Strange engine hesitation

Crazy_pilot · #1 07-02-2007, 02:20 AM

My engine is being unfriendly. Symptoms:

When accelerating gently (normal pull-away-from-a-stop sort of thing) the engine seems to get stuck between 1000 and 2000 RPM. The car will start moving, but in that range the RPM will no longer keep increasing, and will drop slightly. This is solved by giving the pedal a little jab. Once it's nudged up to 2000 the engine starts pulling properly again. This only happens with easy acceleration, and is most noticable in first and second. Flooring it just results in the green happy light coming on, and the normal vroom sounds and forward-ness. Also, this is intermitant. It happens probably 60% of the time.

Obviously the solution is to simply floor it ever time I pull away, but I'm looking for a slightly more economical way to fix things. MAF? TPS? Vacuum line? Some sort of strange tranny ailment? Martians?

Delfonso · #2 07-03-2007, 12:09 AM

When's the last time you got a tune up, checked coils and plugs, or any of the things you mentioned? Although it's probably martians. I kinda have a similar feeling about my power between 1 and 2 thousand rpms, like there is none. Got a new TPS, cleaned MAF, I haven't done plugs yet though, probably do it this week. I was actually troubleshooting, a binding feeling in the pedal that I was able to reduce by adjusting my shift kit, weird. I get a trans code 24, but i was told it's cause I have an AWD ECU/TCU in my FWD 94. I wish I had a FWD set to test, oh, well, not your problem. Just rambling.
good luck.
p.s.
any other symptoms?

Crazy_pilot · #3 07-03-2007, 01:44 AM

I just got the car recently, all problems included. It'll be getting a whole bunch of work done over the summer (plugs, coils, all seals and gaskets, T-belt, water pump...) but if this is something simple like a dirty MAF that would be an easy thing to take care of now. It's just annoying more than anything. I like a smooth ride, and when the car isn't being cooperative I get irritated.

No discernable symptoms other than the lack of power. I'll pull the MAF and clean it out in the next couple days anyway.

Crazy_pilot · #4 07-03-2007, 02:49 AM

Actually, after reading the MAF cleaning How-To, it mentions one symptom being a 1/2 second loss of power when cruising. I did notice that the other night, a tiny, very short power drop that repeated a bunch of times.

Delfonso · #5 07-03-2007, 03:32 PM

I've cleaned my MAF with CRC but I haven't tried the white vinegar bath yet, don't know if there's a difference.