Well, to start off, I'm not a mechanic. Anyway... I was just getting home today, when my car started sputtering, like, within 7 seconds, it was fine, sputtered, fine, sputtered, fine, sputtered, died. I put my transmission in park and started it up again, and the engine idled at a lower RPM. I tried upping the throttle, only got to about 3,500 - 4,000 RPM. I've heard about a 'limp home mode" in cars that have a computer and the engine took a crap.

The car has 173K miles on it, and I'm assuming no rebuild or replacments have been made... could this be the end of my 14 year old engine, or is this a minor problem and I just don't realize it?

Also, if it'* relevant, I smelled sulphur shortly after it sputtered...

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Hmmm, could it really be something that sudden? I never noticed anything like this before, it was just today that this happened. :?

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crawl underneath the car and locate the catalytic converter, it will be a roundish piece in the exhaust piping, that would roughly be located underneath your center console if you had one.

Take something relatively heavy, I prefer a jack handle myself, and bang on the cat a couple times, if you hear a lot of rattling or hear stuff moving around inside, its more than likely clogged up, and with your mileage I could definetely see that as being the problem.

Ok, I'll try the driving one first. Also, yes, the service engine light came on, but only until it had died.

Oh, and do you think that the ASC "Drivetrain Plus" warranty would cover replacing the Cat?

EDIT

Ok, I did the driving test, got into it about every chance I got. Got close to my spot and it did it again, so I parked and let it idle and checked the cat... it wasn't glowing, and I'm not small enough to get under there and feel it lol.

Whoa... Bonneville94V688.. you have NO CLUE!!!! without diagnosing and asking questions if it'* a cat, mouse or even an elephant problem. I seriously would suggest you word a response like this differently in the future. The last thing Ace needs to do is run out to his local exhaust shop and spring for $300 of repairs he may not need.

Ace.. If the car has been running good and all of a sudden this cropped up, which it sounds like. And unless this has been coming on or something went drastically wrong which you would have noticed it is most likely not the catalytic converter.

Let'* start off with where you live, in the northern states...it'* started to get cold and condensation is collecting at night. This also stands true for fuel tanks. If your tank is 1/2 or more, consider adding a $2 or less can of dry gas and driving the car for at least 30 minutes.

While we think about that, when was your last tune up, fuel filter and has your fuel pump been pressure tested recently or has it been making a lot of noise when the tank starts getting low?

These are all the basic things that should be looked over and checked first, especially if the exhaust doesn't sound restricted.

Tune up, fuel filter, and fuel pump pressure test.. well, I never had them done myself... but the dealership MAY have had it done. I have put in Fuel Injector cleaner, but that was about 2 weeks ago, so I wouldn't think that would do anything. I just wish I'd stop having issues with my car. :(

Go to the dealer and ask for a print-off of all the service records on the car. Any GM dealer should be able to do this for you, shouldn't cost you anything either. It only lists major things (should list fuel filter ect, but wont show oil changes) I think all they need is your vin, I'm not sure. Call ahead and ask them what they need to do it and make sure they arent going to charge to a lame price for a few sheets of paper.

Ok.. that'* a great idea and good place to start.

What other issues have you been having? They are probably clues to the current problem.