Shaky/Stuttering acceleration

[youjean tod]

Hello, I have a 96 Ford Thunderbird that has a bit of a problem when I accelerate. It's sort of hard to explain except that when I press the pedal there is a stuttering, or shaking that happens. It usually happens after a stop, and usually after the car has been running for a bit. Usually it shakes three times, and then goes on as if normal, until the next time. I was wondering if anyone might have any idea what this could be and whether it is realtively easy/inexpensive to repair? Thanks for any help!

Also thanks to the person who posted the owner manuals in the sticky thread!

[97Bird]

Have your diagnostic codes read at a place like AutoZone to see if anything shows up.

[thunderbird muscle]

Does it do it when the transmission is shifting gears or not? Do you know what torque coverter shudder feels like? (but like he said I would get the codes checked first and then go from there)

[overl0rd]

Torque converter shudder would be my guess. I recommend having the tranny serviced and flushed and filled with Mercon V fluid. If you do it yourself, just drop the pan and change the filter, clean the pan and magnet, and find the plug in the torque converter to drain it. It's a little tricky to find but its in there, you'll have to pop out the rubber inspection plug in the bellhousing. The t/c takes a while to drain, so once you pull the plug find something else to do for a while.

[hankthetank21]

If servicing The Tranny doesnt help and no diagnostic codes pop...try having the Universal joints in your driveshaft looked at....