98 ITR @ 90k miles - basically stock

Last wk, while driving home one night, I thought that I heard some pinging under acceleration in 5th gear.....very very light. I listened while easing off then back on the gas, but I couldn't tell for sure, as it didn't sound like the loud pinging that I've heard from other cars. The pinging seemed to last just a few seconds. Plus the road surface noise was drowning it out. Car was driving fine otherwise. This was at about 55 mph.

So this morning I decide to drive it to work - been sitting for 3 days - and when it cranks, it sputters then dies. When I was turning the key, my fingers slipped so it barely turned the starter. So I twisted it again and held it for a second and it started, but sputtered. Gave it a little gas and it smoothed out. SO I am putting on my seatbelt and it dies. Crank and sputter - fine w/gas, but after about 10 seconds of idle, it dies. I crank it, back it out because the smoke is killing me! It's puffing white smoke and continues to do so while I give it a little gas to over 2k rpm. I put it in neutral and get out to look at the exhaust and it dies again.

So I drive it back in the garage and fire up the truck and go to work.

Any clues? Ideas? Thoughts? Again, it's smooth when I rev it and for the idle afterwards, but it goes kaput after about 5-10 seconds of idle.

Oil level is good - changed nearly 3k miles ago. I gassed up about 2 wks ago w/the usual super juice.

Thanks

Edit - my bad - I just checked and I gassed up on Mon night....and between the gas station and home is where I first heard the noise! Water in the gas? I think I'll call the station.


[Modified by Cold Chunker, 11:49 AM 10/17/2002]

 

Has the timing belt ever been changed. It sounds like it may have jumped.

 

white smoke= burning anitfreeze.

check you oil, see if it has mixed with any other fluids.

 

I drove it Mon the 14th. Cranked it Thurs the 17th. It sat during the recent rain.

Bad gas is possible, more so now as I checked my CC records - I gassed up Mon night on the way home, and I noticed the pinging between there and my house.

 

Good chance of water in the gas, drain and refill. PIA but one of those thing that can't hurt when your near 100k miles.
Don't forget to change the gas filter.