My car died on the road, help needed.

pennjones · Post by **pennjones** » Tue Jun 10, 2008 10:54 pm

So the situation is this: I was going out to get some groceries and I was going up a hill at the end of my road. At the top of the hill is a stoplight. About 100 yards before the stoplight I saw a big cloud of white smoke billowing out of the rear end of my car, so I turned into the gas station just before the light at the top of the hill. The turn into the gas station is also uphill, and because I was turning I was going slow, and the car died on the uphill slope.

Now, my 240 is an automatic, and it's only ever stalled one other time, when I was going up the same hill with NO gas, going to the gas station, about a week ago. Well, I got it started on the hill by giving the car some gas while turning the key, but as soon as I let my foot of the gas to go into drive it stalled again. I eventually got in to drive into a parking spot by giving it gas and sort of hurrying it into drive and continuing to give it gas. When I got out I noticed that the smoke was coming from my exhaust pipes.

Well, I can get it started every time now by giving it gas while turning the keep, sort of pumping the gas pedal until it starts, but as soon as I let my foot of the gas it dies. So tonight it sits at that gas station until the morning.

Any idea of what's going on here? Fuel pump? Please help!

foilman · Post by **foilman** » Tue Jun 10, 2008 11:26 pm

White smoke, or blueish? Sounds like blown headgasket (white). Did you notice the engine temp? Check the oil dipstick and coolant. Does either look like a milk shake?

pennjones · Post by **pennjones** » Tue Jun 10, 2008 11:31 pm

couldn't tell if it was white or blueish, but it looked white. Also, temp was normal and no fluids looked different than normal. Not leaking oil below the car (will check again tomorrow when I go back to gas station).

pennjones · Post by **pennjones** » Tue Jun 10, 2008 11:32 pm

also, the engine itself is not smoking when I start the car, it was the exhaust and it only smoked before it died on me. After I restarted it, no more smoking.

shawn shawn · Post by **shawn shawn** » Tue Jun 10, 2008 11:41 pm

pennjones wrote:also, the engine itself is not smoking when I start the car, it was the exhaust and it only smoked before it died on me. After I restarted it, no more smoking.

If it was the head gasket it would blow out the exhaust.

P.Haire · Post by **P.Haire** » Tue Jun 10, 2008 11:57 pm

i was reading this thread and a mcdonalds commercial just came on and it was in spanish. so i don't think i'll ever eat there again.

but yeah you might want to check your fuel filter. when you run really low you run the risk of pumping all the crap thats in your tank into the lines.

no idea where the smoke is coming from. especially if you don't know what colour it is.

pennjones · Post by **pennjones** » Wed Jun 11, 2008 12:00 am

it looked white to me, but I imagine blue smoke isn't going to look much different than white.

Generz · Post by **Generz** » Wed Jun 11, 2008 12:20 am

so the car was hella low on gas?

if you have no coolant loss.. coolant in the oil... oil in the coolant...
a possibility is that you have some water in your tank?

pennjones · Post by **pennjones** » Wed Jun 11, 2008 12:34 am

no I had 3/4 tank tonight.

bradt · Post by **bradt** » Wed Jun 11, 2008 1:24 am

Hmmmm, worst case scenario, your piston rings are toast.

POOPscandal · Post by **POOPscandal** » Wed Jun 11, 2008 1:35 am

similar things happened to me in my celica. when it was an automatic, after i installed a trd cam, when i FOERST drove it, it would stall out in drive if i wasn't giving it gas, so i had to neutral drop through lights to get it home. that was because the timing was totally jacked because i was off by a tooth or 2 on the cam gear.

second case, after making it 5spd, it just died on me on 400. i thought a spark plug wire came off. got it off highway and that was fine. then it wouldn't start. got a guy to jump it but i had to keep it revved because if i tried to let it idle it would die. i thought it was some electrical thing. i mean i had to keep it almost floored just to get it stay running and i limped it to a gas station. after checking battery, alt, wiring, etc. checked the plugs and the top of one was missing. i dropped a valve into the motor, making my cyl head look like tinfoil and putting a big hole in my piston. WEEEEE!!!

i don't think this post helps much, but maybe give you an idea of something to look for...

Generz · Post by **Generz** » Wed Jun 11, 2008 9:00 am

yea. dead

EVOsaiyanPrince · Post by **EVOsaiyanPrince** » Wed Jun 11, 2008 12:22 pm

i think everyone is giving you the worst case scenario FOERST. Start simple, the fuel filter is a good idea, then check spark plugs, wires, etc. ONLY then should you start looking at blown gaskets, etc.

Blue and white smoke are significantly different in color, so stick with white color, as your gut suggests.

Post by **andysapp** » Thu Jun 12, 2008 12:18 am

Dude.. Hooman - I just realized how old that animated gif is.

P.Haire · Post by **P.Haire** » Thu Jun 12, 2008 12:53 am

it gets the job done. i saw another funny one.