94 Trans Am GT stuttering, ideas?

[One4yu2c]

Unfortunately, I'm a novice when it comes to car troubleshooting. Here's my problem.

Recently, I've had a problem accelerating. If I depress the pedal about 3/4 down, you can hear some knocking/rattling (different from pinging) and it hesitates badly, is real jerky trying to accelerate. Goes on for about 3 seconds or so. If I floor it, it will do pretty much the same thing, but only for 1-2 seconds and then it takes off as normal. In both scenarious, sometimes it doesn't happen at all, but that is becoming much more unusual.

I'm having a friend that knows considerably more than me look at it/work on it in a few weeks, but I'd like to mentally prepare on what some of the scenarios could be. Any ideas welcome.

Car in question:
1994 Trans Am GT (automatic)
V8 350 LT1
76k miles
Had transmission and starter replaced before I bought it
Been using 93 octane since I bought it a year ago

[1Formula]

Mine does the same thing. Still haven't figured out the problem....but i did notice that it does it when the car is warm.....won't do it when cold. I'm leaning towards the ignition coil module or the distributor. I replaced the coil and it still does it.

[Danger Dave]

I had a similar problem with my vette. After I changed the opti-spark, coil, wires, plugs, fuel filter it still ran poor. I finally broke down and spent $68.00 and I found out it was computer. It wasn't firing the number 7 plug. If you can find a good shop they should be able to run a scan on it, and give you a readout. Good luck.

[94formula]

I had pretty much the same prob, push the gas down would hessitate and stall then just when you think its getting ready to die on you it would open up. I had a hell of a time finding the problem (reason my bro sold me the car ) it turned out to be the opti-spark. i have heard the opti sparks on the lt1's are notorious for going out and messing up. if it is the opti spark it could set you back a bit. i took mine to a dealership and paid like right under 2,000 but that was for a water pump also, and they talked like there was a lot of labor involved with it. so if you took it to a regular shop they could probally do it for less

[Marr-TA]

Could it be the cats clogged? Does your exhaust smell or sound weird?

[84TrAnSaM]

i have never heard of a trans am gt

[Tarlak]

Hey, I had that exact problem too in my '95 V6, the warm/cold difference and everything. For me, the solution was MUCH less expensive. It was one of the ignition coils. Paid 30 bucks and bam, it worked beautifully again. About 2 months after the first one went out a second one went out. Replaced it and it worked fine again. Third one is still holding up.

[hesep1]

i have a 96, changed all three ignition coils and runs like new

[lizabethbaker]

Originally Posted by 84TrAnSaM

i have never heard of a trans am gt

Well, now you have! I have a 94 Trans Am GT too, and have had the same problems. Now you guys are all telling me I've got THREE ignition coils??? Why three?

[Tarlak]

Well, mine's a V6...2 wires per coil, 3 coils.

[senna95]

I've got a '96 V6 that I've changed the #2/#5 coilpak 3times and the module, and my still runs like crap at idle and under acceleration. It doesn't show any error codes. It has been parked for over 2 months now until I find someone with the answer.

[robb4964]

I woulld almost guarentee is the optispark ........

[transam96]

i have a 1996 trans am i just bought in january with 98,000 miles on it. the service light was on when i bought it but i've heard thats common with these cars and it was at a good price. anyway i didnt' noticed the stuttering the first four or five months and then it started to get worse and worse its not to the point of ever shutting off though it sounds like what all of you are experiencing. some days it does it some it doesn't. it only happens when i when i am starting to accelerate and then after a few seconds in kicks in and goes on fine. well i had a diagnostic done at autozone which by the way is free. it said catalytic converter,egr valve and o2 sensors so i replaced the map(manifold absolute pressure) sensor and it seemed fine then started again i found out the wire on my #7 spark plug had come loose reattached it and it seemed to be fine and service engine light went off. now its back again and so is the light i haven't had another diagnostic done but i will in the next couple days considering its free.

[FormulaLT1]

This thread is almost 2 years old. Thanks for your help but please only reply to recently posted threads. Thanks

John