sounds like either a bad battery or the alternator is going bad, i had the same type of problems a couple months back and it ended up being the alternator. i had the same symptoms too bad rpm read, felt like it was in the wrong gear, all kinds of strange things. i may be wrong so wait until someone else speaks up but like i said.that is what it sounds like to me. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Q-Ball Posted June 5, 2007 Report Share Posted June 5, 2007 I'm having similar problems too right now. My car is hesitating when I hit the gas and shifting hard. I know I have a small tranny leak, so I gotta check the fluids first. Best thing you can do too. Ok, i fixed my problem, one of my plug wires were being pinched, so no wonder I had a lack of power. Now time for the idle re learn. So check your wires too! This was causing my car to act retarded in power and shifting gears. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Brian P Posted June 5, 2007 Report Share Posted June 5, 2007 Check engine light come on? I've seen funny things like that happen too when the alternator goes bad (usually the ABS light is the first thing to come on). Test your voltage and let us know. Did anyone do anything under the hood lately? Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
slick Posted June 5, 2007 Report Share Posted June 5, 2007 Those are very very similar symptoms that my GP had when the alternator was dying, and it was solely relying on the battery to make it home. Do as Brian says and test it with a DMM. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
ryan.h Posted June 5, 2007 Author Report Share Posted June 5, 2007 Pulled a code: MALF CODE 96 TRANS. SYSTEM VOLTAGE LOW BTW, YES, the ABS light has been on for the past month. Thanks for the tips guys, I'll start at the alternator and work my way from there. Here are my ABS codes for (my) reference: DTC 28 RR EXCESSIVE WHEEL SPEED VARIATION DTC 36 LOW SYSTEM VOLTAGE DTC 66 REAR ABS MOTOR CIRCUIT SHORTED TO BATTERY OR MOTOR SHORTED DTC 81 RF SOLENOID CIRCUIT SHORTED TO GROUND OR DRIVER OPEN DTC 86 EBCM TURNED ON THE RED BRAKE WARNING LAMP Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
slick Posted June 5, 2007 Report Share Posted June 5, 2007 Again, could be the alternator. If it isn't supplied with enough voltage, it'll act funny. I'd check the easiest stuff first, then go from there. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
ryan.h Posted June 5, 2007 Author Report Share Posted June 5, 2007 Well I'll be damned.... guess what it was? Checked the battery.... Voltage: 12.2V..... little low. Started it up. Checked the voltage at the battery: fluctuating 12.6-12.8.... very low. Checked the voltage at the alternator: 14.4V .... good. Notice the battery cable at the aux post getting warm..... not good. Conclusion: Need new battery cables, not transmission. SCORE! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
slick Posted June 5, 2007 Report Share Posted June 5, 2007 Check all of your grounds while you are at it. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Phaedrus Posted June 20, 2007 Report Share Posted June 20, 2007 Sounds like any computer-controlled car when it's not getting enought voltage. Here's something else to check before the alternator gets pulled. My 1989 Peugeot 405 Mi16 has the same type of crankshaft pulley as some of out Pontiacs do. It has an inner piece and an outer piece with a piece of rubber sandwiched in between. My charge light came on one night driving back from the movies, and the car ran all crazy. I turned the lights off (At 2 in the morning) and the car died right in my driveway. Got a new alternator, charged the battery, and everything was fine for about 10 miles, then it started running goofy again. I started the car, and just to test a theory, I touched my breaker bar to the serpentine belt...and the belt stopped! Turned out the rubber had broken down, and the inside of the pulley was spinning freely on the outside and wasn't turning the belt! A new pulley and $150 later and my Peugeot was back on the road. I don't know if Pontiac pulleys are as weak, but it's something to look at at least. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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