sounds like you need a tune-up
Possibly the firing order got messed up.
Never mind thanks anyway turned out to be a bad CTS
Check the crankshaft sensor. Also check the timing and timing belt. The backfiring indicates that the engine is firing at the wrong time.
The term 'dead engine' is usually meant to refer to an engine that wont start. The symptoms are that the engine does not start, the starter might turn it over, but that is it. No firing, no backfiring, the engine is effectively 'dead.'
Yes Check to see if vehicle is getting spark
Flywheel key (or shear pin) can shear off which will put the motor out of time and wont start . It could do damage to some other parts but that is the most common.
change fuel pump
wont fire, timing off, backfiring
you have a lack of fuel or fuel pressure troubler
sounds like you obviously may have some bad solenoid! fo rthe loss of power, u may need to replace your transmission fluid or get the transmission looked at all together
try resetting security system
hard or wont start after and during rain