My Car Wouldn't Start and then it Did

[MagicalAnimal]

OK so... my car has been fine (as fine as an Alero can be) and I went to BJ's and then came out and drove over to the gas station there(drove just fine) and filled her up. I got back in and my car didn't want to start.. it did everything normal and I turned the key and it reved up and then instead of staying at its normal 750rpm, it just died and stalled out. I tried this a few times and got the same thing each time. As long as I gave it gas it stayed on but when I took my foot off the pedal it just conked out. So the decision was made that we were gonna try and get her home so I put it in neutral, grabbed the E brake and fired her up, ready to throw it into drive and go but it stayed on this time. It didn't stall and has been fine since. Just went outside and started it up again just to make sure and it fired right up. You think I have anything to worry about or was it just something that could have happened? I've had the car for about 80K of it's 120K miles and it's never done this before. Help

[BNaylor]

It would be helpful post which engine you have.

[xthirdimpact]

I believe its the 3.4 V6....2000 Alero, 122k miles.

[MT-2500]

Originally Posted by MagicalAnimal

OK so... my car has been fine (as fine as an Alero can be) and I went to BJ's and then came out and drove over to the gas station there(drove just fine) and filled her up. I got back in and my car didn't want to start.. it did everything normal and I turned the key and it reved up and then instead of staying at its normal 750rpm, it just died and stalled out. I tried this a few times and got the same thing each time. As long as I gave it gas it stayed on but when I took my foot off the pedal it just conked out. So the decision was made that we were gonna try and get her home so I put it in neutral, grabbed the E brake and fired her up, ready to throw it into drive and go but it stayed on this time. It didn't stall and has been fine since. Just went outside and started it up again just to make sure and it fired right up. You think I have anything to worry about or was it just something that could have happened? I've had the car for about 80K of it's 120K miles and it's never done this before. Help

Any check engine lights or security or anti theft lights?
How is the tune up end and service history?
Like plugs and fuel filter?
MT

[BNaylor]

This thread has been closed pending resolution of user/member identities and possible alias account.


Edit Update: Members are related and share the same IP address. Thread has been re-opened.

[MagicalAnimal]

I change the oil.. thats about it. It's been a few days since this incident and nothing weird has happened since. Someone did tell me it could have been the gas and the gas at BJ's is no good... any thought on that? I am also going to take it in and change the fuel filter ASAP as a friend also said that could have been the issue. Im just trying to get an idea of what it is so the mechanic bill doesn't give me a heart attack. Any info is much appreciated.

[PotIsYourFriend]

Drain the gas into a large bucket.. Then look at the bottom of the bucket for water.. If you want to find out for sure then go buy some water paste (I use this stuff at work to find water in chemicals for large storage tanks).. If it turns red then the gas station either got bad gas or added water to the storage tank to increase his profits.. The other problem would be a very low octane number in which that would cost a few hundred bucks to run at a lab..


My Co-Worker had this happen to him but had some quart bottles with him and filled them up and they had 1/4 of water in them.. He then sealed them in front of the store clerk and they paid for his and about 20 other peoples repairs..

[xthirdimpact]

Magical is my girl and lives with me, and i dont see us fillin up a neighbor's planter with gasoline...im all set with blowin the joint up.

Her car scares me sometimes with all the lights and bells that go off when she drives, and then turns to me and says "dont worry...it always does that".

Im also hesitant to bring it to my mechanic cuz i KNOW he'll find tons wrong with it...sensors needing replacement, etc etc.

Of course, when she reads this, i'll be lookin like this after:

[PotIsYourFriend]

Originally Posted by xthirdimpact

Magical is my girl and lives with me, and i dont see us fillin up a neighbor's planter with gasoline...im all set with blowin the joint up.

Her car scares me sometimes with all the lights and bells that go off when she drives, and then turns to me and says "dont worry...it always does that".

Im also hesitant to bring it to my mechanic cuz i KNOW he'll find tons wrong with it...sensors needing replacement, etc etc.

Of course, when she reads this, i'll be lookin like this after:

They sell buckets at AutoZone.. I would also never just take something from my neighbor either.. If you plan on blowing it up, Id really like to get some parts off it first..

[Alerokc]

I am having similar problems with my 2004 Alero not starting. Last week I had it towed to the dealership they changed my battery and the ignition switch. It ran a little rough in my opinion, but it was running. Then yesterday, I was leaving work and it did not want to start. I kept trying and it started. But as I was driving, none of the lights or anything on my dashboad was working. My radio went off and I drove about 20 minutes without adding miles to my car. I got it to the dealership so I didn't have to pay for a tow AGAIN, turned it off and it did not start.

[MagicalAnimal]

Im sorry for the problem you are having but it really doesn't sound anything like what my car did. Sounds like you may have an alternator issue. My car hasn't acted in strange (beyond it's usual little quircks) since that night.. starts right up every time. I stopped putting BJ's gas into it because I'm afraid that is what could have caused it. Unless it happens again I am going to chalk it up to the alero playing with me LOL.

I do have this other issue though I am wondering if anyone has heard of.. my car sometimes, very rarely, makes these weird noises like chains rattling. It doesn't drive weird when this happens and it doesn't really change, it's just rattling chains, and then it magically goes away. I've read somewhere it could be the timing chain tensioner getting stuck or something.. does this sound right? Would it make a noise like chains rattling and would it not effect the performance of the car? Just wondering before I bring it somewhere to get looked at.

[PotIsYourFriend]

Originally Posted by MagicalAnimal

Im sorry for the problem you are having but it really doesn't sound anything like what my car did. Sounds like you may have an alternator issue. My car hasn't acted in strange (beyond it's usual little quircks) since that night.. starts right up every time. I stopped putting BJ's gas into it because I'm afraid that is what could have caused it. Unless it happens again I am going to chalk it up to the alero playing with me LOL.

I do have this other issue though I am wondering if anyone has heard of.. my car sometimes, very rarely, makes these weird noises like chains rattling. It doesn't drive weird when this happens and it doesn't really change, it's just rattling chains, and then it magically goes away. I've read somewhere it could be the timing chain tensioner getting stuck or something.. does this sound right? Would it make a noise like chains rattling and would it not effect the performance of the car? Just wondering before I bring it somewhere to get looked at.

How about sounds like BB's in the engine? Does it make this noise when the car isn't in normal operating temp and you give it 50% or more gas (acceleration)?

[xthirdimpact]

I can confess for MagicalAnimal that its not BB's that it sounds like...it literally sounds like chains dragging on the ground! I have no idea what it could be. It occurs at different times,....when the car is warm or cold.

thoughts anyone?