*Need Help* Car Stutters

[redline360]

This started about 3 weeks ago. Once in awhile when i would start to accelerate coming off the exit ramp the car would stutter for a sec or two. I usually just let off the gas then get back into it or sometimes i would just drop the rpms down and problem was solved. I drive roughly 30+ miles to work each way every day.

It would stutter once in awhile so i thought nothing of it(bad gas i thought). It happend to get really bad one day when i was coming home from work. I was sitting in traffic due to roadwork for like a hal f hour, once the car got hot it idled rough and would stutter all the time. I couldnt go more then 55 mph on the highway or the car would shake so bad it actually through my radar detector off the windshield. Now if you start the car up you can hear it, give it gas the car stutters(sounds like i got a nice cam in it at idle). Ive been driving another car for about a week now finishing up my last weeks of work so now i got time to work on it.


94 firebird 3.4l auto
123k miles

Basically: Car stutters when you start it up and give it gas. Sounds like i got a decent size cam. I am thinking missfire? You can hear the fuel pump ingage, car starts right up with no problem or hesitation, new airfilter. Additionally, the car sometimes stutters on acceleration after a stop. Both of these problems are erratic (some times it seems like I'm not going to make it to where I'm going, and other times I can go days without a problem), but now it does it all the time

Where do i start? or what do you think is the problem

[RadRacer]

Re: *Need Help* Car Stutters

I had the same problem, and the code thrown said it was my MAF. I just replaced it, and haven't driven it yet. I'd try and get it to do it constantly so it'll throw a code for you. Mine started like yours did too, at first it was every once in a while, then it got to where I could barely drive my car. I've been told it could be from Spark Plugs, Plug wires, clogged fuel filter, and a clogged EGR. Check those out, see if you find anything.

[redline360]

Re: *Need Help* Car Stutters

I had the same problem, and the code thrown said it was my MAF. I just replaced it, and haven't driven it yet. I'd try and get it to do it constantly so it'll throw a code for you. Mine started like yours did too, at first it was every once in a while, then it got to where I could barely drive my car. I've been told it could be from Spark Plugs, Plug wires, clogged fuel filter, and a clogged EGR. Check those out, see if you find anything.

Update: Finally had time to work on the car for a little bit the other day.

Checked the plugs and wires - Were good, fairly new anyways but checked to make sure

Fuel Filter - Replaced that...that needed to be changed anyways(long overdue)

...........after those quick things car still has the problem

Got it scanned by my neigbor and the EGR code came up

Off to get a EGR valve.....ill update if problem is fixed just incase some1 has the same problem i have

[crushedout]

Re: *Need Help* Car Stutters

I had a similar problem and had the egr code come up and after a boat load of money it ended up being my upper intake manifold gasket. I got a 3.8 though. To check if you have a vacuum leak get some carb and choke cleaner and spray around areas in the motor and wait for the "cam sound" to go away and car run smooth for a few seconds. That is the best way I have found to look for a vacuum leak. Good Luck

[RadRacer]

Re: *Need Help* Car Stutters

OK. Your EGR's probably just clogged then. That was another thing I thought might be wrong with mine. There might be a way to clean it, I don't know. Do some searching. You'll save some money that way.

[redline360]

Re: *Need Help* Car Stutters

Changed the EGR...helped a little bit. Doesnt stutter at idle anymore or when you rev it in park. Test drove the car and it stutters when you just drive it normally.

So far EGR valve, plugs, wire, fuel filter have been changed and checked. Cleaned the EGR system out as well. Im thinking its gotta be some other problem, at this point im just going to take it to a dealer(*** raping gonna happen). Im gonna put the camaro back on the road i guess.

[Ragnot]

Re: *Need Help* Car Stutters

if the car is shakeing at high speeds maybe ur shocks or struts are gone? or would that even be a possibility, i just know my friends trucks shocks went out and he found out because the car was shakey at high speeds but ud prolly notice that easily from hitting small bumps sense the car already rides fairly low. im still in the middle of this auto repair class maybe ill have better info for everyone later on. good luck

[redline360]

Re: *Need Help* Car Stutters

if the car is shakeing at high speeds maybe ur shocks or struts are gone? or would that even be a possibility, i just know my friends trucks shocks went out and he found out because the car was shakey at high speeds but ud prolly notice that easily from hitting small bumps sense the car already rides fairly low. im still in the middle of this auto repair class maybe ill have better info for everyone later on. good luck

Nah its not the shocks. ITs gotta be some fuel type of related problem. Or what do i know hell it can be anything

Car doesnt even rattle with 123k miles on it. Interior is almsot like new. Only problem ive had with the car is the trans going after 10k miles of me owning it(gay i know), and and alternator.

It idles fine and revs fine in park, but as soon as you put it in drive and give it gas it stutters and jerks back and forth. The higher the speeds 50+ the car shacks really bad like its getting no fuel

[crushedout]

Re: *Need Help* Car Stutters

Changed the EGR...helped a little bit. Doesnt stutter at idle anymore or when you rev it in park. Test drove the car and it stutters when you just drive it normally.

So far EGR valve, plugs, wire, fuel filter have been changed and checked. Cleaned the EGR system out as well. Im thinking its gotta be some other problem, at this point im just going to take it to a dealer(*** raping gonna happen). Im gonna put the camaro back on the road i guess.

Thats the exact same course I took. The dealership ended up giving up on my car once they raped me on new fuel injectors, completely flushing out fuel system, and I endec up taking it to Ma and Pa who found bad upper intake gasket with a smoke machine. GL

[redline360]

Re: *Need Help* Car Stutters

Thats the exact same course I took. The dealership ended up giving up on my car once they raped me on new fuel injectors, completely flushing out fuel system, and I endec up taking it to Ma and Pa who found bad upper intake gasket with a smoke machine. GL

Well if i park the firebird over the winter i have plenty time to work on it.

How hard is it to change and get to the fuel injectors and upper intake gasket? Have no exp on engine stuff really besides the small misc stuff

[RadRacer]

Re: *Need Help* Car Stutters

Did you throw a bottle of fuel injector cleaner in the tank? When mine was suttering, I did that, and it cleared it up alot. It was stuttering all the time, then went to just higher RPMs (which was cuz my MAF was bad). try running some of that through. It's cheap (like only $2), and might fix it. Or, if you want, you could go ahead and seafoam it. But, I'd go ahead and seafoam everything if you do it, not just the injectors.

Like I said, I bought some Injector cleaner, dumped it into my 1/2 tank of gas (says use on full tank, but o well) and drove it around for abit. After a good 30 or 40 miles, it started to clear up.