02 GRAND AM HELP!Car jerks during acceleration

[rjw2001]

I need help my car keeps jerking while im accelerating. I just tried changing the plugs and wires to see if that would help. It didnt. I dont know what else to do. anyone got any suggestions about what it might be

[Vipey1337]

No idea if this will help, but fuel injector cleaner and a new fuel filter are what I'm going to try to get a more uniform acceleration. My car just rolled over 170k and it hasn't gotten a new fuel filter since at least 123k, if ever.

Listen to xeroinfinity and others tho because they know a lot more than I do

[jem270]

What engine do you have?

Check for codes and or look for vacuum leaks.



2002 Grand AM SE with 3.4

[xeroinfinity]

Your engine size would help........

Could be fuel related, I would try changing the fuel filter if it hasnt been chenged the last 10-12k miles.

Using a fuel injection cleaner regularly will help keep your fuel system cleaner. The injectors in these cars are bad about getting clogged/dirty and causing misfires.

The injector wires are also known to get breaks in them up on the intake. IMO its caused by carelessness when changing the lower intake gaskets, so if you hav had LI work done migth check those.

[rjw2001]

sorry, its a six clinder. I put some fuel injector cleaner in a few days ago, Ill wait a little longer to see if it helps. If not Ill try changing the fuel filter. Ill let you know. Thanks.

[rjw2001]

Still having problems! I changed my fuel filter and still no luck. Any other ideas of what might be my problem?

[xeroinfinity]

IF the plugs and wires are good, I'd say its still your injectors.
You can buy or rent a Noid light to test the injectors to make sure they are pulsing correctly.

Give the injector cleanr a while to work, it doesnt work over night.

Aslo Check for vacum leaks , around the intake manifold and air intake tube.

[moxie1]

I had this problem with 2001 while it was still in warrenty. The dealer said that there was a service bulletin on this and the software needed to be updated. It helped a lot, but wasn't 100%.

[mlasnoski]

It could be your MAF. Mine was starting to act up. Your engine light my not even be on and it still could be the MAF. It helped a lot, but its still doing it. I'm going to replace the IAC next. I have 98 Am GT 3.1 Liter. i thought for sure it would solve the problems...but it didn't. I wish the service engine light would turn on, it would make diagnosing the problem that much easier. I hope this helps a little. I'm still trying to figure mine out. But I love my car and it better not crap out. I still have 43 payments left LOL

[xeroinfinity]

Originally Posted by mlasnoski

It could be your MAF. Mine was starting to act up. Your engine light my not even be on and it still could be the MAF. It helped a lot, but its still doing it. I'm going to replace the IAC next. I have 98 Am GT 3.1 Liter. i thought for sure it would solve the problems...but it didn't. I wish the service engine light would turn on, it would make diagnosing the problem that much easier. I hope this helps a little. I'm still trying to figure mine out. But I love my car and it better not crap out. I still have 43 payments left LOL

SO you are saying you just replaced the MAF and did test it first ?

The MAF for an 01' run around $350

Cleaning the IAC's port it resides in can help idle, but not really acceleration . It can be tested too.
The IAC on an 01' Runs high also, around $100

Why waste money on things that are not bad

Even though thiers No SES light on doesnt mean thiers no codes stored for your troubles, get it scanned!

Good Luck

[funcruise]

I have found over the years that when the engine starts getting a little stumbly or jerky to just take it out on a quiet road and stand on it a bit and blow the carbon out. Is worth a try and wont cost anything as long as John Law isnt hiding in the bushes.........

[xeroinfinity]

Originally Posted by funcruise

I have found over the years that when the engine starts getting a little stumbly or jerky to just take it out on a quiet road and stand on it a bit and blow the carbon out. Is worth a try and wont cost anything as long as John Law isnt hiding in the bushes.........

Some times,
with some premium fuel and some good injector cleaner in the tank, it can help loosen clogged injectors and blow out some of the cobwebs.

[mlasnoski]

Originally Posted by xeroinfinity

SO you are saying you just replaced the MAF and did test it first ?

The MAF for an 01' run around $350

Cleaning the IAC's port it resides in can help idle, but not really acceleration . It can be tested too.
The IAC on an 01' Runs high also, around $100

Why waste money on things that are not bad

Even though thiers No SES light on doesnt mean thiers no codes stored for your troubles, get it scanned!

Good Luck

Well yeah I went out and bought one for my 98 GA GT and it was a remanufactured one from Cardone and it was 98 bux, however, it didnt fix the problem, and I replaced the IAC and it still didnt fix the problem. I'll accelarte and it like sounds like its gonna die and it doesnt want to go...you push the gas and it just revs at the same speed and its really annoying...it jerks horrbile sometimes when it has its problem and then it eventually clears up and amazing power comes back to her... but it does it way more now then it ever did so im still clueless...my dad said it must be an injector...everything else with the car is fine just this little hickup. Any thoughts anyone.

[xeroinfinity]

Should not have skimped out on the IAC.

The remanufactured one probly isnt the best;
or you didnt adjust it properly;
or the passages that pull air in/out are clogged.

If its something electrical, you can ALWAYS test those parts to make sure they are bad, instead of wasting money .

But from what you discribe mlasnoski, you could have other issues.
Water in the fuel, clogged fuel filter, and as you said injector(s).

BTW- Just because you dont see any engine lights on, doesnt mean that thiers not any codes. AS if the light is ignored long enough the bulb can burn out and you wouldnt know untill you checked.

It is recomended that your fuel filter be changed every 30-40k miles, and GM recomends you get the fuel sys. cleaned also. ALso get the fuel pressure checked.

[crazy Jim]

I'll second Xero on the fuel pressure. Since you said that sometimes the power comes back I would tend to believe the injectors are clean. A buddy had a '98 Buick with the 3.8 and his FP was intermittant and acted similar to what you describe.