2000 Pontiac Grand Am Idles rough after about 5 minutes.

CPUEDITOR

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2000 PONTIAC GRAND AM
4 CYL
FWD
AUTOMATIC
93,000 MILES

Here are the particulars. My Son bought this car in Fort Collins Co. For his grandmother. Before pulling it out to Washington state to her he had his wife drive it around for a week to determine any problems. She had none. Along the way he fueled the car up with gas in Wyoming where fuel prices are cheap. Once he got the car out to Washington he started it up and drove it around. He started having problems right away. He lost electrical power and the battery went dead. Bad alternator. He replaced it. Charged the battery. When cold the engine fires right up.
After about 5 minutes with lights on the engine starts idling rough and acts like it wants to die.
The headlights go dim.
The gages lose power.
Check engine light comes on.
Low fuel light comes on.
Wants to die when given throttle.
Contaminated fuel?
Plugged fuel filter?
Change in altitude?
Thank you,
-Tom

6 Replies

BLACKOP555

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10,371 POSTS

So all of this started after vehicle was shut off after driven from Wyoming to Washington? Did he fill up in between or do anything to the car?

Is there a decent amount more humidity or rain then when it was being driven without any problems.

Aafter it was filled up was there any concern noted before shutting it off in washington? All this happened after the alternator went bad is what im getting out of reading this?

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Monday, September 27th, 2010 AT 12:10 AM

CPUEDITOR

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The car was towed to Washington on a tow dolly. He fueled it up at a stop in Evanston Wyoming so that the tank would be full when he delivered it. It was not started or run between Colorado and Washington. After he got the car out Washington and started it there, that is when the problems began.

-Tom

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Monday, September 27th, 2010 AT 3:09 AM

BLACKOP555

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Has temp changed greatly from when car was driven around to now when it was dropped off? Check engine light on?

Vehicle runs like a top untill 5 minutes then it starts to run rough. Does it back fire, sputter? Die out? How do you keep it running. Fire back up for 5 mins then runs bad or wont run good till it cools back down again

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Monday, September 27th, 2010 AT 8:57 PM

CPUEDITOR

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Please reread original post for info. That contains everything within it. Also reread my first reply. I dont want to retype everything.

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Monday, September 27th, 2010 AT 10:29 PM

BLACKOP555

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Re read and still didnt tell me about the climate from when vehicle was driven no problems to what it is now.

Doesnt tell me if vehicle runs great up untill five minutes, or if theres anything you can do to keep car from dieing.

Lets go this route.

Check the fuel pressure and volume sounds like its lacking