Today I get into my car and start her up, and the idle RPM is around 400-500 and the car is violently shaking because of it. Then as I get into town and am parallel parking, she dies. All of the electronics stay on, just the engine cuts out.
I kept trying to start her back up, and the idle would go to 500 and within a second she would die again. The car is 100% bone stock with 244,228 miles on it. It has been running perfectly up until now.
I am a broke college student so I don't have many options. I am not familiar with any of the mechanics near me and I am 2.5 hours from home.

If anyone has any clue what is going on, I would greatly appreciate it and will gladly give out more information if needed.

 

ALSO: As I first started it up and noticed the low RPMs, it drove perfectly fine a few miles into town.
ALSO: Lately I have been noticing more and more of a "clunky" transmission. It is on the original transmission that was sold with the car. So I am quite surprised that it has lasted this long. I have little knowledge about transmissions so could that be related?

 

It's really hard for anyone to say over the computer as it could be many things. But usually it winds up being something simple. Have the spark plugs been changed recently? Air filter? It could be fuel related such as a clogged fuel line/injectors. Or possibly a bad coil pack(s). Are any lights on the dash? If so then first thing would be to see if any codes are present. If there is an auto parts place nearby by like Autozone they will read them for free. I doubt the trans would be related to your engine stalling/low idle.

 

I'd say spill a 40 out for you beloved car, and on to the next one. Cars die. Nothing lasts forever. At 14 years and almost 10 runs around the earth's equator, it's done its job.

 

Marc (above) has the best advice so far. Could well be something simple.

 

250kmiles is nothing, ask our mega-moderator with over 600,000 USA Miles on his 00

Is there a CEL light on dash? Sounds like a coil failed, or IACV idle air control valve is clogged
which is often when the intake manifold egr passages are clogged- do the cleanings together- easy DIY.
Smart owners do this every 75kmiles!
250 and never been done... is not unheard of!

If you can get to a parts store= have the codes read, they are CLUES not diagnosis-
we put the many clues and symptoms together to find your problem

 

I'll bet you the cause in this case is very simple. I shake my head every time I hear of somebody ditching a car due to some minor problem they never diagnosed, yet they label the car "dead" and go buy a new one.

 

THIS. A car without any payments is your very best friend. It only makes sense to dump it if the average monthly maintenance costs exceed payments for a new car or your chassis/frame is rusting through.

 

Thanks for your input everyone. I towed it back, and the next day some friends and I go out to try and diagnose her, she starts up after about 5 minutes of trying, and drives totally normal, no issues with anything. And it has been a little over a week now and still no problem. Very strange. I am still going to get it diagnosed at my trusted shop once I get back home for spring break.

 

Awwyeah... My wife's car had a similar problem (car died, wouldn't start, then worked fine). Died again for good, and it was the fuel pump.