[BrandonRoy]

These past few days have been crappy. I been sick with a sore throat and haven't left the house in about 3 - 4 days. Today I took a drive to walgreens to get some throat spray, and after I been driving for about 5 minutes my car began acting strange.

Let me start here. When I bought this car a few months ago, it had the service engine soon light stuck on. The owner said he had it looked at and everything and they said something about an 02 censor ..they thought. I don't know about that other than he said it could cause me to lose gas mileage. So I haven't really worried about it. Been driving it with the light on with really no problems (actually I do think my gas gauge moves down a little faster than it should!)

Anyway, so today when my car started acting strange:

I was going from 2nd gear to 3rd gear and as soon as I let out the clutch in 3rd gear, it felt like I accidentally put it in 5th! And of course I was not going fast enough for 5th. So my car kind of shook and had no power. Just like it would if you started off in a high gear. But I was in the right gear. 3rd gear! Then I started smelling a funny smell kind of like you smell when passing a production plant.

Now my "service engine soon" light started flashing. Then it would stop flashing and just stay on once I got down the road and cruised in 4th. I can't gas my car, it has no power, it's driving pretty rough.

One more thing I should mention. A few times in the past it seemed like my car would "miss" sometimes in 3rd or 4th gear. But it wasn't nothing big like today. Also, my car has always had a pretty low idle almost as if it wanted to just turn off but it never has. I just thought it had a low idle (where the gear shifter shakes a bit)

So what do you think? Fuel filter? Catalytic converter? Need some advice. I need to take it in a shop in the next few days.

[WLJohnson05]

first u need to go somewhere where they can check the code thats being thrown. that will narrow it down. a CEL is never something that you just let be on...the reason its on is bc the something in the car isnt right, which means there is a problem. places like autozone will do a check for ya.

[Onemanzu]

Out of past experience and knowledge, my first instinct says that your ignition system is jacked. Either the spark plugs or something of that nature, after that check fuel filter/system.

You need to have the CEL's pulled and checked, replace the O2 sensor that is bad, they are only $60 each. While doing all this maintenance, might I suggest seafoaming the car and changing the oil and checking all other fluids.

Good luck with your problem.

[Dossman_13]

Originally Posted by WLJohnson05 first u need to go somewhere where they can check the code thats being thrown. that will narrow it down. a CEL is never something that you just let be on...the reason its on is bc the something in the car isnt right, which means there is a problem. places like autozone will do a check for ya.

Johnson's right autozone will check it for free. It only takes like 5-10minutes. But more than likely they won't find the prob. B/c there equipment isn't the best.