'99 Alero 2.4 Acceleration Hesitation

[cooter2]

I have a 1999 Alero with the 2.4L in it. It has about 170,000 miles on it. Has been driven very smooth and maintained well.

Last week when I was out my girlfriend was driving the car and it died on her twice when she started to accelerate from a stop. I usually drive the car (99% of the time) and I have never had this issue. Then during the last week that I have been back from vacation I started to notice the issue. Within the last week it has gotten noticeably worse. Now it seems like half the time (seems to be when the car has warmed up, not an issue with a cold car) it hesitates quite a bit when starting acceleration from a stop.

I have been thinking it could be the Catalytic Converter being plugged or perhaps it needs a new fuel filter. The service engine soon light is not coming on so I assume there are no codes being thrown.

Any idea's?

[smdepew1976]

sometimes it stores codes without turning the CEL light on....you can try to pull the front O2 sensor to test the Cats.

[cooter2]

Originally Posted by smdepew1976

sometimes it stores codes without turning the CEL light on....you can try to pull the front O2 sensor to test the Cats.

Really, I guess I'll go to the advance auto to check it out.

[cooter2]

We I checked and there were no stored codes. I decided to start simple and run some SeaFoam through it. I did that last night and it has driven nice ever since. I am anxious to see how long it holds up. I will be doing a tune up to it in the next couple weeks.

[cooter2]

so far no luck with anything. Still no CEL. Replaced plugs, wiresets, coils, fuel filter, air filter and it still causes the problem. Only happens with the engine warmed up and when it goes to idle from driving. Every once in a while the car will completely die from a extended drive.

Any more Idea's??

[Iflylow]

Fuel pressure regulator maybe. Pull the line off the top and see if you smell gas. If you do, it's bad.

[smdepew1976]

how does it die? just like someone cut off the key or with a bucking??

[choice.musicians]

I have the same car and had a very similar problem...but I live in LA and mine was dying on the 405 with terrible hesitation and it was so nerve racking! The problem turned out to be a vaccum leak, a small C shaped hose was split on the block facing part of the hose so i didnt see it. I was removing it to further clean my intake throttle body thinking that was problem when i spotted this little guy. I went thru the whole freakin motor and was getting ready to pull the head when it turned out to be a .95 cent hose. Hope this helps anyone finding this post:-)

[Tech II]

When it dies, does it restart right away?