Went limp and died on freeway

[Serj22]

Today my 2004 Vibe base, went into limp mode on the freeway, I could not accelerate and it only gave me enough room to get onto the side of the road. I turned the car off, checked the battery, oil, air filter, and then when all seemed fine (no oil on engine, no leaks, nothing seemed wrong, fuel filter did make noise) I tried to start it. it will continually turn over but will not start. I found a tow truck service to tow it home so it's sitting outside the house and I can easily get to it. Before it went limp, the oil pressure light flashed once and turned off, and the check engine light flashed repeatedly for 1 minute or so. I was watching it to count it to see if it gave a code with blinks, but no, it just kept blinking on and off till it went limp at which point the check engine light turned off. Any opinions? Anyone know how to get it to flash a code? that would be helpful too. Any help is appreciated. I am slightly mechanically inclined, so if someone else could point out probable causes, I'd like to fix it myself and have the car back on the road.

[KITT222]

Get a computer to read the codes. That sounds really funky. Almost like the '05-up ECU recall.EDIT: my dad says that it might be the fuel pump

[Serj22]

I called my father when it died and he said the fuel pump as well. He also thought the fuel filter was bad or something. I could not find the fuse for the fuel pump, just a fuel injection relay, was not sure if that was the same thing, but replaced the fuse and wiggled the relay, still nothing. Is there a way to bolster out the codes without a OBD scanner? I also thought it was an ECU issue, because there was absolutely nothing wrong, the car just shut down.

[KITT222]

Well, oddly enough, the fuel pump went out on my step-moms '05 Corolla a little while back as well. My dad was driving, everything seemed perfect, and the engine just cut out. Those fuel pumps are expensive. I was tasked with trying to find an affordable one, but I couldn't find any. I tried salvage yards, wholesale autoparts places, and craigslist parts cars. El zilcho. He got the pump, and installed it himself in an afternoon, so I think you should be able to tackle it quickly. The Corolla is running fine now!I thought I saw a way to find the codes in a Silverado by connecting two pins, and doing a sequence of pedal presses, so I think I'll take a quick look for the Vibe, and get back to you.

[Serj22]

The chevy thing is what I was thinking of. Usually it's holding the key in a specific position and flicking the lights while pushing the gas or something. On my honda you flicked the lights all the way on, pushed the gas, and left it in the on position and pumped the lights 3 more times. That's what I'm looking for on the vibe.When you say expensive, how much money are we talking about exactly? And that fuel pump was the only problem? Is it located in the gas tank, next to it, or up at the engine?EDit: Based on the part number, is this what I'm looking for? http://cgi.ebay.com/ebaymotors...witem=they seem to not go any higher in price than $40.

[KITT222]

Expensive as in over $200, I believe. The fuel pump was it, no other issues. And it is in the gas tank, so you'll have to drop the tank, and get in there.If that's it, than go for it. Still, I'd suggest checking around real parts shops before ebay. I only half-trust ebay auto products, but this guy 'seems legit'. I'd say take a chance on it.And no luck with the random codes thingy. Sounds pretty wacky what you had to do with your Civic.

[Serj22]

I also want to make sure it's the problem before I go pulling the gas tank and replacing the pump, but if it's up in the $200 range the car may sit outside till next payday, which is what I worry about. I'll hunt around and make sure $30 seems right. If you say $200, and they say $30, I'm more inclined to believe the $200 one... ya know?

[star_deceiver]

That link is for the pump... it doesn't have the lines/holder/basket/wiring... but if you can get the pump assembly out and apart without breaking anything then it's a good deal!!!You also don't need to drop the tank to get at the pump. Just lift the rear seat bench!

[A Psycho Martyr]

sucks

[Salsa Guy]

"Limp Mode" is normally can't rev over 3000 rpms and typically is a MAF sensor bad. You can't get the codes without a code reader on these cars. Goodluck!

[silverbullet]

if you have a bad fuel pump there is a good chance you could get it to run and start once and this will tell you if its the problem. i have done this on other cars to get them back home to fix the fuel pump and save paying for a tow, you will need a friend to help. have someone get under the car and keep hitting the gas tank while you try turning it over. might take a couple tries but its worked for me on two different cars now. good luck and hopefully this is the problem it would be a pretty easy fix. youll have to use a wrench or something solid to hit the tank

[Serj22]

So, I cleaned the MAF off. It was black and covered with junk. I put it back in and started the car. It did start, ran rough, and is blowing hoardes of white smoke out the exhaust while chugging. I am saying the culprite is the PCV valve, wherever that is, though I think it is that green thing, and this new CAI is coming the **** off. It should not be letting this much dirt and junk in. If that fixes it, I'll be happy, otherwise the gasket's blown and I will cry like a girl.

[Sublimewind]

HAVE YOU PULLED THE CODES...???? If NOT, WHY are you putting money into things you DON'T KNOW.. STOP right now and find a way to read the codes, even if you have to buy a 60$ code reader... You are chasing your tail without knowing... A blinking CEL usually means misfires on most cars..

[Sublimewind]

Quote, originally posted by Serj22 »So, I cleaned the MAF off. It was black and covered with junk. I put it back in and started the car. It did start, ran rough, and is blowing hoardes of white smoke out the exhaust while chugging. I am saying the culprite is the PCV valve, wherever that is, though I think it is that green thing, and this new CAI is coming the **** off. It should not be letting this much dirt and junk in. If that fixes it, I'll be happy, otherwise the gasket's blown and I will cry like a girl.ahh the joys of putting a CAI on a car...

[Salsa Guy]

Smell the smoke. Is it sweet? Then it's a head gasket.

[Serj22]

Actually, at this point, I haven't put any money into it. I just put the stock system back and cleaned the sensor. Took me all of 45 minutes and was free. Still white smoke, haven't cleaned the valve or seen if its plugged. It smells like gas. Like unburned gas just flowing out the pipe, that's the best I can describe it.

[Salsa Guy]

You read the codes yet?

[Serj22]

nope. going to go rent a code reader from autozone in a sec to bring it back.

[Sublimewind]

what's the car do with the MAF unplugged? You CAN run it that way, simulates a completely failed MAF and puts the car into open loop mode/limp.. I've run my subaru like this a number of times for various reasons.. If it runs better without the MAF plugged in, it's pretty obvious where things went wrong.. Didn't mean to be harsh, it's just "assuming" things is just that..

[lovemyraffe]

Get the codes. Once we have the codes, we can tell you what is wrong with the car.

[Serj22]

Will do, do they still rent these anywhere or offer to read them? I really don't know that I need to "own" one exactly. Trying the car without the sensor plugged in. Gimme 5 minutes.Edit: Tried without MAf plugged in. Still crappy, just took a little longer to start the car up. No change. Still blowing smoke. Still waiting on friend to show with borrow-able car.

[jkm311]

Just my two cents:What you described is precisely how my 2006 acted with the PCM problem everybody is talking about. I was driving home, doing 50 MPH, and she just DIED. I was fortunate to be in a commercial zone, and pulled into a business with the momentum I had left. Constant attempts to turn the engine over resulted in what you are describing, line for line. Which sucks, because it's the ONLY problem I have had with my Vibe. Period. The negatives of drive-by-wire systems. A stupid computer can tell the fuel to get cut right off. However, I was unaware that 2004s had this issue. Heck, only select 2005s are dealing with this, IIRC. Did you get a letter from GM?

[Serj22]

Never got a letter from GM, and it's not drive-by-wire (I think) so that didn't wind up being the problem. Cleaning the mass air sensor let the car start. It was covered with thick black dirt or oil or something. Once it was clean, the car started, but now it runs rough and white smoke pours out the pipe while the whole car chugs like a choo-choo. Still waiting on a ride to parts store to get a reader...

[Sublimewind]

I would call before you went, I don't think the loan them.... usually they'll read the codes if you can get the car there... And the car WILL run terrible with the MAF unplugged, it's in limp mode.. but you "should" be able to drive it to a parts place... maybe have the friend follow?? It very well could be the MAF if it was as bad as you say.. It's just without the codes (they don't return electrical sensors)

[Serj22]

Turns out they don't loan them anymore. Apparently dealerships want me to pay the $80 to diagnose it, but for $80 I can have the tool and use it whenever I want I guess. Had to work today so didn't get anything done. I can replace the gasket easy enough. I've done them without removing the chain cover and it usually takes me a Saturday to do. I'll make sure I refinish and paint the head and valve cover before it goes back on.

[Serj22]

Drained coolant, replaced gasket, problem solved. Runs like a champ again. Cost $40 for a Fel-Pro gasket and $66.50 for cheapie ARP studs on craigslist. Sweet. Didn't wind up running codes, but had an old mechanic friend over and he popped all the plugs, found very little compression on #2 and coolant on the side of the block there... super blown. All better now.

[jake75]

So the problem was a worn gasket that was allowing coolant into the cylinders?

[Serj22]

As far as I could tell. When I pulled the codes, the original 2 were:Random Missfire?and "Compression 3" with an arrow pointing downThe 12 other codes were from me pulling the spark plug coils to see which cylinder was misfiring before I had the code reader. Coil failure 1Coil Failure 2Coil Failure 3Coil Failure 4Missfire 1Missfire 2Missfire 3Missfire 4Then it just said "Evap" But no code for it.When I drained the coolant it gave off a rainbow effect (Oil on water) in the bucket, so it was quite obvious the coolant and oil had mixed somewhere. Put on a new gasket and the problem was solved. This morning it burned off some white steam again, but only for a minute, probably little bits of water left in the system, but now it's not throwing any codes as far as I can see on the reader.

[Serj22]

Nevermind on that whole fixed thing. Car will randomly start up and just keep misfiring. Sometimes it starts up and is just fine. It is throwing no codes. (removed)?

[star_deceiver]

Was it the head gasket that you replaced? Does it still blow smoke?

[Serj22]

I replaced the head gasket, and all was well. The gasket was through when I pulled it off, and was broken on CYL3 so it should have solved the problem and it did for a moment but yes, now it is blowing white smoke again and misfiring when it gets hot. When it's super cold, it runs fine. No codes being thrown still and I ran it about half-an-hour and still no codes. Edit: Replaced all the plugs just for sake of doing something. They all seemed a bit old, didn't think to do it when I pulled the head, but the teardown instructions didn't mention pulling them so I didn't. Seems to run fine. Drove it across town and down the freeway a bit, no codes. I am befuzzled. Did I fix it? or is it just sitting in wait... waiting to pounce and break.