I did about 8 hours worth of driving yesterday. After about hour #5 right after crossing into Pennsylvania I was cruising at about 70 and starting to lose power. The feeling is familiar, opti going. Starts shuddering hesitation etc, then BANG BANG and black smoke out the back. SES light comes on and runs perfectly fine after. Said screw it I'm too far into my trip to turn around and got to where I needed to be without any problems.

Car sits for about 4 hours start it back up no SES light, so I start heading home. 10 minutes into the drive starts to do the same thing. BANG BANG SES light comes on and drives fine all the way home.

Scanned it when I get home, code 36 lose of high res signal. I've replaced the opti on this thing way to many times to feel like going through it again. However this time is different because it runs fine after it "burps" So what gives? Why does it run fine after and why does it run fine before. Only for those few seconds of hesitation is it a problem.

 

Usually means O2s.

 

did you even read the post?

the "bang, bang" is that a backfire you are trying to describe

 

Sorry to say, but it sounds like you have another dying opti.

 

Ya bang bang meant backfire.

Well here is the update. Car died twice today, same code. Looks like I have my 3rd dead opti in 5 months.