I hadn't driven my car for a couple weeks. The las time I drove it, it drove great. I went and picked it up from my girlfriends house, went got gas and went through the car wash at the gas station.

Anyways, I started driving on the freeway and I noticed I was slowing down even though my foot hadn't left the pedal. Then my car started to pop and sputter. My RPM needle started bouncing around from 0-45000 rpm and the needle settled at 0 and stalled. Holding the clutch in didn't help and revving the throttle had no effect on the rpm's. I could then start the car and drive it but then it would happen again. Anyways I left the car at a park and got a ride home. I am hoping someone can give me some potential solutions so I can fix it and get it home. Otherwise I'll have to tow it. Thanks for your help.
It is not running on seven or less cylinders so its not the plugs or wires. Maybe MAF sensor??? Would driving home without the MAF sensor help? Do you think maybe the Opti got wet in the car wash??
edit: also, for some reason its very difficult to get the car in reverse now. I don't know if its related or not.
Opti- has less than 10,000 miles
alternator and battery less than 7,000 miles
plugs and wires less than 5,000 miles

 

Stay away from the car washes! You might have gotten something wet. Check fuses to be sure you have not blown one that feeds the reverse lock out solenoid.

 

that wouldn't cause the crazy engine surging and stalling though. Shoebox, if it is the MAF is it safe to drive with it unplugged? Does it sound like something the Opti would do if wet?

Thanks for your help, and I will never go through a car wash with this vehicle again. Anymore suggestions would be wonderful.

 

Do you know for sure that all the cylinders have spark????????? Assume for time being that it does. Did you let it get real low on fuel before you got gas? Take a squirt can with gas and shoot it straight in the throttle body while someone cranks it over. This will immediately eliminate fuel being the cause of the problem. If it starts, more than likely the fuel pump took a dump. If it does not start, start looking for spark at all plugs

If you let it get real low on fuel before you got a refill, plan on changing the fuel pump.

Dave

 

My fuel pump is only a few months old. Its a Racetronix kit (Walbro 255lph). I am familiar with the feelings and sounds of running without all 8 cylinders because my headers kept burning wires. I feel like this is not the case because the engine runs like normal before the rpm gauge goes wacky and it dies. And no, the tank wasn't empty before I filled up. It starts and drives fine for a minute or two and then goes crazy.

 

Did your SES light start blinking at all when you could still drive it?

Mine did that when I had a plug wire arching.

 

I got the check gauges light but that was it I think.

This problem is weird because one second the car would be fine cruising along on the freeway and the next it would freak out and die. I didn't change the engine load or speed to incite it. It just happened.

Shoebox, as for the reverse lockout solenoid fuse, the reverse was messed up before I went into the car wash.

 

I have to go check out the car in a few minutes and if I can't get it running it'll have to be towed. any last minute advice??

EDIT: okay, so I drove it home with a vehicle following me just in case I needed help. Nothing like what happened earlier occured this time. The ignition seemed totally fine. I did a couple WOT runs when I got home and it pulled like normal. However, the temp. rose much higher than normal when I stopped at a light. I'm grateful I got the car home but I'm afraid to drive it because I don't want to get stranded again.

Any more advice for this incredibly weird episode?