Bogs then shuts off

[jeromea]

I have a 97 ESI stock to the bone. Driving down the highway today the car suddenly took me by surprise when it started jerking back and forth somethin' vicious, and the check engine light would turn off and on at the same time. The light had already been on before, but it was only for an EVAP leak (P0455) I pulled to the side of the road, and it shut off.

It took a good amount of cranking to get it going again, and this time I payed close attention as to what was going on. Speed didn't really matter, but what would happen is I'd be going along just fine, then the CEL would turn off and on once, go back to normal for a couple of seconds then start jerking back and forth really bad. At first if I just depressed the clutch and let it go everything would go back to normal, but the more I drove the less effective it was.

Now it's at the point where it will crank over when it feels like it, and stay on only at idle. If I try to drive it stalls out right away. Any info would be much appreciated.

 

[NEpilot]

You need to pull the recent codes, I've seen that kind of behavior when the CAS goes bad.

 

[Lofty]

Are your battery terminals tight?

 

[jeromea]

You need to pull the recent codes, I've seen that kind of behavior when the CAS goes bad.

The only other code that I'm aware of was for a cylinder number 4 misfire (the number escapes me). It doesn't come up anymore though.

Are your battery terminals tight?

My positive terminal is a little loose, but it's been like that for as long as I've had the car. It's not cranking over now, but when it did I could wiggle both terminals back and forth without it affecting anything.

 

[Lofty]

Do you have any air leaks?
Check for spark, then fuel if you verify you have no vac leaks.

 

[jeromea]

Do you have any air leaks?
Check for spark, then fuel if you verify you have no vac leaks.

No vaccum leaks as far as I'm aware, I sprayed everything down with choke cleaner and got no sudden idle changes. Solid spark coming out of cables when cranking. I don't have a fuel pressure gauge so I'm not sure whether or not I'm getting the right amount, but I can clearly hear the fuel pump buzz when I turn the key.

 

[con57]

could be bad gas or fuel pump, bad cam sensor, at one point when you said u compress clutch it runs clean made me think your throw out bearing could be locking up. i would go and check your fuel system first.

 

[jeromea]

could be bad gas or fuel pump, bad cam sensor, at one point when you said u compress clutch it runs clean made me think your throw out bearing could be locking up. i would go and check your fuel system first.

That's my hunch as well. The weird thing is today I tried turning it on again, and it wouldn't turn over. I unplugged the primary ignition, plugged it back in, now it turns on and runs just fine. Granted I didn't take it very far (didn't want to end up towing it again), nor did I go over third gear, but still..