Engine makes pre-ignition sounds and loses power and stalls when driving uphill?

Tiny
YASIRDAHHAM
  • MEMBER
  • 1995 PONTIAC GRAND AM
  • 2.4L
  • 4 CYL
  • 2WD
  • AUTOMATIC
  • 240,000 MILES
Hi dear friends,

My car exhibited a new symptom all of a sudden two weeks ago. When I am about to climb a street that is a bit ascending (some 5-10 degrees slope may be) the engine starts giving pre-ignition sounds as if pitons are rattling and it fails to ascend with consecutive episodes of failing to respond to revving that I do. The weird thing is that when I tried to ascend in a reverse mode Transmission on R) it performed quite well, as if there is not a single issue like that. I tried a scanner and the technician said that my engine's O2 sensor is giving high readings (9, as I recall), that too much fuel is delivered to the nozzles), but I doubted that this sensor gives such a problem because for years I had a faulty O2 sensor with only excessive fuel consumption as a result and nothing more than that. Any ideas please?
Wednesday, July 13th, 2022 AT 11:12 PM

25 Replies

Tiny
KEN L
  • MASTER CERTIFIED MECHANIC
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It would be good if you could make a short video of the noise, it is making so you can upload it here in your response that way, I can tell what's going on, but it sounds like you have a clogged fuel filter or a weak fuel pump. Here is the location of the fuel filter and a guide on how to check the fuel pressure:

https://www.2carpros.com/articles/how-to-change-a-fuel-filter

and

https://www.2carpros.com/articles/how-to-check-fuel-system-pressure-and-regulator

Check out the diagrams (below). Let us know what happens and please upload pictures or videos of the problem.
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Thursday, July 14th, 2022 AT 9:36 AM
Tiny
YASIRDAHHAM
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Great Info, although I had replaced both the fuel filter and the fuel pump less than 6 weeks ago, but I will do as you suggested due to low quality gasoline that we have here in Iraq. I went through the link for the fuel filter and wish to inquire here, where is that mass Air Flow sensor? My air filter cabinet does not have such a sensor. In fact, what puzzles me is that on Reverse gear the car mounts that steep street with no hesitation at all, and also while I drive at speeds like 80-100 km/hour it has no hesitation at all, drives so smoothly, it is only on D or (2) that it does hesitate. If it were a fuel problem how come on Reverse and during ordinary driving speed it doesn't show up?
Also, I will shoot a clip for the car as it experiences that hesitation phase and will post it here tomorrow. Once again, lots of thanks dear sir.
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Thursday, July 14th, 2022 AT 1:25 PM
Tiny
KEN L
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Sorry it has a MAP sensor, here is the location in the diagrams below. Make sure it is tight and plugged in.
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Friday, July 15th, 2022 AT 10:11 AM
Tiny
YASIRDAHHAM
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Oh, that one near the fuel rail and mounted on a bracket with two bolts. Yes, I do have it, I will check its connector.
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Friday, July 15th, 2022 AT 11:18 AM
Tiny
YASIRDAHHAM
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By the way dear Ken L, what I meant by (Pre-Ignition sounds) is the same (Advance) knock experienced in an old model engine where there is a distributor and wires leading to the spark plugs. It is a disturbing sound as if a knock is occurring.
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Friday, July 15th, 2022 AT 11:21 AM
Tiny
YASIRDAHHAM
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Here is the video clip (two clips), I believe it won't give a clue, the noise was wasted by the roaring engine exhaust manifold gasses leaking out.
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Saturday, July 16th, 2022 AT 5:30 AM
Tiny
KEN L
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Thanks for the videos, the problem could be bad gas, we should run the codes which is esay. here is a guide:

https://www.2carpros.com/articles/buick-cadillac-chevy-gmc-oldsmobile-pontiac-gm-1983-1995-obd1-code-definitions-and-retrieval-method

Please run down this guide and report back.
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Saturday, July 16th, 2022 AT 11:16 AM
Tiny
YASIRDAHHAM
  • MEMBER
  • 186 POSTS
In an earlier thread that lasted for months last year (and was about my PCM not functioning 100% right) I received an answer from one of our friends here telling that my own car model (unluckily for me) is something like OBD 1.5, neither (1) nor (2). This jumper code method didn't work for me, the three wires that the ALDL has are all (not live), all I was asked to do is check for continuity in one of them, and it was having continuity by then. Still, I will conduct it again this time since the PCM my car has now is a replacement for that faulty one which gave me a hell of difficulty for a whole year before I could get a replacement PCM and leave it all behind me. Additionally, I conducted a scanner test today. The technician failed to get a communication with my ALDL connector. This is what used to happen a year ago as I was trying to read some code to let me know what is causing my engine to stall and shut down all of a sudden. By the way, I replaced the fuel filter, there was sludge and mud choking the filter! In 6 hours from now I will be dismantling the whole fuel delivery rail along with the nozzles, most probably; the nozzle little filters will be in a terrible state.
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Saturday, July 16th, 2022 AT 2:39 PM
Tiny
YASIRDAHHAM
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Upon contacting a transmission expert here, I was asked to trace the wires of the transmission connector (images attached). He believes that two wires of them might be contacting each other and sending 2 commands for the (first gear) and (second gear) to engage during initial movement of the car. Any wiring diagram of this connector and how its wires connect to the PCM so that I can follow them to check for short circuit may be? The orange wire is the live one.
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Sunday, July 17th, 2022 AT 10:35 AM
Tiny
KEN L
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Yep, I would get a new fuel pump as well, bad gas is a big problem with the engine running correctly.
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Sunday, July 17th, 2022 AT 10:36 AM
Tiny
YASIRDAHHAM
  • MEMBER
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Quite fortunately, I came across a technician who has a scanner that deals with OBDI ALDL like my car's. The man knows too little (English and engineering stuff), somehow, this is what his old scanner could give, two runs in two separate images. The codes about low temperature coolant and low temperature transmission fluid are because I am using a thermal switch for the coolant radiator fan other than the original one, it closes the circuit at lower coolant temperatures. I will go through the list for other codes hoping to pinpoint what is wrong with my transmission that is making it lose its agility and act very sluggishly with stalling seizures.
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Monday, July 18th, 2022 AT 1:25 PM
Tiny
KEN L
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Those are a lot of codes all right, I think you may have a bad PCM. Are all other wiring look okay? Here is how to replace the PCM in the instructions below.
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Tuesday, July 19th, 2022 AT 10:33 AM
Tiny
YASIRDAHHAM
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I have a spare PCM, but I am not sure if it is not faulty. I will replace mine (N.B; My model is 1995, these frames seem to be for the 2005 model). I will be back for more, thanking you very much
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Tuesday, July 19th, 2022 AT 5:01 PM
Tiny
KEN L
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Please let us know what happens.
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Wednesday, July 20th, 2022 AT 12:33 PM
Tiny
YASIRDAHHAM
  • MEMBER
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Yesterday replaced the PCM. Nothing progressed well with the main issue of the car failing to ascend the easiest slopes, somehow, the combustion seems better now, the original PCM seems to have been delivering excess fuel in contrast with air intake (that stochiometric criteria not met). So far, I have tried replacing the PCM and the problem doesn't seem relevant to any PCM. The next thing to do is to replace the Airflow sensor (the one adjacent to the butterfly gate of the air intake manifold. This idea crossed my mind because I tried two solutions, and both worked out fine:
1. Disconnecting the connector of that air flow sensor. The engine air suction sound sure got doubled but the engine went horny, no problem experienced with ascending slopes. For this option, I will replace the airflow sensor and see if the problem changes its rhythm.

2. Disconnecting that connector of the transmission unit. The driving dispensed with automatic gear shifting as before (that is for sure) but the problem of failing to ascend slopes disappeared. For this option, the automatic transmission mechanic said that there seems to be some wires making contact with each other. He suggested tracing the wires of that grey connector all the way to the PCM.
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Thursday, July 21st, 2022 AT 2:12 AM
Tiny
YASIRDAHHAM
  • MEMBER
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I then replaced the TPS which again helped me none. The car still experiences consequent discontinuity of power, with the RPM pointer dropping a little right with every semi-stalling session, it still can't negotiate slopes, even very shallow slopes. A car mechanic whom I consulted today said that the vacuum line leading to the A/C climatic control console (and actuators) should never be connected to the vacuum canister which tops the transmission body, it should rather take vacuum from the canister behind the right-side head lamp. I will try doing that.
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Thursday, July 21st, 2022 AT 9:02 AM
Tiny
KEN L
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Okay let me know, I am looking at the wiring for the car it does not look in the best of shape?
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Thursday, July 21st, 2022 AT 11:07 AM
Tiny
YASIRDAHHAM
  • MEMBER
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Yes, it is indeed. The whole thick harness extending as a U shape around the engine had all been dismantled as single wires in order to search for any probable discontinuity last year as I was trying to solve a mysterious abrupt death of the engine, hence the chaotic and unpleasant scene. I apologize for that.
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Thursday, July 21st, 2022 AT 1:06 PM
Tiny
KEN L
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No problem, here are the wiring diagrams and a guide to help you check the wiring:

https://www.2carpros.com/articles/how-to-check-wiring

Check out the diagrams (below). Please let us know what you find.
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Friday, July 22nd, 2022 AT 2:20 PM
Tiny
YASIRDAHHAM
  • MEMBER
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Great news today dear Ken L. Your answer regarding the wiring yielded a finalization for this thread, at long last! I previewed and reconsidered all wires available to me, the harness was already dismantled, and I found a connector that goes to the transmission rear right side (somewhere below the ABS unit) having four wires that were fretted badly. I insulated them, and proceeded further to the rest of the wires facing me renewing all ties that are there, the next discovery was one of the eight wires of the Electronic Ignition Control Module connector, that yellow wire was loosely connected underneath the insulation tape (the connector is already a replacement since last year, hence the connections made). The car regained its agility, I had it tested, and it is as if a demon was released off it. I also cared to attach the A/C main vacuum line to the vacuum canister under the replenishment coolant tank, leaving the transmission vacuum canister "independent" with its own line of vacuum, all those years before now it was the transmission vacuum canister delivering vacuum through a (T) junction to the A/C climatic control console.
Many thanks to you for your patience and support, I am totally grateful to you.
P.S, thank you dear for the wiring diagrams, I surely need them for more to come of faults like this one, they arrived after my last message to you.
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Friday, July 22nd, 2022 AT 2:59 PM

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