I have a Buick LeSabre 2004 I was driving down the road running fine then out of the blue it's start sputtering and then knocking and then it shut off..I can wait 5 to ten mins and do all over Again I have checked the catalytic converter, change the camshaft sensor still nothing is there anything else I can do to try to fix this
First, get it scanned for codes for a place to start. Probably fuel related - 18 year old fuel pump, filter, injectors, etc.
I tryed that but the check engine light is not on and it's not reading no codes
That's what's puzzles me is that check engine lights not turning on and it's almost as if it gets to a certain point it cuts off but when I turn it on and I put it in reverse it starts running bad really bad then I put it in neutral calms down it runs easy but if I put it in drive it runs rough again but not as bad as it does when it's in reverse but that was happening before this started but it's worse
Not all codes trip the check engine light and some, such as transmission codes, can require a dealer-level scan tool to read.
Could it be the alternator and if so can the alternator run a little bit but still be dead but get a little bit of a charge because I can drive a little bit and then I'll send the car accident and it loses power all power no steering brakes are gone like I literally have to use pretty much all my leg power to push the pedal down so I can stop and not only that I have already went through two batteries One battery was from the owner of it when I got it the second one I got for my buddy I'm on my third one but it's new brand new
You can easily test alternator output at the battery terminals with a voltmeter. With lights and all accessories turned on you should get about 14 volts, plus or minus a little.
Had it tested twice but can it keep a charge but still be a bad alternator ...cause it is almost like that's what it is doing it sound s like a bad alternator the winding sound it makes.....but the sound of a diesel it bad gas I think and I just got both problem going on at once ...Bad gas, bad alternator that gos in and out and also the alternator smells like it's burning sometimes,,the first time I crank it in the morning I can make it to the store and back after it gets warm it does not go far it will stall out after and when I put the a.c. on the knocking starts and it makes the car stall out quicker also
Those symptoms sound more like a transmission problem, like a bad torque converter. When did you last change the transmission fluid and filter?
I haven't yet I was about to go have the oil changed this week and have it. Looked at to see if it was ready for a tune up I think it does but it does have a leak in the manifold gasket with the pandemic and everything going on really haven't had time to get around to it especially not making all that much cuz usually at least once a week I have to put a quart of oil in it. I Kno there a lot that it needs but I have to be able to get it on the road