So, I'm having car troubles, right?

[ScratchedAt]

See, if there is one thing I've learned throughout my many years as a NNow/E-Mpire member, I've learned that SOMEONE knows SOMETHING about everything. This place is a virtual "________ For Dummies" place....

Anyways...

I was just wondering if anyone can make a SOMEWHAT INTELLIGENT analysis here on what could be wrong and what I would need... obviously it can't be great and accurate, but some smart oppinion would help..

I have a 93 Dodge Shadow and it's a piece of shit.
But today, something really f***ed up happened, and it now doesn't accelerate worth a shit, and it won't go faster than 45 (even with the pedal to the ground). It's also sort of... kicking back... almost backfiring in a way (but I dont think... idk).

So it's doing this as I'm driving really slow, and the acceleration is fucked up. I slow down and pull to the side of the road, and the car dies. I start it back up, and it works, and does the same thing...

Then I drive at the speed of smell home...

Any..ideas...whatsoever?

[Oddyssey]

Does your car have a carburetor or Fuel injector? because it sounds like your not getting gas to the engine, but then again you could be not getting air as well. Since I cannot see the problem I am just guessing ,

[ScratchedAt]

See... assuming I wasn't getting gas (which, my car randomly smells of gas and sometimes you can see a MINISCULE leak) what would I do then?

My cousin said I needed new spark plugs maybe, and maybe new wires. And that I needed some filter (i guess it was dirty) replaced....

But like I said, I dont know much... and he isn't that bright as it is.

[Oddyssey]

So you don't know if your has a carbo vs a fuel injection? if it were fuel injected it could mean your injector is pluged(or soon to be). Carbo could mean the wire that opens the butterfly valve might be caught on something or worse. Air, could mean that your air filter is crap and get a new one soon. Other things like spark plugs always help check those out for sure.
Also when you give it gas does it rev up or sits for a sec then some what response?

[ScratchedAt]

It sits for the most part... but when it starts to rev up (pressing the gas more) it just revs up with no REAL response... it slowly accelerates

I asked fuel injector or carborator and my cousin just said "throttle body".

IDK?

[Jesus]

I'm gonna go with either your Carbies spring is sprung or isn't catching properly or your computer is fucked.

[Viper]

Also could be a bad fuel pump.

Does it always start or is starting sporadic?

[ScratchedAt]

It .. about a month ago.. wouldn't start every now and then... once or twice or three times.. i thought maybe cause it was winter and whatnot...

[Jesus]

Go look at your car under the hood for me.

There will be 2 rectangular things coming up at opposite angles like a V.

Check and tell me if there are long leads coming from somwhere else going into these. They will probably be red/blue/silver.

Don't get them confused with your distributor. It will have 6 leads going to the spark plugs.

Go now.

[ScratchedAt]

Its dark. Hopefully you'll be here in the morning.

[Jesus]

Its a possibility.

If I knew what you were running it'd help.

Any chance of a photo?

[MrX]

Yes a photo of everything under the hood will help out a lot.Also when was the last time you had a tune up? Have your gas mileges gone to shit latly? And also tke out a spark plug and tell me what color the plug is or take a pic of it.

[ScratchedAt]

All I know about the car is it's a 93 Dodge Shadow ... 2.2 liter ... something?

Like i said, I'm a thinking person, not a car person (probably part of the reason my dad doesn't take liking to who i am... or that I dont have too many guy friends)

And a photo can't help right now.. because I've no digi.

[ScratchedAt]

All ya'll are amazing by the way, sorry for being such a pain in the ass and not knowing stuff it seems like the average guy should know...

But anyways, since it's sat overnight, and my cousin beat out that one filter for a little bit... (something that he said does something with the gas, hellifiknow) i went out and took it on a quick drive.. and now it accelerates fine again... but idk..

[cpiasminc]

I asked fuel injector or carborator and my cousin just said "throttle body".
In other words, fuel injected. 1993 model, after all, so carbeuration was largely gone from production cars by that point in time. Doesn't really say whether it's a multi-port or throttle body injection. The throttle body is basically a valve to control flow of air into the intake, but you can put a fuel injector right next to it so you get an air-fuel mixture going through the intake (hence TBI).

and my cousin beat out that one filter for a little bit... (something that he said does something with the gas, hellifiknow)
I take it that was your fuel filter, then? While air filter problems would affect your acceleration, it shouldn't really cause any sort of speed limiting. A fuel filter clog, on the other hand, certainly could as that means less fuel getting to your engine.

[The Dude]

Is it a stick? My Talon did the same thing when the clutch was slipping really bad.

[goku2057]

Eh, I would have suggested that sooner if I came in here more. I'd also get your spark plugs, wiires, and air filter changed out too.

[dncardman]

Just take it in, around here I can take it in, find out whats wrong, and how much it would cost for free.