2000 Chevy Lumina Only A Pro Will Know!

2000 CHEVROLET LUMINA
135,000 MILES • 6 CYL • 2WD • AUTOMATIC
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TRACEY121212
  • MEMBER
  • 2 POSTS
Yes, this is one of those hard questions that probably only a real pro will have an answer for. Let me describe as briefly as possible:

1. Car cranks ok cold. At about 2k RPM's, engine hesitates, chokes, or acts up a little. Unable to floor the accelerator as car will bog down and tach flip flops up and down wildly at times, then car dies if given too much gas.

2. When car reaches a high temp of 180 a summertime only temp, car will die unless being driven. At that temp, when car dies, it is nearly impossible to restart until it cools. At this point, trying to start the car causes severe misfiring and backfiring in engine / manifold area until car cools.

REPAIRS DONE SO FAR: I have overheated two starters and replaced them. I thought it was a fuel filter issue, but that has been replaced and no effect whatsoever was made. HOWEVER, when I use STP Carb and Injector cleaner, two bottles per 1/4th tank of gas, car runs fairly well, but not perfectly.

HOW DID THIS ALL BEGIN? I drove through a 6 inch puddle of water one day, and was doing probably 30 mph when I hit it. The car was slowed by the impact of the water. In just a moment after the impact, the car was very hard to start and keep running. and has had this prob since.

I know this is odd stuff but Im at a loss and the car is vital to my work.

Thanks for your help!
Jun 21, 2008 at 5:00 AM
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RASMATAZ
  • CAR REPAIR CONTRIBUTOR
  • 75,992 POSTS
Do you have a check engine light? even without the CEL being On -scan the computer for OBD2 code/s and comeback with it-

Inspect and test the crankshaft position/throttle positiion/MAP and MAF sensors-Last check the fuel pressure.
Jun 21, 2008 at 5:27 AM
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TRACEY121212
  • MEMBER
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I have no Check Engine Light. Also, when I put in 2 bottles of STP Carb and Injector cleaner in 1/4th tank of regular gas, the engine often runs almost perfectly unless it gets hot. If I use gas alone, all the problems mentioned happen.
Could it be a clogged cat converter? The idle is good, until it heats up. Then it dies at 180 degress F. Then, it becomes very hard to keep running. Then it backfires in the manifold, and no longer runs smooth.

I will run the codes and get back to you on them.
Jun 21, 2008 at 11:37 AM