Hesitation

[blk3car]

I have a 1999 Intrigue with 159,000 miles. Generally , the car runs well. Have replaced a few sensors, exhaust, and such. I have been pretty lucky. Lately, the car hesitates when I go in reverse and when I put it into drive. This usually happens after the first start of the day. Now it is beginning to happen more frequently. The car hesitates and feels like it wants to stall. If you give it some gas, it hesitates and then it goes. Any suggestions?

[burijon]

You don't mention any sort of maintenance. Have you cleaned out the throttle body regularly? When were sparkplugs changed? Ever cleaned the Mass Air Flow sensor? Changed air filter? Fuel filter?

Have these things clean will really help with keeping it tip top. My money would be on a dirty throttle body first and then go from there.

On another note you mention when the car is put in gear it flakes out, have you had the tranny fluid changed ever and the filter screen? You can do a back yard tranny change by getting some Wal-Mart ATF and dropping the pan. It's $7 for 4 quarts. Don't buy a filter kit with the gasket as the Intrigue tranny gasket is the reusable kind. Buy the real gasket(rubber/metal) if necessary. I made the mistake of not knowing this before I bought the kit. Could have saved $7 bucks, big deal.

1. Drop the pan and the fluid. Keep old filter in still. Put pan back on with 4 bolts only.
2. Refill with approximately 7 quarts.
3. Start car(don't drive it) rotating through the gears for about 2-3 minutes. You want to get the old fluid out of the torque converter.
4. Repeat steps 1-3 another time.
5. After the second dump change the screen and put the pan back on and all bolts. Refill tranny again.

This is a poor mans tranny flush. True you can get a mechanical exchange for around $100 but they aren't changing the screen and cleaning the magnet.

Welcome to AF and good luck!

[alejmr]

blk3car is your intrigue a 3.8 series II? because if it is I would suggest to look for coolant leaks, try to monitor your coolant level on daly basis and if you see any changes maybe you'll have to replace the UIM and LIM lower gaskets. Is the check engine light on? any codes?

[blk3car]

Thank you everyone for the advice. I have taken the car to a garage and they are checking the throttle, filters, etc. I'm going to tell them to check the coolant gaskets next. The service engine soon light is on. Thanks

[burijon]

Any news on the car?

[blk3car]

Okay. I had all the suggested problems serviced. Cleaned throttle body, air filter, fuel filter, etc. They also replaced a CV boot. Car seems to run fine. Thanks for the tips.

[Rolm]

Try a tank of premium gas you may be surprised how well the engine will run I sure was that is all I am using now. I think I may be getting better mileage that should offset the higher cost for premium.