Similar problems as stated in previous posts! Hesitation and Stalling Problem...

[chief7398]

I have been away from the forums for a while, but I am back and I need help now. I have a 98 GTP with about 173,000 miles on it. Transmission replaced / rebuilt about a year ago. Just FYI.

My SES light was on for about 3 weeks or so and then out of the blue just went off. About a day or two later, I started noticing some sputtering or hesitation while accelerating. When stopped and just idling the RPM's would sporadically jump between 300 and 1200 - up and down for a fews seconds and stop. Then while I was driving, I was going down a slight hill without accelerating and the engine started hesitating again and the it just stalled out. The oil and battery lights were the only two lights lit. I drifting into a parking lot and restarted the car and it started right up, by while driving again I noticed the hesitation again. I took it to a shop and the mechanic replaced my wires and fuel filter and both of my belts. My Cataylic Convertor has been rumbling for a while now as well.

I don't have the money to keep dropping into it to try and figure out the problem, so I figured I ask you guys. Please help if possible!

[tblake]

why not get it scanned for codes. If the light isnt on, there may still be a pending code. Autozone or Advance does this for free.

Dont trust their diagnosis though.

Cat converter is rumbling? Can you explain? There are no movi ng parts inside. If its making noise when you go over bumps, the converter element has broken down and might be the cause of your problem.

[richtazz]

Have a vacuum test or exhaust system backpressure test done, as your symptoms match those caused by a broken catalytic converter blocking the exhaust.

[chief7398]

After dropping over $500.00 into replacing belts, plugs and wires, fuel filter and other things, the problem still existed. I dropped it back off and the code for the MAF did pop up after it did not before. The mechanic bought the new MAF sensor and installed and cleaned up my K&N air filter and instantly my problem was gone. My car hasn't "purred" out-the-gate like this since I bought it! That MAF sensor must have been bad or going bad for a while because I had just cleaned my air filter about 6 monthes ago.

It is like my baby's back, can't believe it! Its been a little sluggish prior to this incident and I couldn't figure out why. Still need to replace the CAT, but I am up and running again.

Thanks Guys!