Q: Car overheating and losing power
I had the spark plugs, plug wires, and coil changed before I took a road trip. While driving, the car began to shudder and hesitate when accelerating. I had most of my spark plugs changed out again. Now the car runs worse than before. It eventually overheated, lost power, and now won't stay started unless my foot is on the gas.
Recommended Services
| Loss of power Inspection | $94.99 - $114.99 | Get a Quote |
Were you having any problems before having the plugs wires and spark plugs changed the first time? I have seen instances where not all of the spark plugs were changed because the back 3 plugs can be difficult to reach. I have also seen plugs wires misrouted which causes them to get damaged and make the engine misfire and run poorly. The overheating could be caused by a low coolant condition out a head gasket failure. I would ask for help from one of the mechanics at YourMechanic to see what caused your car’s loss of power and determine what fixes need to be made.
The statements expressed above are only for informational purposes and should be independently verified. Please see our
terms of service
for more details
Get an instant quote for your car
Our certified mechanics come to you ・Backed by 12-month, 12,000-mile guarantee・Fair and transparent pricing
What others are asking
Engine knock, is it totally broken?
The engines in most of these cars are pretty noisy on start up and quiet down after a few minutes of running. If your noise is an engine lower end knock and not a lifter noise, or if the noise...
What does the electric stability control (ESC) off indicator mean?
The electric stability control (ESC) off indicator is located on the instrument panel. This light is illuminated when the ESC has manually been turned off. Tip The ESC off indicator briefly illuminates when the car is first turned on. The...
Loud rattling coming from underneath the vehicle
This could be caused by a loose lower cover plate. Trucks have a metal plate that protects the underside of the engine from debris. This plate is often removed for repairs and sometimes not all the bolts will be present...
Car stalls after longer trips
Hello there, thank you for asking about your 1988 Chevrolet Celebrity. There are numerous potential causes for your problem. One thing that comes to mind, however, is the ignition module. These are known for being problematic on your vehicle. The...
Car won't start, check engine light is out but other lights are on, got new control and immobilizer but the problem remains.
Hi, thanks for writing in. It is possible that your check engine light bulb could be out. I would recommend having a qualified professional remove your instrument cluster to determine if the bulb for the check engine light has failed....
Changed heads and now it won't start. Dodge dealer said no compression
Hi there. For the valve seats to drop out of the cylinder head(s), the engine overheat (https://www.yourmechanic.com/article/what-causes-a-car-to-overheat) must of been severe. Assuming you followed proper procedure replacing the cylinder heads. This would lead me to believe it to be the...
Steering shakes and makes horrible noise at low speed 2011 GMC Acadia
Hi and thanks for contacting YourMechanic. From what you said and what was displayed on the video your power steering pump (https://www.yourmechanic.com/services/power-steering-pump-replacement) is making the humming noise as if the pump is lacking of oil, but the shaking of vehicle...
whats the best way to clean the throttlebody?
Hello. The best way to clean the throttle is to remove it from the vehicle. Find a throttle body or MAF cleaning product of your choice and use the nozzle that comes with it. When taking the steps to remove...
Power window switch not working 2006 Chevrolet Impala
Hi there - check fuses/relays for the power windows first. If fuses and/or relays are good, your symptoms suggest that the power window master switch (https://www.yourmechanic.com/article/symptoms-of-a-bad-or-failing-power-window-switch) on the driver door panel has failed. I recommend a power window master switch...
Related articles
What Are the Best Spark Plugs for Normal Use?
Spark Spark plugs are essential components of your ignition system. They’re responsible for supplying the spark that ignites fuel and starts the combustion process. However, not all spark plugs are created equal. You’ll find “normal” plugs on the market, but...
What Does Ignition Timing Mean?
Timing Timing – it has a couple of different meanings when applied to your car’s engine. One of the most critical is ignition timing (not to be confused with engine timing). Ignition timing refers to when spark is created during...
How to Buy Good Quality Spark Plugs
Sparks Sparks make everything happen! Without spark plugs, your vehicle would never be able to kick off combustion, providing the necessary power to make your car go forward. If your engine is starting to misbehave, by either stalling, lurching, or...
Browse other content
Estimates
Services