Intermittant stumbling

[MDE3]

Have no access to codes as yet, but the car would at times not start, or start and run very rough..like it was flooded, shortly after it had been run for a brief period..maybe 2 - 6 minutes of idling or driving, It turned over strong, then sometimes would start and run rough with CE light coming on, or not start at all.....but not often. Tach did not work when this happened.

At times the speedometer needle would jump , but not continuously, and sometimes the engine would stumble and almost stall....under different conditions...then run fine for an extended period.

Tonight it started stumbling and stalling out about every 5 miles, and to get home we parked at the side of the road, waited a bit and it restarted..CE light comes on.

Sound familiar to anyone?? CPS going bad maybe? Two different problems? Maybe coolant leak falling on the CPS?

 

[PROPHET]

Check your codes, if you don't know how, www.shotimes.com has a write on how to all you need a paper clip.

Also pull a spark plug wire and check if you have oil puddle on top of the spark plug.

 

[MDE3]

Doesn't seem to be leaking any oil on the top end, although consumption is about 1 qt every 1200 miles and the bottom of the car is a bit wet..but not enough to even drip when standing overnight or even for an extended period.

What makes me suspect the coolant leak / CPS sensor problem theory, is that the tach stops when the problem is about to occur, and for a while afterwards, also the fact that if you sit and wait for a while the car will start and run normally for a while..consistant with heat evaporating the leaking coolant (which might not happen if it was leaking oil)....if that is indeed the problem..Also losing some coolant in the system but very minor, however no visible coolant leaking to the ground. Will have the codes later to-day.