Let's just say I had a bad week

Just when I thought I had everything figured out, life throws me a curve ball. I want to use stronger words than that but I'd probably violate the crap out of T&C right now.

I sat down earlier this week with my Fiance, worked out our finances to start getting her crazy high student loans paid off, while still saving money for a lawyer for some issues we need to take to court. It all started with paying off my car loan. I have a 2012 Chevy Sonic that I'm very close to paying off, and I have enough saved to knock it out. We were also planning a camping trip with family (which we just left for), and I wanted to go ahead and pay off the car before the trip and just enjoy myself and the fact that I finally own my car for the next couple of days.

My fiance drives the Sonic ever since her car bit the dust (undercarriage rusted out) and I'm buying my dad's old 2000 Silverado from my mom. My dad passed away a few years back and he loved that truck, so it means a lot having that. I've been making monthly payments directly to my mom and I've had to put a lot of money into the truck to fix problems that have come up over the years.

On Wednesday I left work at lunch and decided to head on over to the bank to take care of my loan. I had a 15 minute drive to the bank, and about 10 minutes in, the truck stalls. That's when I noticed the oil pressure had dropped like a rock. I decided not to pay off the car since it looked like I might need that money after all. I drove it back to work, it had some oil pressure when revving and sounded fine, I thought it might be an issue with the oil pressure sending unit and was going to check it out at the garage I work at.

By the time I get back to work, there's a little lifter tick. I cut it off and figure the pump has gone bad. Some googling says that a common problem is actually the o ring on pickup tube in the pump. Still, it requires removing the pump so I just decided to replace it anyway. When the engine cools it has pressure again but I only run it long enough to pull it in a now empty bay to start working on it.

Meanwhile, The Sonic throws a check engine light and starts doing really weird crap like starting itself after you get out, the radio coming on after you shut the door, not accelerating at all sometimes when the pedal is pushed, and stalling out. My fiance gets home with it anyway and I checked it out. All the codes are O2 sensor related, and there's an ECM fuse blown. I replace the fuse and it blows again instantly. Great. Now I have two broken vehicles at the same time.

I worked on it hard until late night last night. There were some other things I needed to take care of, as well as multiple trips to the parts store. So, I get it wrapped up, it starts and has pressure again. New pump, new o ring and gaskets, fresh oil change even though it wasn't that old. Everything back together and torqued to spec. Looked like a job well done but we were supposed to leave this morning. I take it for a test drive last night around the town, and after it warms up, it loses oil pressure and stalls again. I'm livid. I floor it hoping to blow the engine because I'm not in my right mind at this point. I'm tired as crap and don't want to spend another second working on it. It stalls out and I left it in the road, but not before having the cops called on me. Towed it back to work, now it still runs but with a crazy amount of knocking. I messed up bad, I know, but I have no clue what it could be.

So now I'm at a loss on both vehicles, still owe for them, and the Sonic apparently has no warranty since 2015. We're riding to our trip with someone else, had to squeeze all our crap in their car. I wanted to stay home but my fiance convinced me to go. I'm not in the mood for it anymore, and can't stop thinking about what I'm going to do with the vehicles when we get back. Guess the Sonic at least will go to the dealer so I can pay them hundreds of dollars for some $20 part I could fix myself if I just knew what it was and where to start.

a reply to: Aldakoopa


For the Sonic, considering you did everything that came up coded, I would say check the computer module/modules. Also if it is in fact the module, it most likely will throw out the same codes you already took care of. When that damn module goes it can trash how the engine is supposed to work. I had an Subaru I had to junk because the module went, but I only figured that out after doing everything you have done. See if the module can be tested and go from there. My Subaru was an older one and there was no aftermarket on modules and to buy a used one from a junk yard was around $800 and I was just DONE at that point.

Vehicles are money pits, I can sympathize........

a reply to: Aldakoopa

That bites,I had a day somewhat like yours,I rebroke my neck,and back ,so I am not supposed to fool with my cars,something I have done all my life,I was bored bought a Merc ,and it needed some clear coat repair,I go to lightly spray then involuntary grip sets in,overspray all over,windows etc,put can away,decide I would adjust and align rear hatch window,next thing I know,window pops off,and to get it back in position,requires compressing 2 new struts,after 2 hrs,I got back,kid calls needs a ride,goes to put things in back of truck,all over again,think today will leave truck parked,and last weekend we took truck to Vegas,on way back regulator broke on pass window,normally ok when driving thru desert,but we hit 4 thunderstorms on way back,missed one,got off road to pee,got back on wrong way,right back into storm,and back thru again,so good luck to ya,I'm hoping for some

a reply to: Aldakoopa

That bites,I had a day somewhat like yours,I rebroke my neck,and back ,so I am not supposed to fool with my cars,something I have done all my life,I was bored bought a Merc ,and it needed some clear coat repair,I go to lightly spray then involuntary grip sets in,overspray all over,windows etc,put can away,decide I would adjust and align rear hatch window,next thing I know,window pops off,and to get it back in position,requires compressing 2 new struts,after 2 hrs,I got back,kid calls needs a ride,goes to put things in back of truck,all over again,think today will leave truck parked,and last weekend we took truck to Vegas,on way back regulator broke on pass window,normally ok when driving thru desert,but we hit 4 thunderstorms on way back,missed one,got off road to pee,got back on wrong way,right back into storm,and back thru again,so good luck to ya,I'm hoping for some

You could try looking around on this forum.

www.silveradosierra.com...

ETA - Found this -

i have seen a bunch of these truks with this problem and what it iis there is a small screen under the oil pressure switch that gets sludge in it and stops oil from reaching your pressure sensor, remove your oil pressure sensor on rear of intake and take a small pick and pull out the screen and throw it away, reinstall our oil pressure sensor.

a reply to: Aldakoopa

The immobilizer switch along with the keys. At least that is what I am seeing online so far for the sonic. The truck I would run some cleaner through the oil system. It almost sounds like something is plugging it.

originally posted by: seeker1963
a reply to: Aldakoopa


For the Sonic, considering you did everything that came up coded, I would say check the computer module/modules. Also if it is in fact the module, it most likely will throw out the same codes you already took care of. When that damn module goes it can trash how the engine is supposed to work. I had an Subaru I had to junk because the module went, but I only figured that out after doing everything you have done. See if the module can be tested and go from there. My Subaru was an older one and there was no aftermarket on modules and to buy a used one from a junk yard was around $800 and I was just DONE at that point.

Vehicles are money pits, I can sympathize........

The Sonic makes me really mad too because I bought it brand new, my first new car, and I really loved it. I thought it had a 5 year, 100,000 mile warranty like most cars advertise. Apparently it is only 3 years, 40,000 miles. I. Had no trouble with it for those 3 years. No sooner than the warrnaaty expires, a sway bar link breaks. Get that fixed and then the PCV valve goes, which wouldn't be so bad if it wasn't a turbo and it wasn't integrated in the intake manifold. Since its a turbo, after it fails it blows out a valve on the valve cover so both the cover and intake manifold had to be replaced. Not even a year since that and now this happens. I think I need to get rid of it, too bad it has lost most of its value already.

originally posted by: DAVID64

You could try looking around on this forum.

www.silveradosierra.com...

ETA - Found this -

i have seen a bunch of these truks with this problem and what it iis there is a small screen under the oil pressure switch that gets sludge in it and stops oil from reaching your pressure sensor, remove your oil pressure sensor on rear of intake and take a small pick and pull out the screen and throw it away, reinstall our oil pressure sensor.

It had 125,000 on it when I got it, 126,000 miles on it now. Just replaced the heads a few months ago because they were cracked, noticed a lot of gunk built up in the oil too. Ran seafoam through and have changed the oil twice with Castrol Synthetic and fresh Pure one filter in three months time, always comes out lumpy. Could be gummed up but I don't know how to clear it out. It hasn't leaked a drop of oil since I replaced the sending unit a couple months ago, and this truck was made before they started putting in those screens.

a reply to: Aldakoopa

Stopping right there and checking the oil level, the color of it (is their water in it, is it viscous, smell burnt?) Looks in radiator cap well, are there oil drops floating in there?

The longer you drive it the more damage you do. If its a blown gasket, burnt ring or valve you only make it worse by continuing to drive it.

I get the whole juggling 7 balls in the air thing, tying to make ends meet.

Sometimes though, when life is in lemons mode, just stay home until the hex or whatever it is wears off. I know thats impossible... sorry for your car troubles.

Don't feel too bad. The homeless and broke, stuck on the tracks, replacing the 600 dollar starter motor story I could tell you.

I feel for you.

We had a similar situation not so long ago.

My little Hyundai had transmission issues, as in no longer would go in reverse, so we were saving up a down-payment to simply purchase a newer car since my husband's old Pontiac was pushing over 250,000 miles at that time.

The very day we made that decision, my husband comes home with sudden transmission issues on his Pontiac. So we end up in a pickle because we can't replace both cars and have serious doubts about how long mine will run going only forward because we know that's the transmission going bad there and it's already held out for about a year like that as it is.

In the end, we burned the down payment money rebuilding his car's transmission, and settled for a $500 trade-in from mine toward a program Altima. He also managed to get another 100,000 miles out of his old Pontiac then before the head gasket went.

But if we'd managed to hang on to the down payment money, we'd have the Altima mostly paid off by this point.

originally posted by: Aldakoopa
Just when I thought I had everything figured out, life throws me a curve ball. I want to use stronger words than that but I'd probably violate the crap out of T&C right now.

I sat down earlier this week with my Fiance, worked out our finances to start getting her crazy high student loans paid off, while still saving money for a lawyer for some issues we need to take to court. It all started with paying off my car loan. I have a 2012 Chevy Sonic that I'm very close to paying off, and I have enough saved to knock it out. We were also planning a camping trip with family (which we just left for), and I wanted to go ahead and pay off the car before the trip and just enjoy myself and the fact that I finally own my car for the next couple of days.

My fiance drives the Sonic ever since her car bit the dust (undercarriage rusted out) and I'm buying my dad's old 2000 Silverado from my mom. My dad passed away a few years back and he loved that truck, so it means a lot having that. I've been making monthly payments directly to my mom and I've had to put a lot of money into the truck to fix problems that have come up over the years.

On Wednesday I left work at lunch and decided to head on over to the bank to take care of my loan. I had a 15 minute drive to the bank, and about 10 minutes in, the truck stalls. That's when I noticed the oil pressure had dropped like a rock. I decided not to pay off the car since it looked like I might need that money after all. I drove it back to work, it had some oil pressure when revving and sounded fine, I thought it might be an issue with the oil pressure sending unit and was going to check it out at the garage I work at.

By the time I get back to work, there's a little lifter tick. I cut it off and figure the pump has gone bad. Some googling says that a common problem is actually the o ring on pickup tube in the pump. Still, it requires removing the pump so I just decided to replace it anyway. When the engine cools it has pressure again but I only run it long enough to pull it in a now empty bay to start working on it.

Meanwhile, The Sonic throws a check engine light and starts doing really weird crap like starting itself after you get out, the radio coming on after you shut the door, not accelerating at all sometimes when the pedal is pushed, and stalling out. My fiance gets home with it anyway and I checked it out. All the codes are O2 sensor related, and there's an ECM fuse blown. I replace the fuse and it blows again instantly. Great. Now I have two broken vehicles at the same time.

I worked on it hard until late night last night. There were some other things I needed to take care of, as well as multiple trips to the parts store. So, I get it wrapped up, it starts and has pressure again. New pump, new o ring and gaskets, fresh oil change even though it wasn't that old. Everything back together and torqued to spec. Looked like a job well done but we were supposed to leave this morning. I take it for a test drive last night around the town, and after it warms up, it loses oil pressure and stalls again. I'm livid. I floor it hoping to blow the engine because I'm not in my right mind at this point. I'm tired as crap and don't want to spend another second working on it. It stalls out and I left it in the road, but not before having the cops called on me. Towed it back to work, now it still runs but with a crazy amount of knocking. I messed up bad, I know, but I have no clue what it could be.

So now I'm at a loss on both vehicles, still owe for them, and the Sonic apparently has no warranty since 2015. We're riding to our trip with someone else, had to squeeze all our crap in their car. I wanted to stay home but my fiance convinced me to go. I'm not in the mood for it anymore, and can't stop thinking about what I'm going to do with the vehicles when we get back. Guess the Sonic at least will go to the dealer so I can pay them hundreds of dollars for some $20 part I could fix myself if I just knew what it was and where to start.

Not to sound insensitive, but this is exactly why I drive a Toyota

Enjoy yourself and your friends and family while camping. Worry about the cars later....

a reply to: Aldakoopa

I drive a 2002 Volvo station wagon and have only 68,000 on it.
I have had my Check Engine light come up a couple of times
and both times it was due to the gas cap.First time because
it wasn't screwed on tight enough and last because it wore out.

I hope everything turns out okay and have a nice trip.

originally posted by: Aldakoopa

originally posted by: DAVID64

You could try looking around on this forum.

www.silveradosierra.com...

ETA - Found this -

i have seen a bunch of these truks with this problem and what it iis there is a small screen under the oil pressure switch that gets sludge in it and stops oil from reaching your pressure sensor, remove your oil pressure sensor on rear of intake and take a small pick and pull out the screen and throw it away, reinstall our oil pressure sensor.

It had 125,000 on it when I got it, 126,000 miles on it now. Just replaced the heads a few months ago because they were cracked, noticed a lot of gunk built up in the oil too. Ran seafoam through and have changed the oil twice with Castrol Synthetic and fresh Pure one filter in three months time, always comes out lumpy. Could be gummed up but I don't know how to clear it out. It hasn't leaked a drop of oil since I replaced the sending unit a couple months ago, and this truck was made before they started putting in those screens.

Try replacing PCV valve or filter screen in oil pickup beneath oil pan.

article

originally posted by: mamabeth
a reply to: Aldakoopa

I drive a 2002 Volvo station wagon and have only 68,000 on it.
I have had my Check Engine light come up a couple of times
and both times it was due to the gas cap.First time because
it wasn't screwed on tight enough and last because it wore out.

I hope everything turns out okay and have a nice trip.

Pontiac used to go through oxygen sensors like water through tissue paper! Every time one went out, the check engine light came on.

a reply to: intrptr

I replaced a lot right after I got it. Hasn't leaked a drop of coolant or oil since. No blown head gasket, and it probably would be fine if I didn't get mad and floor it when it lost pressure again. Now it sounds expensive.

I still don't understand how it loses pressure as soon as the engine warms up. Cold start it's fine with 40lbs at idle, but then it drops to 0 at idle once it's up to temp.

It will have to wait. I'll get the car taken care of and I don't know what to do with the truck now.

a reply to: Aldakoopa

I still don't understand how it loses pressure as soon as the engine warms up. Cold start it's fine with 40lbs at idle, but then it drops to 0 at idle once it's up to temp.

If its not the gauge, its blow by , either rings, valves or gaskets. Especially when warmed up. Dimensional tolerances change wth heat applied to rings and gaskets especially. If there are no external leaks then its internal. The 'lumpy' oil is one indicator.

"Lumpy" oil could be from air, are there bubbles in the mix, like foam? Thats easy to determine by looking and by feel. Squish it between your fingers to see if its viscous or not. Foamy oil won't feel oily, it will feel like milkshake. If you have flushed the engine and use synthetic oil, replaced the PCV and oil pickups, you may have other deep seated issues with the engine.

You did say the heads were replaced because they were cracked "A few moths ago". Thats over heating big time, affecting not only the heads. Replacing head(s) extends engine life but not too long if they were actually cracked from overheating.

Ummm... worst case, you need a new engine.

Had the same issue on a chevy k1500 i had. Oild pressure fine till warmed up, replace oil pump, pickup, no go, high pressure oil pump, no go. Ended up being the bottom end needed rebuilt, i had rebuilt the heads on mine too...bought the truck with blown headgasket, put a radiator, heater core, hoses, rebuilt the injection unit, lots of work, ended up i got rid of it cuz i didnt feel like dropping the pain in the ass oil pan for the 5th time lol...i was pretty wet behind the ears at the time too.

originally posted by: intrptr
a reply to: Aldakoopa

I still don't understand how it loses pressure as soon as the engine warms up. Cold start it's fine with 40lbs at idle, but then it drops to 0 at idle once it's up to temp.

If its not the gauge, its blow by , either rings, valves or gaskets. Especially when warmed up. Dimensional tolerances change wth heat applied to rings and gaskets especially. If there are no external leaks then its internal. The 'lumpy' oil is one indicator.

"Lumpy" oil could be from air, are there bubbles in the mix, like foam? Thats easy to determine by looking and by feel. Squish it between your fingers to see if its viscous or not. Foamy oil won't feel oily, it will feel like milkshake. If you have flushed the engine and use synthetic oil, replaced the PCV and oil pickups, you may have other deep seated issues with the engine.

You did say the heads were replaced because they were cracked "A few moths ago". Thats over heating big time, affecting not only the heads. Replacing head(s) extends engine life but not too long if they were actually cracked from overheating.

Ummm... worst case, you need a new engine.

It's never overheated. It was a casting issue with heads manufactured by Castech. A small crack would form in the thinnest part of the head and allow coolant to slowly leak into the oil over time. I think it had been like that for a long time.

a reply to: Aldakoopa

I think it had been like that for a long time

Running the engine like that "for a long time" would compromise the rings, crank and valves. Oil and water are not lubricant.