Slight Shudder in Engine

I recently bought a 95 V-8 and I noticed that when I am stopped at lights or in heavy traffic, the engine slightly shudders or hesitates. It's nothing big but I would like to know if anyone else has had this problem. Also, what would make the odometer stop working? Everything else on the panel works, lights, gauges, etc.

Thank you

Hey :smile: Well, a shudder is often related to the transmision. If it is minor then change your tranny fluid and filter. That should solve your problem. If not then there is something else going on.

Hey :smile: Well, a shudder is often related to the transmision. If it is minor then change your tranny fluid and filter. That should solve your problem. If not then there is something else going on.


it could also mean you need a tune up or your timing is off nothing big :smokin:

it could also mean you need a tune up or your timing is off nothing big :smokin:

would timing cause a (dont know how to describe) kind of a slow machine gun feel when accelerating on a cold engine? Or is the timing being off THAT noticeable in general?

Hesistation - Can you try to describe the feel of it? I know its hard in words but I think I know what you mean. Does it happen when giving a little gas on a cold engine? Please elaborate.

Odometer Gears broken can cause it to stop working. Some people say that if you reset your tripometer constantly while the engine is running it wears down the gears. I personally don't know if thats true but there is a site for replacement gears and they're the cheapest I've seen! (About 50$)
Replacing the gears will fix it if the problem is only your Odometer/Tripometer.M12 Performance (http://www.mn12performance.com/xcart/product.php?productid=34&cat=0&page=1&featured)

if the tranny flush doesnt work it sounds like your torque converter might be the source. That would really only effect your acceleration from stop and idle (the shudder)

Hesistation - Can you try to describe the feel of it? I know its hard in words but I think I know what you mean. Does it happen when giving a little gas on a cold engine? Please elaborate.

Odometer Gears broken can cause it to stop working. Some people say that if you reset your tripometer constantly while the engine is running it wears down the gears. I personally don't know if thats true but there is a site for replacement gears and they're the cheapest I've seen! (About 50$)
Replacing the gears will fix it if the problem is only your Odometer/Tripometer.M12 Performance (http://www.mn12performance.com/xcart/product.php?productid=34&cat=0&page=1&featured)

Thank you all for the replies. By hesitation I mean this: Imagine you are stopped at a light. At this point the RPM's are very low (obviously) but there should still be a reading and let's say the RPM's drop slightly, while you're stopped. It's not a big drop, probably not noticeable to passengers but the driver can feel it. It only happens when I'm stopped. It's that kind of "shudder" (and I probably used the wrong word) that I experience. Acceleration and normal driving are not a problem.

That makes sense about the Odometer gears, b/c I used to reset it a lot to check my gas mileage from fill-up to fill-up. Thanks again

Thank you all for the replies. By hesitation I mean this: Imagine you are stopped at a light. At this point the RPM's are very low (obviously) but there should still be a reading and let's say the RPM's drop slightly, while you're stopped. It's not a big drop, probably not noticeable to passengers but the driver can feel it. It only happens when I'm stopped. It's that kind of "shudder" (and I probably used the wrong word) that I experience. Acceleration and normal driving are not a problem.

That makes sense about the Odometer gears, b/c I used to reset it a lot to check my gas mileage from fill-up to fill-up. Thanks again

I think you should have your torque converter checked to if its a 'shudder'. And I did the same thing with my trip... reset it constantly everyday probably. How many miles are on your 95tbird? mine went at 145k.

Is it a true shudder or more of a miss or a skip with a small drop in rpms occasionally? Small drop meaning a barely noticeable change in the tach needle when the engine stumbles for a millisecond which is something, as a driver, you can feel when it happens.

I think you should have your torque converter checked to if its a 'shudder'. And I did the same thing with my trip... reset it constantly everyday probably. How many miles are on your 95tbird? mine went at 145k.

Thanks Don, I'll check that out. I bought the bird from carmax and it had 82K on it. But who knows how the last person(s) drove it and how much they reset it.

yeah, thats enough for the gears to go. So does your hesistating problem happen when first driving the car (on cold) and give out for a second? or does it do it while giving a little bit of gas?

yeah, thats enough for the gears to go. So does your hesistating problem happen when first driving the car (on cold) and give out for a second? or does it do it while giving a little bit of gas?

Neither Don. The only time I notice it is when I am stopped. I can "floor it" and she'll take off with no problem. But as rule of mine, I always, unless it's very hot outside, let the car warm up for 5 mins. I rarely ever just jump in and take off. I guess I'll have the torque converter looked at. Thanks for the tip about the gears.

What type of job is it to change the odom gears? Or do you recommend having a professional or semi-professional do it?