Help!! Car stalled, now its all weird

[nofear_102]

Hey, o.k heres the senario. Driving to work today, car just stalls as I'm about to go at a light. I go to start it again, starts, then stalls right away. O.K, try again, just turning over, so I give it some gas, it starts, almost stalls again, give it more gas, seems to be fine now. So, I continue. I'm looking at the gauges, this is what I see. Battery is at 3/4's, oil is just above half, temperature is all over the place. This is the weird part. as I'm driving, temp is going from 1/4 to just over 1/2. When I get to a stop light, temp goes to 3/4's. I start moving again and it drops to 1/4 again climbing to 1/2. Other factors are, outside temp was 0 degrees C (32 f), car was running for 30 mins total, and its an M5. Sorry for the long post, but I wanted to capture everything.

Thanks in advance for any help!

Forgot, I didn't get an SES light either, go figure.

P.S, mods listed below.

[ April 23, 2002: Message edited by: nofear_102 ]</p>

[strange_trp]

get it on a scan tool. check ref volt to ECT then check ect ground wire voltage drop. vd of ect ground should be &lt;0.1 volt. i'll have to look at wiring schematic for more diagnosis.

[99Camaro99]

not sure but if the temperature is going higher when you stop...turn the heater on...it will turn on the cooling fans for the engine. As for a solution to the stalling...I'm the wrong one to ask. Just thought I'd add my $0.02.

[nofear_102]

Actually, the sad part is, the heater was on :mad: . Does any one else think the battery level is high? I know the temp is, and with the CAI it really shouldn't be.

I will try to get the codes, but I'm stuck in work and will have to drop the car off to do it.

[nofear_102]

ttt

[strange_trp]

oh, i must have misread the original post... at first i thought your temp gauge was just bouncing all over the place. now that i have read it again (more awake this time) i understand that the temp climbed gradually as you sat at the light.

start car, let idle and get to operating temp. look for cooling fans to turn on. if the car starts to get hotter than it should, turn the AC on and see if the cooling fans turn on. if the fans are not turning on, check cooling fan circuit. if they are, feel upper radiator hose. it should feel hot. if not, replace thermostat and confirm repair.

turning the heater on will not necessarily cause cooling fans to come on. turning on the AC will.

[nofear_102]

No, I think you were somewhat right before. My gauge is kinda jumping. I mean it should take more than like 20 seconds to go from 3/4's to just above 1/4 right? Where should the guage normally sit? I thought right around 1/2.

[nofear_102]

I'm now starting to think either the fan died or the sensor is screwed. I'm technically inept when it comes to cars, where is the fan to see if its running?

There is no way my car should ever run above 212f, especially in this cool wether.

[nofear_102]

For any one still reading this thread. I went to a pontiac dealership today. Guy wanted me to leave my car overnight, but I couldn't, I need it this week. Any way, he came out and had a quick look. Since the fans were working, he suggested engine coolant (at that point I was like, mmm....mabey I should just get a bicycle if I can't even think of that on my own.) So I get home, do the 1/2 anti-freeze stuff, 1/2 distilled and ended up adding 3 1/2 litres (almost a gallon) of the stuff. Heres the weird part, from his an my quick inspection, there seems to be no leaks, I'll check under the car tomorrow, but after letting it sit for 3 hour, I looked and nothing? Car seems to be fine now, took it for a short spin, I guess I'll know for sure tomorrow any way.

This can't be normal though, I'm really, all this, all the sudden, and 3 1/2 litres short?

If your still with me, what do you think?

I'd really appreciate input as mechanics seem to get all my money. I'd like to circumvent that if I can.

[vtv6firebird]

When is the last time you checked the Anti-freeze? Because if it is not leaking out, well then it could be leaking in. Like from a blown head gasket. Check your oil, see if it looks discolored from contamination from the anit-freeze.