Help! My car is running funny!

[katschmitty]

Okay, so this is what is going on....

My check engine light is on.... had a mistubishi dealer run codes came back as a most likely solenoid is going bad.... haven't fixed it yet because he said it would cost like $800 to fix, and well I don't have that kind of money... this happened back in January. I just rolled over 60k on a 97 eagle talon esi, i changed my spark plugs last week and put in a K&N air filter... ran fine over the weekend, but today driving home from work my car started to chug when i went below 40mph. It idles uneveningly as well. When i am in park it also chugs. When i go above 40 mph the chuggin goes away, but it has no pick up... it takes forever to get to 70mph. Can someone please help me... so when i go to a mechanic i dont' get screwed over!

thanks!
kat

[MrZ]

Kat;
It sure would be helpful to know what solenoid the mechanic was talking about.

I'm intrigued that the car ran fine over the weekend then started acting up. Maybe it's something as simple as your air intake hose being loose. I'm not that familiar with the specifics on a 97, but on 91 through 94 talons the car will run very erratically if the air intake hose comes off (the hose between the air filter and the throttle body). There is an airflow sensor inside the airfilter housing, and if the hose comes off it stops the airflow throw the air filter housing, which leads the ECM to believe the car doesn't need fuel. If the hose is loose it can do the same thing, it can give the ECM a false airflow reading, which can cause the car to run very poorly.

Just something to check. You don't remember more details regarding what the mechanic told you about the car?

Mark