Hesitation under hard acceleration from a dead stop

[.Camryman97.]

My car recently started acting funny. When i would be stopped at an intersection and would need to make a hard acceleration my car would not like to go. i can feel it not wanting to go and i can hear it through the exhaust. it sounds like its misfiring. but if i accelerate normally its perfectly fine. just seeing what it might be.

i havent done a whole lot of engine maintenance since ive owned the car (besides changing the oil and such) so im sure there something in there thats probably worn out and needs to be change. i think im going to first start with the spark plugs but if anyone knows of something else it might be let me know. im going give the engine some TLC this summer and probably get a tune up on it.

btw its a 97 4cyl with 113k miles

[pmesfun]

Yeah, I would start with new plugs and a new fuel filter. Seafoam would be a good idea before changing the plugs. I take it the check engine light is off?

[.Camryman97.]

well ive done seafoam and fuel injector cleaner in the past so im hesitant to do it so soon. it was probably less than 20k miles ago


but yeah theres no check engine light. i just gotta find time where i can just drop the car off at the shop and have them just do an overall check through. and see what needs replacing and see if they can fix any of the leaks like oil or power steering

[pmesfun]

Ah ok, if the plugs are original def get new ones.

btw is the Woodlands in Plano?

[fenixus]

OEM platinum plugs usually do not last much longer than 100k miles ... I would replace them first. get either OEM/Denso Double Platinum (Autozone used to sell them) or NGK Laser Platinum (also OEM). for pricing check rockauto.com, amazon, autozone and advance auto (mind they have good coupons for online ordering and local pickup).

if nothing changes than you could replace the wireset with NGK TE58, but do that only if you suspect the old set or it looks bad, visibly damaged or so. you could measure resistance of each wire on both ends, all wires should be similar (depends on length of wire) and not more than 25k ohm.

also change both air and fuel filter and clean the Throttle Body paying attention to cleaning the hole going down to IAC. use only o2 sensor safe cleaners.

also mind that an oil leak can be a vacuum leak as well depending on location (e.g. upper part of engine) and that could be throwing the o2/AFR sensor readings and fuel trim adjustments off (done by ECU) which in return could be affecting the engine operation under WOT.

[pmesfun]

I remember Gothmog3VZ had the same problem, turned out to be bad gas.

[bigbird]

definatly check teh plugs first. i had this issue and that was the cause.

[.Camryman97.]

well im going to start with plugs and fuel filter first. the air filter was replaced a little while back with k&n drop in. and yea im pretty sure the plugs are original

i must mention i did use cheap gas while i was at college so i wouldnt be surprised if the fuel filter would need to be replaced but since ive been back home ive been using shell and exon gas.

i must also mention that it only happens occasionally. i was driving today and i couldnt get it to hesitate. i would open it up and it would accelerate just fine

Originally Posted by pmesfun

Ah ok, if the plugs are original def get new ones.

btw is the Woodlands in Plano?

nah its north of houston