Stutter/lag on acceleration

[casketcrewchick]

Hey guys... long time no see... sorry to come on the boards with a problem...

I have been noticing that somewhere in 2nd to 3rd gear (for example, merging onto highway from an on ramp) my car will stutter and lag when i accelerate. The car will just not go unless i let off and press lightly on the gas.

THIS DOES NOT happen all of the time. When i drove it home last night from MD (about an hour away) I was driving it hard and it did it once at around 50 to 55mph.

I had a tune up a year ago... Could have sworn the last time this happened i had a new fuel filter put in which FIXED it. Engine light came on a while back before this problem started but I figured it did after hitting 70K miles. (Car currently has 76K and it is a 1998).

I just need to make it another week before i have time to drop it off at the shop-- do you think i can use some kind of fuel injector cleaner or just take it easy when driving? I drive long distances now (ok ok, not super long but at least an hour one way) and I want to drop it off at the shop to get worked on but anything i can try in the meantime?

THANKS!

BTW from a STOP (like a light or a tollbooth) it accelerates smoothly with no hesitation...

[kristen]

Re: Stutter/lag on acceleration

first thing i would try would be the fuel filter....only takes a few mins to change out.

[casketcrewchick]

Re: Stutter/lag on acceleration

Thanks for the reply... now... if I cant get to it right away, is there a possibility I will get stranded? I cant get it into the shop until Monday night...

Anyways... I had drove it yesterday and hit the gas a few times and i couldnt get it to stutter... I guess i will find out this weekend then on a drive that is one hour in one direction (98% highway).

Thanks for the reply. :) I appreciate it.

[02ragtop]

Re: Stutter/lag on acceleration

I am having the same problem on my 02. Only thing is -- when I pull away from a stop, if I do it easy, no problem....if I floor it, it's terrible. Once I get past 2nd gear, it doesn't do it again, except for when I hit the gas to pass someone or something like that. I had a code for a while, said it was the #2 fuel injector, then it went away, but would still hesitate on acceleration. The code is back. We used something I think is called "sea foam" as an additive and changed the fuel filter. It seems to be helping. It's been this way for about 2 weeks.....as long as I take it easy, I don't seem to have a problem. I think if you do just take it easy, you should be OK. I'm going to "ride it out" and see if the problem fixes itself, if it is a clogged injector. I'm sure eventually, I will have to replace that injector (this is the second time it's thrown this code -- I'm just not ready to part with the $$ to replace it)

Good Luck.

[Rob Bell]

Re: Stutter/lag on acceleration

I would agree with Kristen, check the fule filter first, especially if it's been a long time since it's been changed. If it's old, it needs to be changed anyway, so you're not wasting any money. If that doesn't work, then get a fuel pressure gauge and hook it up, and read the pressure while driving to see if it drops off. If it does drop off, then it's probably either the regulator or the pump. If the pressure is fine, then you know it's not those items, and you can move on to the other components.

If there are codes, those need to be read to rule out bad injectors or ignition problems.