I have moved the sound to the area in between the engine and tranny. It is definitely louder and more pronounced and I can feel it in that area. Since the freeze plugs have been replaced, this has been the problem I have been dealing with. I have noticed a loose bolt, rather, it seems stuck. So can the issue be the torque converter perhaps cocked or something since there is a loose bolt? Can someone provide insight as to what the issue is? I cannot remember this piece of the puzzle as I had someone with me do this part since I didn't know what I was doing. It seems it is my 'F'-up I can deal with that now...makes me feel better. I have checked the fuel lines for the stalling and hesitating issue and have found nothing out of the ordinary. The engine will idle for a while normally. Then it will slowly fade rather quickly to sputtering. I have noticed that putting the vehicle into neutral will recover the engine for a bit, then it is back to sputtering. Could the engine and tranny be out of alignment enough to perhaps put an odd angle on things in between the two? Perhaps another weekend with adult beverages is in order to correct the problem.

It's possible the noise you're hearing are the lifters wanting to stick due to no oil. I would not recommend trying to turn it over again without dropping the oil pan. The pick-up may be clogged or the pump is bad.


As for the fuel, the fuel line could be pinched between the transmission and engine? I know on mine it has a clip to hold it in place which bolts between both.

I would hook a fuel gauge up to the line and see what your pressure is at. Maybe clogged injectors. If you can smell the fuel, it may just be running really rich, too much it wants to kill the motor.

I was suspecting something like that. OK, so if I drop the oil pan, the bottom of the pump is visible and accessible? I imagine the bolts are also easy to get to and I will have to remove it to inspect it. Are there any indicators after removing it that it'sbad like aseal or something?

I'm thinking about changing the pump out myself. Is there anyway to remove the pan without lifting the engine? Can the brace be removed? I remember seeing it under the oilpan, but do not recall bolts holding the brace on. I would like to know if it is possible.

I'm not sure if you have enough room to drop the pan with the motor still in. The pick-up extends to near bottom of the pan. It'd more than likely be easier to pull the whole motor. That way you can get an engine stand that rotates and check everything out for any type of damage.

if you have a pry bar and a heavy hammer you can get the oil pan out, thus you wont be putting it back in, no, just lift the engine up and loosen it. make sure you torque it all back to specifications. why is it the v6's notorious with bad oil problems? i guess their first owners abused them...

The torque converter bolts could have come loose. There're 4. You can take the dust shield off the transmission and look up in the front of the bellhousing. You can turn the crank by hand manually(don't remember socket size) to get to each one.. However, I would highly recommend taking them out, inspecting the thread and reinstalling with loc-tite.