While driving my v6 5spd camaro I'll hear a loud bang, the car jerks and the motor dies. Its happened multiple times while accelerating and while cruising at highway speeds. It happened to me earlier today while accelerating and after stopping I smelt burning clutch.

Yr: 99
V6 3.8
5spd manual

Please help me figure this out, it's kinda scary not knowing

 

did you just change plugs or plug wires? is it coming from the motor, exhaust or somewhere else? have the car scanned for trouble codes at your local parts store.

 

I change the plugs and plug wires about 2500 miles ago, and I haven't checked where the smell came from because today was the first time it made any smells and I was in the middle of the street. As for checking it the ses light only comes on for second then goes back off after I crank it back on so I can't check that

 

The PCM retains certain trouble codes even if the lamp is off, so you can still have it checked and look for retained codes. You need to describe the sound better, is it a mechanical noise, or more like an explosion?

 

if your burning the clutch i would think the noise is coming from the transmission or rearend. can you tell where or what is making the noise?

 

It sounds like someone taking a sledge hammer to the underside of the car, it seems like it's coming from the transmission or between the motor and trans. And I think the reason I smelled clutch was because I was shifting when it happened; I'm usually cruising when it happens so I never have that smell.

 

May want to take a good look at the transmission mount, it could be broken and letting the rear of the transmission or the torque arm hit the floorboard when accelerating.

 

Would that shut the car off though?

 

Should not, unless the engine & transmission move enough to pull on some wires or plumbing. However, a bang under the floor is usually caused by the transmission hitting it.

 

I've been told by a couple People it sounds like the crankshaft sensor is malfunctioning, but I want some more opinions before I drop fifty bucks on something I won't be able to take back if it's not the problem