Check engine light, sputtering smells

[kidkev]

I have a 2005 Pontiac Grand Prix 3800.

A couple of week ago my check engine light came on Misfired. I went & had new plugs & plug wires and the fuel injectors cleaned. The tech said the code showed a misfire so he made these changes.

A couple of day later my check engine light came on but and some sputtering. I went & filled the tank with 92 octane fuel and the light went off & was running fine.

Sunday, the fuel got to a quarter & the check engine light came on again. So I filled it up with 92 octane. Again the light went off and ran fine

Yesterday, my check engine light come and would blink when accelerating and sputter. My daughters who were in the car said they smelled something for a minute and might have saw some smoke coming from the floor board (but not sure). They said they could not get up a mountain curve past 30 mph. Once they got to the top the car would go up to speed but the check engine light still came on & was blinking.

I checked last night and got the same thing.

Any help would be appreciated. Thanks-Kidkev

[BillBoost37]

Blinking means there is a possible catalyst damaging condition present. Aka ..typically misfiring.

Please have the car scanned for codes and post the actual code numbers. We will have a good plan of action based on the codes etc.

[Scottydoggs]

flashing cel is bad, catastrophic failure type thing. you could have a clogged cat, or bad coils or icm.

have you had the car scanned for the code you have yet?

and how many miles?

[kidkev]

OK-Is it OK to drive to Autozone.

It has 143,000 miles

[Scottydoggs]

if its the only way to get it scanned...you'll need to drive it there. you should be ok, just dont be beating on it.

[J GTP]

My check engine light started flashing on my way to work a couple months ago. It turned out that one of the new plug wires I had just put on, had fallen off the plug. It's worth a look, in case it might just be that simple.

[Phil Becotte]

kind of a similar problem. I just got a 2000 grand pix gt. really nice looking car but thinking it wasn't maintained vary well. but its all i could get. 500 bucks.. so im to fix it myself. i dont mind though. i just have to pick and chose where to start with money.. ok so the car ran great for the first few days... then just now im down the DMV getting the reg.. when all of a sudden it starts to sputter at low rpms. when i start to go , it smooths out. i did how ever notice like a slight wining noise when i give it gas.. so i took it down to the ol' auto zone. engine light was on since i bout it a week ago.. i was told evap leak when i bought it. so they plug it in and give these code. : p0442( evap) p0301(misfire in #1) and p0341 (canshaft sensor) so being as i can only do one at a time, and at least need the car to run like it was a week ago. where do you think i could start to do so.
thank you for any responses

[kidkev]

Looks like it was a clogged cat. They cleaned it out, tuneup, plugs & plug wires and now runs fine.

Check engine light still comes on--Oxygen sensor. But no blinking.

They replaced the Sensor & reset the light. After a few days the check engine light came on again. Oxygen sensor.

[Scottydoggs]

what do you mean cleaned the cat out?

once clogged its over. either they gutted it out, or put a new one on. if they gutted it, that would be why the o2 sensor code has popped up.

[kidkev]

He told me they cleaned out the cat & I did not have to get a new one. He said it was very dirty but it should be fine now. I see what you are saying & believe you. May have been cheaper to just get a new cat. Thanks

[BillBoost37]

On the oxygen sensor code, if you can find out which of the say.. 15 various oxygen sensor related codes it is..we may be able to help further.

There's a big difference in
P0171 Lean Bank One (which many misdiagnose as a O2)
P0420 Catalyst efficiency (typically a cat)
PI don't remember that's heater circuit.