While driving my car, I have noticed that there was a hesitation in the drive when I was going close to 50mph. This started about 6 months ago, now i feel it getting worse, pretty much anytime I am going uphill at a constant pace (rarity for me) and not excellerating. I read on one site a while back where a guy did everything from cleaning his injectors to rebuilding his tranny and that wasnt the problem. A neighbor of mine described what he was having in a Bonny that he had that matches up with what I am experiancing and said that it was a computer problem that he had fixed but he couldnt remember exactly what. I can see the throttle jump from 2500 rpm down to 2000 rpm then back up and repeat the cycle and do it until i punch it. Has anyone got any ideas or have seen this before?

Buddha Jones

Hi,
I am having a similar problem...i was told to try this...When you are going up a hill and the car starts bucking, while still holding the accellerator down, lightly tap the brake pedel without lettin off the gas. This will unlock the lockup torque converter. If your problem goes away untill the converter locks back up again then you need a new converter. Cost: about $700 installed. I am living with the bucking!

YIKES!! I tested it, and it performed just as you said it would. That is harsh, about how long will it last until it is useless?

Buddha Jones

Well that is good to know, thanks to both of you. My Bonnie is a 1997 SE with a little over 92k miles on it. When I noticed the problem I did change the spark plugs and wires, air filter, kinda gave it a home tune-up and it was still there. I am gonna take it to have the engine system checked, cuz my engine light popped on last week, maybe they can find something wrong. As far as my tranny is concerned it shifts normal and smooth, no noises. I'll keep ya posted. Thanks again.

Buddha Jones

My '96 was doing something kind of similar this spring and the engine code said it was the Mass Air Flow sensor. Replaced it to the tune of $225, and it runs better than ever... then I took the MAF sceen off the throttle body (Thanks to advice on this site) and it really accelerates hard now. yum yum.

So can I just remove the sensor and test it, or better yet, replace it with an upgraded unit? What do you guys think?

Buddha Jones

I have a 92 that had the same problem. Was the MAF sensor. I was able to pull the codes from the computer myself, but I think you need a scanner for your car - rumor has it that they changed something after like 94 and you can't just jumper the two pins anymore to get the codes. It is not much of a job on the 92 to replace the sensor, don't know about yours though. If you do the job yourself, will save lots of $$$. I think I had a grand total of about $75 or so into mine.

for the guys who replaced the MAF sensor, did your SES light come on?

just to add to this discussion, my car'* had this problem ever since I got it and i mostly fixed it by adding transmission coolers...when the fluid gets hotter and thinner it seems to let the clutch slip more than it should.

I've had mine off for roughly 5,000 miles now with no problems or lights as all, just a nice increase in air flow. Not sure where all this is coming from, but I highly doubt removing the honey-comb MAF filter will throw a light. If a lights coming on, there is something wrong somewhere else, unless coicedentally the MAF decided to blow out at the same time. :?: All its really there for is to stop anything major from entering the Throttle Body and MAF sensor in the case it gets past the air filter. That and it also does attract small amount of carbon pasing through the air...

Just my opinion

Well after reading all you guys posts i am pretty confident that the SES light is on because the MAF sensor is bad and as a result I am getting that 'hesitation' when I am driving. I went today to the GM dealer and the replacement for the MAF is $210 ! I will replace it i guess and I will also remove the screen. I am sure your right about that Terminator. Thanks for all you guys help, I'll let you know what happens.

Buddha Jones

BTW Check out the intro to my site that I made last night!!