I have a 1991 Oldsmobile Cutlass Ciera. After driving for about 10 minutes, the engine smokes and the car dies. It starts right back up and then dies again after a couple of minutes. I have recently filled the coolant. Any thoughts?
2006-06-22 15:46:20 · 6 answers · asked by Maggie 6 in Cars & Transportation ➔ Maintenance & Repairs
Yes, I just put oil in.
2006-06-22 15:58:19 · update #1
The smoke is gray.
2006-06-22 15:58:48 · update #2
I hate to say it, but it sounds like you have a blown head gasket.
On a car that old, unless it is very low mileage, the cost of repair will exceed the value of the vehicle!
Have it checked by a qualified mechanic to be sure!
2006-06-22 16:02:05 · answer #1 · answered by fire4511 7 · 2⤊ 1⤋
You did not specify, but I am going to take a guess that it is a 2.3 L Quad 4. This is a very common problem with these motors. It is most likely one of 3 things.
1. One or both of the coil packs are bad. They are around $60.00 each to buy at a parts store.
2. The housing that holds the coil packs is cracked and cross firing. I think this is also around $60.00.
3. The (ICM) Ignition Control Module is bad. This part is around $110.00 and is most likely the problem. It is always the last piece to be changed though because it is the most expensive.
Another option is to go to a salvage yard and find one of these cars that has been wrecked but didn't damage the motor and buy the whole top piece off them for $75 - $100. I have done this before. They put these motors in many different cars too. Chevy Beretta, Pontiac Grand Am, Buick Century and your cutlass to name a few. Hopefully you know someone at the yard though because with electronics, once you buy it you cant take it back.
Hope I have been helpful.
2006-06-22 16:59:43 · answer #2 · answered by king_davis13 7 · 0⤊ 0⤋
If it is smoking out the exhaust at the back of the car, you probably have a serious engine problem such as a blown head gasket, cracked engine block, or a cracked engine head. If your coolant level has gone down considerably since you filled it, that is another sign of what I just layed out. If this is your problem, your engine will continue to die, as water mixes with your burning fuel if either of these parts are cracked. Take it to a shop for full analysis ASAP.
2006-06-22 16:09:34 · answer #3 · answered by ½«gumwrapper 5 · 0⤊ 0⤋
What has the tempature guage been saying? Has it been saying "hot"? Is that why you checked the coolant? Check your oil and see if there is any water in the oil. Pull out your dip stick and see if it looks funny. Depending on how dirty your oil is, you might see yellowish to gray, milky looking spots on the dip stick when you pull it. If you do see this water in the oil, then you might have a blown head gasket. Good luck.
2006-06-22 15:59:56 · answer #4 · answered by Catfishchic 3 · 0⤊ 0⤋
Do you have any oil in it? What color is the smoke? Blue is bad, oil burning. If the smoke is gray colored, it may be unburned fuel.
2006-06-22 15:50:36 · answer #5 · answered by Anonymous · 0⤊ 0⤋
Your car has a serious problem if you continue to drive it it's going to die and not restart. sound like you have blown cylinder head gasket.
2006-06-22 16:06:22 · answer #6 · answered by Irie 3 · 0⤊ 0⤋