New Member need advice before going to the mechanix

[indygirl]

Hi everyone!!!! I am new on here. Live in indianapolis, IN. I have had my 1997 Pontiac Firebird for 6 1/2 years now, I love her, but with her 197,000 miles, I'm encountering problems. I need to see the doctor....I don't know too much about repairing them. So I don't wanna look like a total idiot and get ripped off, can someone pleeease let me know what might be wrong and how much it should cost to fix????
Here's the problem. My first breakdown EVER on this car in 6 1/2 years happened last week. The water pump went out. It never overheated, I took her straight to a mechanic. Problem fixed. Or so I thought. 3 days later it starts driving a little weird. I push on the pedal and it hesitates, badly. It seemed like after it warmed up a little it was fine. So I chalked it up to bad gas (cheap gas since it costs so much now). So tonight, I am coming home from work, I push on the pedal. It just creeps along. Then takes off like a bullet. Shifts gears, and then does this again, shifts gears does it again. I couldn't get the car over 60 mph on the highway. Almost like it didn't want to go any faster. I'm praying and hoping with my limited car knowlege, its not something major. I'm thinking 1st off fuel filter, changed last september spark plugs, changed last summer.... (I know these should me changed more often)The worst I fear..... Transmission troubles. The fluid was changed don't yell please almost 30,000 miles ago. As soon as the rain stops tonight I'm going out to check the fluid. What should be the first thing to check, or most likely so I don't get ripped off....Thanks alot indygirl

[vanbibber]

Re: New Member need advice before going to the mechanix

is the sevice engine soon light coming on at all?

[indygirl]

Re: New Member need advice before going to the mechanix

yes but its been on forever.....The transmission control module. Its been on for about 2 years it won't go out. But never had any trouble except little hard shift from 1-2...

[vanbibber]

Re: New Member need advice before going to the mechanix

id get it scanned again and see if any other codes pop up.

with the milage, it could be the tranny or alot of other things due to wear and tear over the years and mileage.

but from the sounds of it the tranny could very well be on its last leg.

[bah]

Re: New Member need advice before going to the mechanix

if its a p1870, you shouldnt drive that long with that, the problem itself doesnt hurt anything, but the heat the slippage creates causes problems, its a $300 fix from a dealer!, but i dont think thats your problem, clogged cat perhaps? and btw where in indy are you, i live up north in delphi, and my dad lives in carmel, maybe we can hook up sometime, i'll race you now :)

[bah]

Re: New Member need advice before going to the mechanix

and does it feel like the tranny, or does it feel like the engine is lacking power, because to me it sounds like a clogged cat

[indygirl]

Re: New Member need advice before going to the mechanix

castleton....So we can't race....Lucy is sick. So transmission problems???? It looks like. damnit man. Tonight when I was coming home I would ease off the accelerator and then try again and it would drive fine.

[indygirl]

Re: New Member need advice before going to the mechanix

as stupid as it sounds it seems to be driving ok as far as the transmission, that's why I didn't think it was that...just when you push on the pedal it bogs down real bad and it feels like if i really pushed the car it would stall out.

[bah]

Re: New Member need advice before going to the mechanix

yeah, my vote goes to a clogged catalytic converter, or maybe when they did your pump they accidentally pushed one of your plug wires against one of the exhaust manifolds, and you are getting a misfire, inspect your plug wires, one of them may be fried, the more i think about it the more that makes sense. check the plug wires

[indygirl]

Re: New Member need advice before going to the mechanix

Ill let ya know tomorrow.....

[Nikos95]

Re: New Member need advice before going to the mechanix

Hesitation, severe, yes check Cat, make sure she isn't smelling funny, fuel pressure might be a decent idea, always re-check wires, and plugs when funny problems occur. But that tranny code isn't good, I would look into that a bit further no matter what happens if you plan on keeping the car.

Good luck

[indygirl]

Re: New Member need advice before going to the mechanix

ok mechanic just called....Says its the EGR valve???? I paid for diagnostics all that and had a bizillion codes come up.. :( Dang it...

[vanbibber]

Re: New Member need advice before going to the mechanix

well compared to tranny work thats peanuts. egr valves cost alot less than fixing a tranny.

did he say which codes?

[bah]

Re: New Member need advice before going to the mechanix

just do egr delete mod!

[CDNFB]

Re: New Member need advice before going to the mechanix

And get that tranny looked into. If it's exhibiting a hard 1-2 shift you might need some valve body work. Thats only about $300. If you ignore it and it gets worse, could cost you the whole transmission. $2000 + to replace!