I have been looking through the archives and still need to ask about this. My car, an 88 GTA with TPI L98, started running rough and bucking, stalling, out of the blue today. I got a code '53'. Vader, you said it might be VATS-related. What else could it be ? EGR stuck wide open I suppose would cause this, right ?

I read in the archives a '53' could be the alternator too. But the voltage is at the usual place, around 13, on the voltmeter. So it's not the alternator, right ? Why would too much voltage cause a problem ?

Also, there was smoke coming from the rear of the engine. I thought it might be the trans smoking since I bucked the poor thing home for about a mile. God, maybe some electronic part burned up.

Would old spark plugs possibly short out and cause a '53' ?

The EGR is practically hidden under the intake so I'm not going to mess with it, just want to have some clues so that I can be somewhat prepared if I have to take it to my trusty mechanic.

Thanks



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88 GTA Charcoal Grey Bone Stock except for loose muffler which makes it a bit louder than normal.