NOT AGAIN! Damn sputtering and engine light

[dyang1]

So guys, last year I was on here talking about my car sputtering and such. Well at last driving home from another city my car's coolant was leaking like crazy from the reservoir and I guess the head gasket went. It cost me $2000 to get all that fixed up, because I know nothing about cars. Anyways, it was pretty much about around this time last year.
Guess what, just yesterday my car started to slightly sputter and now the engine lights back on. The car feels like it's having a seizure at stop lights. Is there some way to fix this before the engine blows again. I have absolutely no money to fix this up and it's my only car. (gah)

 

[Lewis7789]

Well, I wouldn't jump to conclusions that it's the same problem. However, we're going to need more info on your vehicle. What year, how many miles. And most importantly right now, what code your CEL is giving you. You can go to Autozone and have them check it and give you the print out for free.

I know it sucks when your car starts acting up, but ya gotta stay positive, mate. It could be just that your EGR is dirty and takes 30mins and $3 to cure. But get that CEL code first.

 

[dyang1]

Yea, you're right. Right when the car started bouncing and the engine light lit up, my heart sunk right away. I'll hope the car make it to an autozone soon and see what it comes up with.
I been looking at the EGR part everyone keeps talking about, but when I open up the hood, it looks like a crazy jungle and everything looks the same to me. I'm going to cross my finger this is nothing like last year, all my wife financial aid money went to fixing the car.

 

[localkineguy]

If it is your EGR you can either replace it for ~$140 or clean it for $3. It depends on how much you value your time. I went ahead and did the Canadian EGR swap in and I recommend it.
Does your car sputter while it's moving or mainly just when idling? Notice anything coming out of the exhaust (white smoke, black smoke, blue smoke, no smoke?) or oil drop spots where you normally park your car? How's your coolant and oil levels? How's your coolant color? Have you pulled your spark plugs?

 

[Lewis7789]

If it's having a seizure at stoplights, it could be a vacuum leak. Seems like a lot of cats are having problems with their intake tubing cracking. There is a 3" black flexible tube running from the front of your car past the battery and to the back of your motor. Feel with your paws along that tube and see if you feel any cracks in the tube. You can also unscrew the hose clamps and remove the intake tube to visually inspect it better.

Please don't be offended if I'm using lehmans terms for you, but you said you didn't know anything about cars.

But with car trouble, I've learned to start with the most simple solutions first. No sense in replacing another motor if it's just a bad spark plug, mate.

 

[dyang1]

I have nothing to with my time, but apply for jobs as right now I'm unemployed. I checked, but there's no smoke. Last time, there were no smoke either. My car only sputter while it's at the light not when it's moving.
I checked the coolant this morning and it was still fine and in the radiator it was still green. I haven't pull my spark plug because I don't actually have any tools to do that. I usually let my brother in law check it out but he lives too far and he probably can't come up to check on my car.

 

[dyang1]

Lewis7789, I am really dumb with my car terms so what you wrote sounds like it's something I like dumb down too I didn't replace the motor last time, they had to send the head to get it fix because it was warped, the coolant reservoir was so warped from the bubbling. The coolant would run out going from one just a mile out and back. It all started with the sputtering and then it got worst and worst and finally to the shop and a big bill.

 

[slavrenz]

Lewis7789, I am really dumb with my car terms so what you wrote sounds like it's something I like dumb down too I didn't replace the motor last time, they had to send the head to get it fix because it was warped, the coolant reservoir was so warped from the bubbling. The coolant would run out going from one just a mile out and back. It all started with the sputtering and then it got worst and worst and finally to the shop and a big bill.

Have you gone to AutoZone yet to have the hook their scan tool up to your car?

Seriously though, you got ripped off on that head gasket job. I think you mean to say that your car overheated and warped the head, and that they had to send it out to machine it (i.e., make it flat again).

Even if it cost $2000 to really do this (which it doesn't - maybe $1200 max), you can get a used engine installed for about $1200-1300. If I were the mechanic, I would've recommended you go this route to be more cost effective.

 

[dyang1]

Ok guys, just got back from Autozone. My car probably feel worst now then ever, it took a few times to finally get the car started and at stop light, I swear my car was gonna croak any minute.

Anyways, the codes are
P0401, Definition: EGR insufficient flow detected.
P0303, Definition: Cylinder 3 misfire condition detected

I'm gonna hope this is it only
Last year I was getting a P0300 misfiring or something like that and I had all the spark plugs changed twice.

Well now I have 2 thing confirm anyways.

 

[MaxPower]

The EGR valve needs to be either cleaned or replaced. You can clean or replace it yourself:
http://www.msprotege.com/forum/showthread.php?t=94788

The only problem with cleaning the EGR valve is that the problem will return (some people report within as little as 1000 miles). For people who do the work themselves, they may put up with this to save the money of buying a new EGR valve.

If you'll take the car to a mechanic, you should replace the EGR valve instead of cleaning it. The US EGR valve is about $120 on rockauto.com, but if you want the EGR immediately AutoZone charges about $160 and may price-match with RockAuto . A competent mechanic should charge you for about 30 minutes of labor (say $80/hour) or $40 to install it. You should also replace the EGR gasket while you're at it. (Some people use the better Canadian EGR valve but its installation is more complex).

Hopefully cleaning/replacing the EGR valve will also solve the cylinder #3 misfire. It will definitely solve the rough idle.

 

[P-Funk!]

OP: Where do you live? A fellow forum member might be able to help. (I would)

 

[dyang1]

I hope there's someone where I live and can help me out.
I live in Green Bay, Wisconsin. If anyone is around this neck of the wood, please help me out.

 

[slavrenz]

The EGR valve needs to be either cleaned or replaced. You can clean or replace it yourself:
http://www.msprotege.com/forum/showthread.php?t=94788

The only problem with cleaning the EGR valve is that the problem will return (some people report within as little as 1000 miles). For people who do the work themselves, they may put up with this to save the money of buying a new EGR valve.

If you'll take the car to a mechanic, you should replace the EGR valve instead of cleaning it. The US EGR valve is about $120 on rockauto.com, but if you want the EGR immediately AutoZone charges about $160 and may price-match with RockAuto . A competent mechanic should charge you for about 30 minutes of labor (say $80/hour) or $40 to install it. You should also replace the EGR gasket while you're at it. (Some people use the better Canadian EGR valve but its installation is more complex).

Hopefully cleaning/replacing the EGR valve will also solve the cylinder #3 misfire. It will definitely solve the rough idle.

Get the Canadian EGR valve for $120 and be done with it. Once the EGR problem is fixed, as was said above, that should take care of the P0303 misfire as well.