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My car would not go faster than thirty mph after stopping for gas

Tiny
PATRICE WARD
  • MEMBER
  • 1999 PONTIAC GRAND AM
  • 2.4L
  • 188,000 MILES
I had went to the gas station my car was running fine. My car started idling would not pick up speed thirty mph. Could it be oil? Or what should I do first to fix it?
Wednesday, January 4th, 2017 AT 8:11 PM

7 Replies

Tiny
STEVE W.
  • MECHANIC
  • 13,413 POSTS
Okay lets see if we can figure out why your car decided to become a turtle.
You went to the station it was running good. You came out and when you started it up it would only idle and top speed was thirty mph?
Did you fill it with gas? Does that station also sell diesel or E85?
Did it start this as soon as you started it or did you drive down the road a bit and it started acting up?
Is the check engine/service engine light on?
Is it making any strange noises?
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Wednesday, July 29th, 2020 AT 10:03 AM
Tiny
PATRICE WARD
  • MEMBER
  • 5 POSTS
Just put gas in and thirty minutes later it start jerking. The check engine light came on flashing, wanting to cut out out at the stop signs. When taking off rpms got up to 5000 before it started picking up speed then it jerks into gear.
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Wednesday, July 29th, 2020 AT 10:03 AM
Tiny
PATRICE WARD
  • MEMBER
  • 5 POSTS
I put $15.00 in the tank. No they do not sell diesel or E85.
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Wednesday, July 29th, 2020 AT 10:03 AM
Tiny
PATRICE WARD
  • MEMBER
  • 5 POSTS
Service engine light came on and it was making a loud noise.
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Wednesday, July 29th, 2020 AT 10:03 AM
Tiny
STEVE W.
  • MECHANIC
  • 13,413 POSTS
Flashing SEL and the loud noise is not good. Will it still start and run? It could be something simple like a blown out spark plug, or it could be worse.
I would see if you can borrow/rent a code reader from a parts store and post the codes.

https://www.2carpros.com/articles/checking-a-service-engine-soon-or-check-engine-light-on-or-flashing

That would provide some help. Usually a flashing CEL is something like a misfire which would support a bad plug.
Is the noise a rhythmic pop similar to the sound in this video?

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=zgjk6yggiik
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Wednesday, July 29th, 2020 AT 10:03 AM
Tiny
PATRICE WARD
  • MEMBER
  • 5 POSTS
Yes, it still starts and runs.
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Wednesday, July 29th, 2020 AT 10:03 AM
Tiny
KEN L
  • MASTER CERTIFIED MECHANIC
  • 47,185 POSTS
Hey PATRICE

When the engine is running does it sounds normal? If so it could be that you have a plugged catalytic converter.

Here is a couple of guides that will help you fix it.

https://www.2carpros.com/articles/engine-has-low-power-output

and

https://www.2carpros.com/articles/how-to-test-a-catalytic-converter

Please run some tests and get back to us so we can continue helping you.

Best, Ken
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Wednesday, July 29th, 2020 AT 10:03 AM

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