Hello,
I was cruising in my newly fixed car today when all of a sudden the check engine light came on. It has been coming on and going off since I got the car back, so I really did not think much of it until I pulled up to a stop light and the car stalled. It then would not start, and when I pushed in on the accelerator, white smoke came out the exhaust. From what Chris Sanders told me, the messed up o2 sensor cable might cause this, but I need to know if that is what it is, or something more serious. I told my father to tell the dealership that they would be responsible to replace that sensor and wire since they ripped it in half and tried to splice it back together again (and did a terrible job, too). I guess just let me know if that's what you guys think might be wrong (o2 sensor & wire). I already know that is a problem already, so it would be kind of nice to know that is what is causing this problem, instead of some mystery problem not diagnosed.

Thanks,
Tyler

 

I can see the O2 sensor/wire tripping the Check Engine light, however I doubt that would make your call stall. People run on bad O2's and some people just disconnect it (granted most of the latter or on aftermarket ECUs).

Did you pull the engine codes?

 

Not yet, I don't have access to anything here at school (tools, wire, anything)

 

But wouldn't a bad signal from the sensor make the car run really rich? That would explain the stalling (flooding) and white smoke. Or maybe a bad solenoid?

 

Anyone else have an opinion?

 

Going to pull codes this weekend, and I'll get back to you.

 

you only need a small wire to pull engine codes, if you dont got that or cant get your hands on that (i mean a paper clip will even work), your in serious trouble!

 

I am having this exact same situation for my 93 automatic. Except I don't have a check engine light. White smoke means water, I removed the Plugs and cleaned them, don't ask me why I thought of that and my car would restart and go for short distances then puff smoke and stall. Curious as to if people think this could be a sensor or is a seal? Don't really want to do a complete rebuild, but I will if I have too. BTW mine has 74k on the engine and turbos. PLEASE HELP US. I can't live without my car....My rocket doesn't run very well in the rain with 2 wheels...I need my car back.

 

Well this has only happened to me once....so far. I have like 400 miles on the engine and plugs, and about 123,000 on the turbos (haha, I know - I'm going to a single when I get $$). I am actually hoping that it is something in the O2 sensor, because the dealership has to buy me a new one anyway (they broke the old one). If it's not that, I'm screwed again. It's not the engine, though - when I was at Banzai, it ran 20psi vacuum idling (Chris said that was good - personally, I have no idea what that means).
Believe it or not, I don't have a paper clip at all. Biggest piece of wire I have is a staple, and that's not going to cut it. I'll just take it home and do it there.