Bucking\Hesitation

My 1997 3.1 Chevy Lumina LS is having a bucking feeling upon acceleration from a stop sign or stop light. It only seems to do it once the car warms up though. I used to live in Tucson, AZ, which is where the problem started. Since I have moved back home, I haven't had the problem. Then again, this is a small town, and it doesn't take me long to get anywhere. Went out of town a few weeks ago, and had the problem though. Have replaced the TPS, fuel filter, air filter, spark plugs, spark plug wires, oil and oil filter. I saw in a previous post that someone drained thier tranny fluid and replaced and added Lucas, so was going to try that. Dealer said it was the main computer, but I don't really have problems with anything else.

When I went and got my emissions test done, it came back with a 0300 code I believe, which was misfire on cyl #3. I'll have to check. I think I wrote it in the book.

Any help would be appreciated.

Thanks.

P0300 is a multiple/random misfire code. For reference, single cylinder misfires will be P030X, with X being the cylinder number that is misfiring(example, P0303 would be cylinder 3 misfire). What brand of plugs and wires did you buy? If they are Bosch, that could be your problem. There are many posts on these forums where replacing new Bosch plugs (in my opinion they are GARBAGE) with quality oem plug like AC Delco cured a random misfire situation following a recent tune-up with Bosch junk. The other issue could be fuel related. The injectors on 3.1's are problematic, and would also cause a random misfire due to improper fuel delivery if everything is ok with the plugs and wires.

I don't remember what type of plugs I replaced them with but I don't think it was Bosch. All I can remember is that I got the plug wires from the dealer, and 100,000 mile plugs. I have went back really far (ie: pg 90 and higher) and read on some of the posts, and when described in their posts, sounds the same as mine, and it is the cat. converter. Will have to check. How much work\$$$ would the injection system be to fix, just off hand?

My 1997 3.1 Chevy Lumina LS is having a bucking feeling upon acceleration from a stop sign or stop light. It only seems to do it once the car warms up though. I used to live in Tucson, AZ, which is where the problem started. Since I have moved back home, I haven't had the problem. Then again, this is a small town, and it doesn't take me long to get anywhere. Went out of town a few weeks ago, and had the problem though. Have replaced the TPS, fuel filter, air filter, spark plugs, spark plug wires, oil and oil filter. I saw in a previous post that someone drained thier tranny fluid and replaced and added Lucas, so was going to try that. Dealer said it was the main computer, but I don't really have problems with anything else.

When I went and got my emissions test done, it came back with a 0300 code I believe, which was misfire on cyl #3. I'll have to check. I think I wrote it in the book.

Any help would be appreciated.

Thanks.

Wow, my 1998 3.1 Chevy Lumina LS has EXACTLY the same problem and this problem occurs ONLY when the engine is hot. Just like you, I replaced the TPS, fuel filter, air filter, spark plugs, spark plug wires, oil and oil filter as well as the catalytic converter, both oxygen sensors, PCV, and air intake temperature sensor. None of these replacements solved this problem. :banghead: In addtion, the car does not have any codes. :confused: Please let me know if you would be able to determine the cause of your problem.

It sure sounds like an injector to me. You should be able to find the acceptable resistance tolerances in a haynes manual and start checking them with an ohm meter one by one. I bet you will see you have one or two that are out of whack.

[QUOTE=tommy_boy]My 1997 3.1 Chevy Lumina LS is having a bucking feeling upon acceleration from a stop sign or stop light. It only seems to do it once the car warms up though. I used to live in Tucson, AZ, which is where the problem started. Since I have moved back home, I haven't had the problem. Then again, this is a small town, and it doesn't take me long to get anywhere. Went out of town a few weeks ago, and had the problem though. Have replaced the TPS, fuel filter, air filter, spark plugs, spark plug wires, oil and oil filter. I saw in a previous post that someone drained thier tranny fluid and replaced and added Lucas, so was going to try that. Dealer said it was the main computer, but I don't really have problems with anything else.

When I went and got my emissions test done, it came back with a 0300 code I believe, which was misfire on cyl #3. I'll have to check. I think I wrote it in the book.



Any help would be appreciated.

Thanks.[/QUOTE


I'd start with a set of plug wires. Common problem on this car. Pull the boots off of the coil towers one by one, and look for rusty terminals. If they're OK, look for white 'hot spots' on the wires where they pass by eachother, or around the power brake vacuum line in front of the coil packs.

My 97 lumina does the exact same thing just noticed the rotten egg smell last night. It was also running a tad warmer and hesitates of idle. I removed the cat last night i hope that fixes the issue. The cat did not looked clogged but who knows.

Spdfrk1990, this original post is over a year old. To make your query more visible, it would be best to start your own thread.

Resurecting old threads like this clutter up the boards. Thanks for your future compliance. This thread will now be closed