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Topic: Car sluggish and service engine soon light on+++FOUND the problem

in Forum: C4 Fuel, Emission Control, and Exhaust Systems


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Car sluggish and service engine soon light on+++FOUND the problem (1/8)
 8/4/12 1:25pm
TEN A C
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Joined: 2/1/2012
Posts: 34

I was out driving and the car became really sluggish, not a lot of power...became really sluggish then service engine light came on.  Stopped at a red light and pressed down on accelerator, car took off very slow and took a minute or two to get up speed.  It continued to be sluggish.  It doesn't "sound" normal either.  Any ideas why it's sluggish? It kind of sounds like a muffler or something (just guessing).  Can it be bad gas?  It sat for about 2 months before I was able to get it fixed.  It's at about 1/4 tank now.

When I went back out yesterday, the service engine light did not come on....wierd...it still felt a little sluggish though and didn't sound like it normally does.
 
Thanks for your help



Thanks everyone...it was a bad plug wire...it was fried...I still think maybe I need to get the exhaust checked...I smell fumes when I start it and as it sits and idles.

|UPDATED|8/4/2012 10:25:49 AM (AZT)|/UPDATED|
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Re: Car sluggish and service engine soon light on (2/8)
 8/3/12 3:27pm
CaledoniaBrian
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, - Canada

Vette(s):
1988 Convertable


Joined: 11/3/2011
Posts: 150

First thing is to find the code for the check engine light that came on....... but from the sounds of things, I am guessing at an EGR valve..
 Yes bad or old gas could cause this problem, but you did say the service engine light came on, so that is the first place to check.........


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Re: Car sluggish and service engine soon light on (3/8)
 8/3/12 10:41pm
frank atkinson
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bryant, AR - USA

Vette(s):
1984 red on red


Joined: 2/23/2012
Posts: 6

my 84 was doing about the same......would not idle .... kept dying .....running rough...took it to my vette mech    put on computer ...had a bad vaccumhose leak .... could not find the  leak without computer...replaced hose runs great
Re: Car sluggish and service engine soon light on (4/8)
 8/4/12 1:25am
epohdivad
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Kearns, UT - USA

Vette(s):
1990, L98, 6 Speed Manual, Brilliant red metallic


Joined: 4/6/2012
Posts: 86

Is it possible the the Catalytic Converter has gone south?  If it breaks and or turns all the exhaust is backed up and no power, could be "sluggish"

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Re: Car sluggish and service engine soon light on+++FOUND the problem (5/8)
 8/4/12 7:55pm
davep85c4
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Joined: 4/4/2009
Posts: 254

TEN A C said:


Thanks everyone...it was a bad plug wire...it was fried...

You said the Check Engine Light came on. When the CEL illuminates while engine is running, it indicates it set a code. Unless this is a 96, a plug wire generally can not set a code. I'm curious, what was the code?
Re: Car sluggish and service engine soon light on+++FOUND the problem (6/8)
 3/18/14 9:55am
djsroknrol
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Guthrie, OK - USA

Vette(s):
1984 L83/MD8 coupe


Joined: 2/7/2011
Posts: 124

TEN A C said:...I still think maybe I need to get the exhaust checked...I smell fumes when I start it and as it sits and idles.


I agree with a previous post that you catalytic converter might be plugged....


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Re: Car sluggish and service engine soon light on+++FOUND the problem (7/8)
 3/19/14 1:27pm
Trooper
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Hermitage, TN - USA

Vette(s):
1990 C-4 Coupe Polo Green Saddle Interior L-98


Joined: 8/8/2010
Posts: 280

My 90 recently started doing the same exact thing, started running sluggish, service light would come on after about 10 or 15 minutes of driving. shut it down light goes off and doesn't come back on for another 10 or 15 minutes. Mine was the EGR Valve, changed it out and it was running like a scalded dog and no more light..

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Re: Car sluggish and service engine soon light on+++FOUND the problem (8/8)
 8/5/15 3:27pm
Tesla220
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Joined: 4/23/2015
Posts: 64

If you think it's the cat, go rent a "Back pressure Tester". You remove an O2 sensor and screw this thing into the O2 bung then rev the engine power brake it or whatever you gotta do to stress the engine a bit.  should not see more than 2 or 3 PSI

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