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Multiple 98 Chevy Lumina 3.1L problems, any help welcomed


embiber
01-30-2005, 01:31 PM
I've got a 98 Chevy Lumina 3.1 L that used to belong to my aunt. It's got about 118,000 miles on it, but those are almost all highway miles.

I've been having a problem with it stalling while I'm driving. The first 2 times was on the same right turn to my girlfriend's house, and I could never tell when I needed to turn right. I always end up braking and turning onto the street too fast, and twice in the last year it just stalled right there in the turn, slowed down really fast, and the steering wheel tightened up. Both times I started it up and it was fine.

About a week ago, I was about to go to school when I heard a terrible screeching noise, like grinding metal, come from the car. I new by the way the noise changed that it was something with the engine so I pulled into a gas station. Sitting there in the bottom of the front end was the crankshaft pulley. Somehow it fell off but the drivetrain belt was still on, grinding against the bare metal that the pulley was around.

I got it fixed and then went to drop off my sister at the doctor's office. On the way back, driving normally at about 40 mph, it stalled on me! I pulled over and started it back up, and then it stalled on me again after only a block of driving!! I haven't had any problems since, but I have no idea why it stalls like that.

Other problems I've had in the past was leaky antifreeze (which has since been fixed), and there's a chirping, sort of like small birds, that you can hear if you drive with the driver's side window open. It's hard to tell where it's coming from, but I don't think it's the engine. It doesn't seem like a problem, and although it's nice to hear chirping birds everywhere I go, I just want to be sure of what it is.

If any of you have any input on any of this, it would be greatly appreciated. I'm not very automotively literate, but I know enough, being that I am only a third-year driver.

NeonKnight
01-31-2005, 02:25 AM
Does she only die when hot?

If so check the Thermo make sure its still good. Have you recently installed a Stereo system, ECM, or had the battery disconnect for a period of 2 mins or more? If so for those.

embiber
01-31-2005, 06:48 AM
Does she only die when hot?

If so check the Thermo make sure its still good. Have you recently installed a Stereo system, ECM, or had the battery disconnect for a period of 2 mins or more? If so for those.


1 of the 3 times it was warm outside, but not overheated. the other 3 were in the winter time but after it hard been running and warm for a good long period of time.

None of those things installed/disconnected recently though.

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