92 Stealth Seems To Surge???

[wwotr]

I noticed when driving my new 92 Stealth ES (Non Turbo) it tends to "surge" EVER SO SLIGHTLY when accelerating between 45-60 MPH and then the same symptom when DECELERATING down through those same speeds.
Almost feels like a combination surge/miss.
When it does it, I see NO FLUCTUATION in the Tach and if I punch it, the problem is gone, once OVER 60 MPH.
I'm no mechanic and was hoping someone on the list may be able to narrow down the possibilities.
I just got this car and would like to have fun driving it, instead of worrying if it's gonna blow up.

Roger

[Igovert500]

Well I don't think it's going to blow up
But I think we are going to need more info to help diagnose the problem.

Is your car auto or manual. If manual, what gear are you typically in, and does it do it no matter what gear you are in?

How many miles do you have, and when was hte last tune-up?

Do you have a Check Engine Light on?

When you say surge, do you mean like it just surges steadily forward faster, or that it is like a hesitation, then goes, then hesitates, then goes, etc...because that would be spark blowout.

Can you tell if it feels engine related or tranny related?

[wwotr]

Hi Igovert500,

It is an automatic with 144K miles, and it tends to be
(more of what you explained), as more of a "hesitates then goes...hesitates then goes".
It's not BAD like the car will die, but it's annoying to say the least.
There is NO "service engine light".
I was thinking of throwing some injector cleaner in it.

As far as service done by the previous owner, I have no records of ANY service being done.

That said, I don't have a TON of money to put into repairs, but don't want things to get out of hand by letting it go too long.
I was thinking of having the plugs and wires changed along with the fuel filter for starters.

Any opinions would be appreciated.

Roger
__________________________________________________ __________________________________________________ __________________

Originally Posted by Igovert500

Well I don't think it's going to blow up
But I think we are going to need more info to help diagnose the problem.

Is your car auto or manual. If manual, what gear are you typically in, and does it do it no matter what gear you are in?

How many miles do you have, and when was hte last tune-up?

Do you have a Check Engine Light on?

When you say surge, do you mean like it just surges steadily forward faster, or that it is like a hesitation, then goes, then hesitates, then goes, etc...because that would be spark blowout.

Can you tell if it feels engine related or tranny related?

[Igovert500]

Yeah that would be a great place to start. With the 144k miles on it, you should have had the 120k tune-up done to it. This is a big deal. I'm talking pulleys, belts, oil pump, water pump, plugs, filters, etc. Hopefully this was done, because if the timing belt breaks...it will wreak havoc on your engine, and end up costing you ALOT more.

But anyway back to the point, I think plugs and fuel filter are a good place to start. They are easy things you can do yourself if you are a bit mechanically inclined. If you need directions I can get you links for both from www.stealth316.com

[wwotr]

""How to" links would be a start.
I just refinanced my house and paid off ALL my creditors/Credit Cards.
So everything have Automotive/Motorcycle, I own OUTRIGHT.
The downside is that gives me little room to pop off with money for preventative maintenance that I may be able to do myself.
I just have to make sure that I can accomplish that task in a timely manner with as little "down time" as possible.

Roger
__________________________________________________ ______

Originally Posted by Igovert500

Yeah that would be a great place to start. With the 144k miles on it, you should have had the 120k tune-up done to it. This is a big deal. I'm talking pulleys, belts, oil pump, water pump, plugs, filters, etc. Hopefully this was done, because if the timing belt breaks...it will wreak havoc on your engine, and end up costing you ALOT more.

But anyway back to the point, I think plugs and fuel filter are a good place to start. They are easy things you can do yourself if you are a bit mechanically inclined. If you need directions I can get you links for both from www.stealth316.com

[wwotr]

Well more bad news.
I started up my Stealth this morning with no problem.
Got a 1/2 block down the street at 20 MPH (2000RPM) and it started bucking like a Bronco!
Tried 3 times to get it over 20 MPH and it would do the same thing every time.
I limped it back to my Garage.
It idles fine and revs up nicely with no funny sounds/missing etc...
I'll be taking it into the shop, but does anyone have any guesses/ideas?

Roger
(Heartbroken)!____________________________________ _________________________

Originally Posted by wwotr

Hi Igovert500,

It is an automatic with 144K miles, and it tends to be
(more of what you explained), as more of a "hesitates then goes...hesitates then goes".
It's not BAD like the car will die, but it's annoying to say the least.
There is NO "service engine light".
I was thinking of throwing some injector cleaner in it.

As far as service done by the previous owner, I have no records of ANY service being done.

That said, I don't have a TON of money to put into repairs, but don't want things to get out of hand by letting it go too long.
I was thinking of having the plugs and wires changed along with the fuel filter for starters.

Any opinions would be appreciated.

Roger
__________________________________________________ __________________________________________________ __________________

[Igovert500]

http://www.stealth316.com/2-sparkchange.htm

Start with the plugs, then wires, lastly the coils

http://www.stealth316.com/2-ignitioncoils.htm

Here is the link for the fuel filter:
http://www.team3s.com/~egross/3S/Mai...ilt/index.html


Also with a misfire, I find it odd you aren't getting a CEL.
http://www.stealth316.com/2-diagcodes91-93.htm
That tells you how to pull the codes from your ECU, perhaps your Check Engine light is burned out...

[wwotr]

Since I'm new to Stealths, I know that in later years there was a plug mounted underneath the dash to plug a "reader" into.
Is there one on a 92 Stealth?

You know the check engine light "could" be out.
I will have my mechanic check itt out.
Roger

__________________________________________________ __________

Originally Posted by Igovert500

http://www.stealth316.com/2-sparkchange.htm

Start with the plugs, then wires, lastly the coils

http://www.stealth316.com/2-ignitioncoils.htm

Here is the link for the fuel filter:
http://www.team3s.com/~egross/3S/Mai...ilt/index.html


Also with a misfire, I find it odd you aren't getting a CEL.
http://www.stealth316.com/2-diagcodes91-93.htm
That tells you how to pull the codes from your ECU, perhaps your Check Engine light is burned out...

[wwotr]

My mechanic called today and said that the plugs/Wires DID need replacing but that the missing was still there.
He said he's got a new Coil ordered for it and he wants to install that tomorrow.
Then he starts talking (rambling) about , that he didn't do a compresion check and talks about a "bent alve".
SHIT, CHRIST ALMIGHTY!
I'm trying niot to jump to conclusions until AFTER tomorrow.

;+(

Roger

__________________________________________________ _______

Originally Posted by wwotr

I noticed when driving my new 92 Stealth ES (Non Turbo) it tends to "surge" EVER SO SLIGHTLY when accelerating between 45-60 MPH and then the same symptom when DECELERATING down through those same speeds.
Almost feels like a combination surge/miss.
When it does it, I see NO FLUCTUATION in the Tach and if I punch it, the problem is gone, once OVER 60 MPH.
I'm no mechanic and was hoping someone on the list may be able to narrow down the possibilities.
I just got this car and would like to have fun driving it, instead of worrying if it's gonna blow up.

Roger

[wwotr]

For the latest in this Soap Opera, head on over to this thread:
http://www.3si.org/forum/showthread....5&page=2&pp=10

;+(

[Igovert500]

Ok, honestly, I really don't mean to bash your mechanic. But this shouldn't be a guessing game to this extent. Wish I could offer more advice, but without more info I really don't know. I was pretty sure it would have been the plugs/wires, etc.

Anyway, as far as an ECU. Check out www.thepartsbin.com I found a used ECU for like $100 a few weeks ago. Good luck.

[wwotr]

Thanks for the directions to "The Parts Bin"!
I bookmarked that sucker, but didn't see any ECU's listed for my 92 Stealth ES.

Roger
__________________________________________________ ______

Originally Posted by Igovert500

Ok, honestly, I really don't mean to bash your mechanic. But this shouldn't be a guessing game to this extent. Wish I could offer more advice, but without more info I really don't know. I was pretty sure it would have been the plugs/wires, etc.

Anyway, as far as an ECU. Check out www.thepartsbin.com I found a used ECU for like $100 a few weeks ago. Good luck.

[DeuceZukes13]

hey yea i have 140k on my 1991 stealth ES DOHC engine and feel the surge too sometime, but never the drop/miss..luckily I havent had the bucking bronco experience but maybe that will come in 4k more miles lmao...i dont really mind it and when people are in my car and feel it they just think i have the turbo -- dumbasses...i let them think that...

i dont care enough to investigate the issue but thats probably because there is no drop...

i have an automatic and its not too much of a kick up it just seems like an added boost like i added something to the engine or something but i clearly didnt.

[Pizzaguy]

Yeah, i had the same problem with my 92' Stealth R/T but it smoked too, it turned out to be oil was getting to my spark plugs and shorting them out, which would give you the bucking (misfiring). I replaced all of the shit, Valva cover gaskets, spark wires, plugs, and put oil thickener in case it was the valva stem seals...and i dont have the money to fix that project. It seemed to be fine after that.

[thunderchicken2]

Wow, it seems if Stealths are notorious for this. I just bought mine a few weeks ago, and it has done it ever since. I first slapped on the plugs, wires, cap, and rotor hoping to fix it which did nothing. After the fuel filter helped things immensely but it still had problems, I turned my attention toward the injectors. I am going to have a fuel induction cleaner done in the next week, which should tell me if they injectors are dirty, because the chemicals in those things can peel paint off a wall if needed.