You're the engine expert TY...here'* one for ya!~

????? I posted something relavant to this before in reply to another topic. My car is doing the "shudder" thing. At first I thought it might be because of the new tips or something, but looking through here, what I posted went up long before the tips.
I can just be driving along, and as long as I am giving 'im easy, when i hit 80-90, it does this little jerk thing. Not just once though. Every few mins.
But when I raced a Neon today, (oh yea, fast car) it didn't do it once. I was going like 160 and it was great! In fact it felt like i was doing 100. But that'* besides the point. I was driving it harder and it wsan't doing it.

It'* annoying as hell and it feels like it'* going to die or stall, almost...not quite that bad yet! It feels almost as if it'* not getting enough fuel...know what i mean.
Does anyone have any potential diagnoses?

....my car isn't that old. It'* a 95 with not even 200K on it.

Well, to cover the bases...

Spark plugs? Fuel filter? Dirty throttle body? Bad fuel?

hmm. Spark plugs brand new bosch platinum +4 (fastest $100 out of my pocket) Fuel Filter? don't know. (someoen else suggested that, how do i check?) Dirty Throttle body?????
Bad fuel - not possible, it'* been going on far too long from gas stations. I bought a fuel injection cleaner and water remover thing tho. We'll see.

The filter on my car is about right under the front passenger seat, inline with the fuel line. Relatively simple to replace, PITA though because gas will leak all over you.

Ok teuobk was right there are many things that can cause this. Always start with the cheap and easy fixes that are entirely conclusive within there own diagnoses. Like when you look at a sparkplug and the wires you can tell when they are shot. First start with the wires check to see if any are brittle or bad. While you are doing this get dirty and pull each plug to make sure they are good. I am sure they are new but what they look like can tell alot. Ok there are alot of different reasons that this could be happening. How hot is it when it shudders how hard are you driving can you make it worse and if so how. Try listening to it while idling. Tell me what you come up with. I would take it to a good shop personally and get a diagnosis. Then I would find out the list of possibilities and do them myself. Make sure you get the fuel pump tested to. There is nothing dumber than getting false data to base a repair on.

It happens when the car is at any temperature. I can make it worse by driving it easy (babying it) if i hone it, then it dosn't happen. Idling, it sounds like it always does...i'll check wires and plugs tomorrow.

Ok it could be having some problems with any sensor that is connected to your throttle body. I am not going to be specific because I really believe a diagnosis is the best way to go. I could give you a list of possible causes but that list would include almost all your sending units and a few other things like every ground wire. Once you know for sure what it could be then you can chase the problem. Make sure they take it for a drive and get you to come along so they can make it happen for you. Also make sure the diagnostic unit is connected at the time. This way you can narrow it down to a few items. Can you imagine how Mad you would be after dropping your gas tank to find out that your pump was just fine. Best of luck to you.

P.*. No expert just abuse mine enough to know about most reasonable problems that can happen. I also don’t like having mechanics charge me a mint for something I can do.
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If you can't ab(use) it you can't afford it!



<font size=-1>[ This Message was edited by: speedyguy on 2002-05-13 13:23 ]</font>

The guys you talked to were obviously idiots. I would call around and talk to the shop'* before going in. Make sure they understand Bonneville’*. If you have to, go to a dealer. All you need is a good diagnostic then you can begin chasing the problems. Did they do a diagnostic while driving the vehicle? did they get any codes for you? That’* what you need.

Alignment?? Check your sway bar links? And your brakes need to be checked. You can do all except the alignment. I played the wiggling wheel game for a long time and found out in my case that it was the tire. Alignment won’t wobble but will pull and cause uneven tire wear, which can lead to a wobble. New tires?? If so this could be the problem the new tires always need to be aligned right after being put on. I had the same problem. An upgrade link kit from Canadian Tire will help you out they tighten up the front end a bit. They are cheap too. Often when the sway bar links go they walk off the bolt and they become loose. This can lead to a much looser ride often leading to funny tire wear. If you have worn your tires funny then you will need to talk to the alignment shop to see if they can help. It could also be a steering problem but they are much more obvious. Struts could also be worn but they show up mostly on bouncy roads.

Tranny Play with the tranny modulator and have all your electrical connections checked. Especially all the fuel and spark distribution units and associated parts. I hate to say it but unless you chase all the electrical sending units including on the throttle body you will not know where your tranny problem comes from. Sorry I can’t help more than that.

TY