Shuts off when transmission is shifted into drive

SUE.BARBER1

MEMBER
2005 PONTIAC G6
3.5L
6 CYL
TURBO
2WD
AUTOMATIC
144,000 MILES

Okay, when I start in morning it will crank up and sputter ( acting like it wants to shut off) after a few minutes of sitting in park it cleared itself up and ran normally. A week later it is doing the same thing except when driving down road I noticed smoke coming out of tailpipe (not a lot of white smoke, and only when I mashed the gas pedal) the car shut off I started in neutral continued driving and lost power pulled over noticed smoke coming from under hood behind motor near firewall. It stopped I went to crank it up it will start up when in park, when I put in drive car shuts off, when I put in reverse it will reverse just fine but when changing to drive or 2nd or 1st gear it shuts down. I also noticed oil underneath hood of car everywhere after it shut off. I have changed radiator, 02 sensors, MAF and MAP sensor, starter, hoses and still nothing but engine shutting off when I put in drive.

1 Reply

JACOBANDNICKOLAS

MECHANIC
109,885 POSTS

Hi,

There are a couple of concerns here. First, you indicated there is white smoke from the exhaust. If the engine was warmed up at that point, it could indicate a head gasket issue. o me a favor. Take a look through this link and let me know if there are any indicators related to a bad head gasket:

https://www.2carpros.com/articles/head-gasket-blown-test

Pay attention to see if the coolant level is low in the system.

Next, you indicated oil all over the engine. Is it engine oil, transmission fluid, coolant, or something other? Can you take a few pics and upload them for me to see?

The white smoke under the hood is likely the result of whatever you found leaking.

Let me know.

Joe