Car stutters momentarily at speed, and then is good again????

[twlunn]

Hi all, last few days this ’94 LX wagon with auto & a 1.9L is cruzzin along fine then “hiccups or stutters” for a few seconds.
After that it regains power and feels and runs fine. No pattern describable yet.

Thought it might be bad gas, but so far have run 3 new tank fill ups (from different stations and brands) through it and problem still persists.
I bought this vehicle just about a year ago with 58,000 on it, it now has 83,000.Replaced plugs, coil pack & wires, air filter right after purchase.

Replaced timing chain also while doing T-stat change out. I use SeaFoam every other oil change so I hope the fuel system is clean.
Fuel filter?, I stopped at AZ on the way to work today but they didn’t even have it on the rack-Is the filter a easy swap or in the tank style-haven’t checked it out yet.

I plan on checking the manual out tonight after I get home from work, so I thought I’d post this ? on the company’s time. Any suggestions on other items to check greatly appreciated, Tom

[djltherock]

Hmmm, sounds like my problem. mine started out having an occasional hiccup and now it is almost constant. Read my thread and see what you think. (it is a few down from the top)

[Jet-Lee]

Put 9mm plug wires on it. I can fry OEM/performance 8mm wires in <30 seconds. GTP_Dad and Chevyn0va1 can tell you the same.

[GTP Dad]

I agree with Jet-Lee change the wires with 9mm wires. Forget Autozone and Advance auto parts as they don't or won't sell 9mm wires that fit. I ordered mine from wires4cars.com. Cost $40 but I fried the last set of 8mm wires in less than 90 miles.

[twlunn]

Thanks for the info, will check out the wires...

Tom

[Jim@HiTek]

I would check the wires before I changed them. During the day, remove the bulb from under the hood. In a dark area, open your hood while the engine is running. Look for blue sparks around the spark plug wires or the distributer cap. If none there, you don't need wires (IMO) yet.

I've had your symptom (that slowly morph'ed into a wouldn't start sometimes symptom) once before and it turned out to be a (going) bad ignition module. Found that after changing $200 worth of electronic parts that couldn't be returned.

You've tested the regular stuff but do change the fuel filter first. I'd take it to a dealer or shop with electronic diagnostic and pay $50 - $80 for them to check it out. But, it's your nickel.

Good luck!

[twlunn]

Took me a good 45 minutes to plan the attack-then execute it on the friggin F.Filter

Took the battery out so I could snake a 1/4 drive ratchet and extension to loosen the clamp holding the filter. Jacked up the car to get room from underneath to pull hairpin clips out and drop the filter.....

Didnt fire it up, had to reset fuel cutoff and install battery yet-ran out of time-had to go to work.

Will continue tomorrow with test drive, if still studdering will check wires/plugs...

Tom

[Arnoldtheskier]

I bought my 93 LX wagon and it did this EXACTLLY!!..LITERALLY..for about 10 seconds..about 2-3 miles AFTER I JUST bought it!..Did it a few times..stopped?
Few months later..ditto.
Several months later..ditto
THEN it did it every few months..
Check engine lite THEN came on/went off.but NOT when it did this??
Did it VERY BAD!..low power..shaking..for about an hr of city driving..lite on/off.
Checked codes.There were a BUNCH!..SO MANY that I got confused and ended up erasing them.The computer was clear of codes.Didn't do it again.Check engine lite never came on again.Checked codes again..somehow had a maf code?? Odd without the lite ever coming on.?Erased that.Code came back??? It never shook again..hasn't for..over a year now.The car has had only regular maintenance since then.
I have heard,read that a maf can do this.
There was a recal on these maf's.
They can be cleaned.Get a tamper proof torx.Q tip.some carb cleaners work,windex,
OR get another one at the bone.Buy the WHOLE housing..cheaper.The sensor by itself is almost $300 Cdn here.($250 plus tax).Bone yards charge about $25.
I never cleaned mine or replaced it.Hasn't happenned again????
My car has 260 on it..other than a minor ex.pipe leak to fix soon..runs like new..gets about 40 hwy loaded with skis,battery,tools, stuff..

[twlunn]

OK, drove it with new fuel filter, symtoms still the same....

Looked at plug wires in dark garage, no arcing...

New boxes of wires (8's for now) & plugs sitten on the bench, will install after I get off of work this morning.....

Found this on alldata....think this might be worth trying?

SERVICE TIP
MASS AIR FLOW (MAF) DISCUSSION

Symptoms
Lack of Power
Spark Knock/Detonation
Buck/Jerk my problem
Hesitation/Surge on Acceleration
Malfunction Indicator Lamp (MIL) Illuminated - DTCs P0171, P0172, P0174, P0175 may be stored in memory

"If at least two of the previous three steps are true, proceed to disconnect the MAF sensor connector. This puts the vehicle into Failure Mode and Effects Management (FMEM). In FMEM mode, air flow is inferred by using rpm and throttle position instead of reading the MAF sensor. (In addition, the BARO value is reset to a base/unlearned value.) If the lean driveability symptoms go away, the MAF sensor is probably contaminated and should be replaced. If the lean driveability symptoms do not go away, go to the PC/ED Service Manual for the appropriate diagnostics. "

After replacing the MAF sensor, disconnect the vehicle battery (5 minutes, minimum to reset KAM, or on newer vehicles, use the "KAM Reset" feature on the New Generation Star (NGS) Tester and verify that the lean driveability symptoms are gone.

[Jim@HiTek]

Ahh, yes, the MAF sensor sounds like your problem. Oh, and make sure your air filter isn't plugged with dirt and that the connectors pins are clean and the connectors
are tight.

Good luck, and hope that's all it is!!

[twlunn]

All right, I'm crossing my fingers.

Took the Escort for a ~25 mile test drive after new plugs and wires.

Idles smoother, and no buck/jerking or studdering.

After just the fuel filter change, still had same problems.

Going to work in a few hours, a 60 mile-one way commute.

Will then see if all is good....

Tom

[A. Souphound]

Originally Posted by twlunn

All right, I'm crossing my fingers.

Took the Escort for a ~25 mile test drive after new plugs and wires.

Idles smoother, and no buck/jerking or studdering.

After just the fuel filter change, still had same problems.

Going to work in a few hours, a 60 mile-one way commute.

Will then see if all is good....

Tom

Tom,
Hope the problem is solved. What did your sparkplugs look like, were they pretty clean or were there light brown deposits on the center or side electrodes.
Thanks,
Alvin

[twlunn]

Alvin, Heavy brown/grayish. #2 tip was shorter than the rest.

Used Bosch platinmus in it after I bought it with 58K on it.

Have A-lite in there now.

(Jim, put new air filter in 3000 miles ago @ last oil change)

[chevyn0va1]

Originally Posted by twlunn

OK, drove it with new fuel filter, symtoms still the same....

Looked at plug wires in dark garage, no arcing...

New boxes of wires (8's for now) & plugs sitten on the bench, will install after I get off of work this morning.....

Found this on alldata....think this might be worth trying?

SERVICE TIP
MASS AIR FLOW (MAF) DISCUSSION

Symptoms
Lack of Power
Spark Knock/Detonation
Buck/Jerk my problem
Hesitation/Surge on Acceleration
Malfunction Indicator Lamp (MIL) Illuminated - DTCs P0171, P0172, P0174, P0175 may be stored in memory

"If at least two of the previous three steps are true, proceed to disconnect the MAF sensor connector. This puts the vehicle into Failure Mode and Effects Management (FMEM). In FMEM mode, air flow is inferred by using rpm and throttle position instead of reading the MAF sensor. (In addition, the BARO value is reset to a base/unlearned value.) If the lean driveability symptoms go away, the MAF sensor is probably contaminated and should be replaced. If the lean driveability symptoms do not go away, go to the PC/ED Service Manual for the appropriate diagnostics. "

After replacing the MAF sensor, disconnect the vehicle battery (5 minutes, minimum to reset KAM, or on newer vehicles, use the "KAM Reset" feature on the New Generation Star (NGS) Tester and verify that the lean driveability symptoms are gone.

souphound is this maf sensor problem with the 2.0 also? (namely mine)

[A. Souphound]

Originally Posted by twlunn

Alvin, Heavy brown/grayish. #2 tip was shorter than the rest.

Used Bosch platinmus in it after I bought it with 58K on it.

Have A-lite in there now.

(Jim, put new air filter in 3000 miles ago @ last oil change)

The reason I asked:
When I read your original narrative I questioned in my own mine about your use of Seafoam in every other tank. It's not necessary if you use a good grade of gasoline....they have cleaners in them.
Oil/Fuel additives can cause these deposits on the plugs causing misfires and hesitation during acceleration. The deposits can also form on the O2 sensor causing a sluggish response and false voltage signals resulting in incorrect air/fuel mixtures.

Thanks for your response.
Alvin