My 95 ATX is having problems...

[morpho18]

On Friday, heading out to grab something to eat, I look down and notice that my anti-lock brake light is on. so at the next stop light, i shut the car off and started it back up. light went away. I gave it gas, and it momentarily stuttered, and my EATC flashed 888 and then went back to OFF. Weird.

Flash forward

Today, on my way to work, I pull out of the condo parking lot and the car completely loses power temporarily (1-2 seconds), then the EATC flashes 888 again, and then back to OFF. THIS time however, the tach starts reading wrong, and is jumping all over the place. It was reading 4000 RPM's, when I was probably only turning 2000 RPM's. Then I tried to give it some gas, and it stuttered and sputtered, and the needle jumped erratically all over the tach. At the next stop light, I shift to neutral, give it some gas, and the tach is fine. The car drives fine until I try to open it up a bit. The CEL is not coming on, and hasn't thrown a code since March '04.

My first thought:

VSS?

I don't know though. Some info/help would be much appreciated.

Thanks in advance,

-Adam

 

[SHO#7]

I suppose you did scan it, eventhough the CE light is out?

I suspect either a crank/cam sensor problem. Or maybe a bad ground, by the way that is is shutting off. I would double check for codes.

Mike

 

[morpho18]

I'll pull the codes once I get home. And now that you mention grounds, I do think I remember the negative cable on the battery may have been a little loose. would that affect anything?

 

[black93sho]

Yes, I had those very same symptoms and it was due to a loose and corroded battery cable. So check that your terminals are clean and not loose.

 

[ohfosho]

if your climate control unit is reseting or whatever, that would say charging system to me. check your battary connections like you said, and give them a good cleaning (is it baking soda and water? and then vasaline to protect it), if that isnt it, i would test the alternator. weird stuff happens when battaries or alternators start to go.

 

[SHOtimer]

I would check the connections and cables to the battery, if those are fine I would test the alternator and battery (most auto parts stores do that for free). Sounds like a charging issue.

Doug

 

[morpho18]

positive battery cable was barely touching the post, under hard acceleration, it would lose contact with the post, making the car stutter. got it tightened up, and runs like a champ!