Engine losing power

Hi I only had my 98 GTP for one week, it worked fine until yesterday. When you take off from A dead stop it will take off burning until it hits 15 mph then dies right out. It don't do it if you drive along about 10 mph & flaten it. Is it the cheap gas doing it or what. Any input would be great. Thanks

What brand and octane gas are you using? How miles on the odometer?

Since you've owned it for a short period of time it might be a good idea just to do the basics like a tune up. Fuel filter, air filter, spark plugs and ignition wires. It could be a fuel or ignition related problem. Also, you can test fuel pressure at the fuel injector rail.

When it does that at 15 mph does it stall completely and die?

I think the octane is 89. Their is 250,000 km on the motor. When it shuts down at 15 mph from A dead stop it does the same as when you go to fast & it shuts down at 120 mph.

I think the octane is 89. Their is 250,000 km on the motor. When it shuts down at 15 mph from A dead stop it does the same as when you go to fast & it shuts down at 120 mph.

So thats about 155K miles. I don't believe running the 89 octane is causing the stall problem but you never know. Knock retard could be kicking in due to the lower octane. But it should not shut down. You should use premium but I know the cost is high.

Anyways, what I am trying to determine if you have the symptoms of possibly a bad crank position sensor (ignition) or just a fuel system problem (fuel pump resistor or fuel pump). Do you see any other indications while this occurs? SES light? Trac light? Does the tach abruptly drop to zerp rpms right at time of stall or shutdown? When it stalls do you have to coast to a stop before you restart or when letting off gas does it recover by itself and can you continue to drive it?

It does not shut down completly the tack drops to 2500 rpm & won't go any faster until you let off the gas & slowly put it back down. The only time it does it is from a dead stop. A light to the left with an arrow pointing down comes on.

It does not shut down completly the tack drops to 2500 rpm & won't go any faster until you let off the gas & slowly put it back down. The only time it does it is from a dead stop. A light to the left with an arrow pointing down comes on.

It sounds like the traction control system is kicking in. From a dead stop what are the conditions? Is it with light gas applied or pedal to the metal or in between? Try turning off traction control and see what it does.

The GTP has a full range traction control system which means it will reduce engine power if it has to once excessive wheelspin is detected. Also, it may apply the ABS braking (front only) to limit wheelspin at the respective wheel that is spinning too much.

The bottom line is what you are experiencing sounds normal and may not be a real problem.

When I am at the dragstrip I have to pull my ABS fuse or will get a similar problem and it ruins the ET. Extended removal of the ABS fuse is not recommended for normal driving but if turning the traction control system off doesn't help you can remove the fuse for troubleshooting purposes. Conventional braking will still be OK but you will get a constant ABS and trac light.

The traction control switch doesn't seem to work if you push the button it doesn't light up. The abs light is on all the time.

The traction control switch doesn't seem to work if you push the button it doesn't light up. The abs light is on all the time.

Sounds like the EBCM and Traction Control module is hung up or you have an ABS problem such as a bad wheel sensor, the EBCM module or wiring. To read the error codes you can get it scanned with an ABS capable scanner. An ABS capable scanner is required to read GM Chassis/ABS codes.

Try pulling the ABS maxifuse located in the engine compartment fuse box and reinsert or remove battery power for a few hours and then see what it does. Also, check that fuse and make sure it is good.

When you press the traction control switch, it sends a signal to the EBCM module so you can properly control traction control.

Thanks for you're help. I'll try the fuses tomorrow. If that don't work i'll have to take it to someone with a code reader. I'll let you know how I got along monday night .

Thanks for you're help. I'll try the fuses tomorrow. If that don't work i'll have to take it to someone with a code reader. I'll let you know how I got along monday night .

I unhooked the battery for 2 hours. Looked at the fuse that I thought was the abs & still made no change. Is the abs & ac clutch together, or is their another fuse for the abs. Would their be A fuse gone for the traction control,(can't find were the fuse is listed in the book) it doesn't light up at all & low traction doesn't come on when it spins out. The only light on in the dash cluster is the abs light.

I unhooked the battery for 2 hours. Looked at the fuse that I thought was the abs & still made no change. Is the abs & ac clutch together, or is their another fuse for the abs. Would their be A fuse gone for the traction control,(can't find were the fuse is listed in the book) it doesn't light up at all & low traction doesn't come on when it spins out. The only light on in the dash cluster is the abs light.

Yes, the ABS and AC Clutch share the same fuse. There is no independent fuse for only traction control.

hey i got a 1997 gtp and it was stalling at start up and also stalling while driving and sometimes when accelerating,no codes i traced it to a fuel pump relay resistor which goes bad alot in pontiac gtps,originally its located under the battery tray bolted to bumper support,has two wires running to it check that out,i thought i had a fuel problem,my resistor actually fell apart in my hand when i removed it.good luck

my dad put about a 1/4 tank of 89 octain in on accidant, and the car was knonkin for about the next week or so. premium usually runs 20 cents higher than regular, and if you do the math, its not really a whole lot extra money. say you put in 10 gallons everytime you fill up. that would only be 2 dollars more each time than getting regular. figure you put in about 10 gallons a week at 2 dollars more, thats only 52 extra dollars a year.