Whats wrong with my car?

Question

My car has been sputtering and backfiring. It has trouble accelerating. The mechanic told me it would be 2600 dollars to fix the transmission, is he ripping me off? Anyone know what might really be wrong with my car?

Answer 1

Transmission problems do not cause sputtering and backfiring. There are dozens of possible problems that could be causing it. You also don't indicate what year, make and model. However, I suspect that it's the carburetor if you don't have fuel injection. If you have fuel injection, check the ignition system, which includes the distributor cap and assembly, spark plug wires, spark plugs and timing, in that order. Everything can be done by you, except the timing, which requires a timing light and you need to know the setting. Ask a friend for help on that. I can pretty much bet it's the ignition system.

The other alternative is to simply get a tuneup. Ask a friend to help. Generally, the big chains, like Sears, Pep Boys, and the like are somewhat honest, but don't count on it. As a final choice, select a dealer or, worse, go to the local gas station. However, these tasks are very simple and not at all expensive, so you incur very little risks. Plus, it's very rewarding to fix your own car.

Good luck.

Answer 2

Sounds like BS to me.

I had an old chevy for years and had the same problem with sputtering and acceleration.

It was usually bad timing, fuel pump or spark plugs/wires. A bad tranny would give you trouble shifting or wouldn't shift/run at all.

I don't know what kind of car it is, but those are the most likely suspects and shouldn't cost anywhere near 2600 even with labor. You could probably do it yourself or have someone do it cheaply on the side. Maybe someone on here could tell you more.

Chevies aren't that bad (better than Ford, IMO), but tend to have minor engine troubles regularly, but they are cheap to fix because they use generic GM parts.

Good luck.

Answer 3

Sputtering and backfiring are not symptoms of transmission troubles. Put the computer on an analysis machine. You may need nothing more than a good tune-up.

Answer 4

First, the transmission will not cause the engine to sputter & backfire. Have someone read the computer chip diagnostic codes to find out what is really causing the problem.

Answer 5

o wow, sputtering and backfiring is nothing to do with the tranny, he may be trying to rip ya dude, try getting a tank full of the high octane gas from one of the big names, amoco or bp. someone like that. if that doesnt help ya may need a tune up like plugs and wires ,depending on what type of car ya have. go to a different mechanic too by the way

Answer 6

I'm not a really big car person when it comes to chevys, but a good idea is to take it to another mechanic and see what he has to say, compare the two guys and you'll know if someone is lying or not

Answer 7

You should take the car to another mechanic and check out the price to fix your car there.

Answer 8

Sputtering and back firering usually means water in fuel, If not you must check timeing. But first see if water is in fuel

Answer 9

Do you suspect it's a physical problem or a mental condition. If it's physical the mechanic is probably correct. If it's mental you should take it to an "Auto-Shrink" for a through evaluation. Could me medication is all it will take to get things back to normal.

Answer 10

a car would not sputter or back fire if tranny is bad. sounds like bad timing or someone did a recent tune up and crossed some wires