Ok I looked in past posts & found something about a car that was bogging down, but he had a K&N filter. I don't...and my car sputters when I go to take off from a stop light. It's like a little delay. I also notice the tach jumps 3-400 rpms ocassionally, and my speed did not change. It is acting fishy! Put some gas treatment in it last week & it has been a bit better, but is there something I need to check. Could it be O2 sensor, MAF, anything I should be concerned with? I would rather stay on top & prevent costly repairs. Thanks for the help.

A couple of months ago I posted about my '98 OBW bogging under attempted brisk acceleration. That was during the first cold weather of the season and the problem has since cured itself. I suspect it was the ECU acclimating itself to the colder, more oxygen dense air.

 

If I were you, I would check: (1) your spark plug wires for signs of wear; (2) terminals on the coil pack for corrosion; (3) air filter to see if it's dirty (even a little); and (4) replace the fuel filter if it hasn't been replaced w/i about 15,000 mi.

 

Those are the cheap and easy things to start with and to rule out.

Is your car automatic?

 

I have a 97 OB. I've suffered this issue a couple of times. The problem... carbon. These things run rich. It took a MotorVac treatment to cure mine. Since then, an occasional tank of premium or some good gas cleaner seems to keep it in check.

 

Recently, it came back and I couldn't 'cure' it. I had the O2 sensor changed. It took a while, but the car is back to it's non-sputtering (hesitating) self.

 

All the things Chip mention could also be the problem. But I thought I'd share the one that most people don't think of (and should NOT expect) in this day of fuel injection and computer controlled engines.

 

Commuter

Spark plug wires! Esp. with the tach jumping about. Does it ease off at higher rpms?? Or under less throttle? If so, it's wires....

 

Mike

It doesn't seem to do it too bad when I am going down the highway. However if I have to climb a small hill it seems almost like it can't decide what gear to be in, but it's the motor, not the tranny. I guess we will try to change the O2 & check wear on spark plug wires. Plugs were changed this fall. We bought a fuel filter & need to try that too.