Starts good but dies after a little while

[tigger81]

Well the thick stuff is not oil. I'm thinking it could be the fuel regulator. Would do you think. THANKS

[98Lumina]

Coolant actully has a tendency of getting brown (due to rust). I wouldn't worry about that unless the engine is overheating. You said it dies when you put it in gear, therefore I would think it's an automatic, correct? You engine may just be idling too low. Try increasing the idle and see what happens.

[Kooterskkar]

There are plenty of sensors that could make it screw up like that. Do you have a tach in the car? If so, what speed does it idle at?

[tblake]

pull the ecm fuse for 10 seconds, and start the car, if it dies, restart it, and let it idle. This should reset the idle to a little higher. I might also want to say that, My 90 2.5L lumina would start great towards the end, but when put into drive, would not accelerate at all, and eventually die. This was due to a plugged Catalytic Converter. A quick test to see if yours is plugged would be to take out the air filter, and check to see if there is moisture anywhere, and if there is, Could be your Cat converter.

[tigger81]

Yes the car is an automatic. Like I said it runs good in park but if I try to drive it it dies. I'll try the converter tomorrow. Are you saying to pull the filter out and run it for a while. Or pull it while it is not started and check it. THANKS. I'll get back to you

[Kooterskkar]

A quick test to see if yours is plugged would be to take out the air filter, and check to see if there is moisture anywhere, and if there is, Could be your Cat converter.

How exactly does this show that your catalytic converter is clogged?

Please, explain...

[98Lumina]

Another thought is the transmission. If the transmission is locked up, It should run fine, but force the engine to stop when put into gear.

[tblake]

Pull the ECM Fuse, for ten seconds, replace it, and start the car. Check the air filter. I;m not exactally sure how this works, but my trusted mechanic did it with my car, when i brought it to him and said it wouldnt accelerate, and he popped the hood, took out the air cleaner, and there was moisture, and he said, cat converter is probably plugged. He just took the car off, and car drove perfectally well, so I replaced it (500 bux, boo), and everything was good. Then I sold the car and upgraded to a 2001 Lumina, hey, its all good. Also, on the tranny note, I'm not good on tranny's, but could this be a torque converter problem?

[98Lumina]

Only thing I really know about tranny's is when they're screwed, so are you.