supreme_style21 Posted August 5, 2006 Report Share Posted August 5, 2006 I didn't even know how to word the subject line. I posted about this probably a few months ago. Originally it started out as a rare event, but now it is every time I get behind the wheel. It's a 1997 Cutlass Supreme/3100. While this doesn't happen EVERY time I get on the gas, it is probably 75% of the time. When you hit the accelerator for an 'average' acceleration, there is simply no response from the car. Sometimes it'll EVER-SO-SLIGHTLY accelerate, but I could push it up a hill faster than what it responds with. If you mash it down to the floor, it'll kick down and go like an SOB, but thats pretty impractical. It isn't a misfire from what I can feel... it just does nothing whatsoever. It occurs at any speed and at any RPM.. it'll do it from a dead stop.. from a roll.. even out on the highway. Once you reach the speed you want, there is absolutely no problem.. it's just reaching that speed is what is becoming the problem. As I said before, it used to do this once in a very great while, but it has become more often than not. I've changed the fuel filter, air filter, the injectors all ohm out to what they're supposed to be and there is no SES light. Plugs, wires, ICM, and coils are all replaced. Is the fuel pump on it's last leg?? I don't know what else to look at! It's getting to be quite a hassle to drive! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
19Cutlass94 Posted August 5, 2006 Report Share Posted August 5, 2006 Did you check the throttle spring? Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
1990lumina Posted August 5, 2006 Report Share Posted August 5, 2006 only one way to find out if the fuel pump is any good...put a fuel pressure tester on the rail and see what is says. maybe the car isn't starting out in the right gear?? does it seem like it's starting in second or third gear?? Try manually shifting into first and see what happens. I dunno what else that could be...you'd know if the tranny was slipping because the RPM would go up and the car wouldn't move right? Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
supreme_style21 Posted August 5, 2006 Author Report Share Posted August 5, 2006 Did you check the throttle spring? Oh .. no. I can check that in a few minutes. only one way to find out if the fuel pump is any good...put a fuel pressure tester on the rail and see what is says. maybe the car isn't starting out in the right gear?? does it seem like it's starting in second or third gear?? Try manually shifting into first and see what happens. I dunno what else that could be...you'd know if the tranny was slipping because the RPM would go up and the car wouldn't move right? I'd compare it to starting out in like frickin 4th gear, but the trans isn't slipping.. the accelerator has absolutely no effect on the RPM's. It's almost like pressing on the gas without the car running. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
DiscoStudd Posted August 6, 2006 Report Share Posted August 6, 2006 Throttle position sensor, perhaps? I know from experience that if the TPS has a "bald spot" the car will hesitate when you depress the throttle... Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
terryk2003 Posted August 6, 2006 Report Share Posted August 6, 2006 sounds like the problem my cutlass had...i never did figure it out...and i tried the TPS on mine, and it didnt help!?...u may wanna try it yourself though... Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Robby1870 Posted August 6, 2006 Report Share Posted August 6, 2006 I know this isnt from a W-body but its a similar thing. My buddy had a 99 Dakota, 3.9L V6. Its MPFI, so its the same basic setup as a W. It would do the same thing. Would not do anything with light throttle action, but would run fine at high rpms. Problem turned out to be the IAC. However, I have never known a W-body IAC to fail like this. The thing with the TPS is usually just a slight hesitation, but I did have one that got progressively worse, however not like that. I would say its more than likely sensor related. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
supreme_style21 Posted August 6, 2006 Author Report Share Posted August 6, 2006 Is this in any drive gear or park/neutral too? In gear only. Responds fine in park/neutral. I swapped the TPS with no change. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Mach 5 Posted August 6, 2006 Report Share Posted August 6, 2006 Check fuel pressure at key on engine off, idle, 1000, 2000, 3000 rpms. Check egr valve and see if it moves. If it does, thats allowing the engine to choke on exhaust fumes. The do a compression test. If all else fails, check your plugs. I don't know if you generally service your car but some shops can be cheap and will only change plugs that are easy to get to. Do that and if all that is good, check for play in the throttle linkage. Grease it up while your there. Also look up when the last time you got a trans fluild and oil change. Your engine may have sludge build up or need a fluid change. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
supreme_style21 Posted August 7, 2006 Author Report Share Posted August 7, 2006 Check fuel pressure at key on engine off, idle, 1000, 2000, 3000 rpms. Check egr valve and see if it moves. If it does, thats allowing the engine to choke on exhaust fumes. The do a compression test. If all else fails, check your plugs. I don't know if you generally service your car but some shops can be cheap and will only change plugs that are easy to get to. Do that and if all that is good, check for play in the throttle linkage. Grease it up while your there. Also look up when the last time you got a trans fluild and oil change. Your engine may have sludge build up or need a fluid change. Nah I do all the service myself. Fluids are always changed and the plugs were all done a few months ago. I'll have to check the rest of that.. sounds highly plausible! Thanks for the advice. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
slick Posted August 8, 2006 Report Share Posted August 8, 2006 So, you can hear the engine rev up fine, but it will barely move. I'm willing to bet it may have something to do with your torque convertor. Whether it be a solenoid, or the convertor itself. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Singh Posted August 8, 2006 Report Share Posted August 8, 2006 thats crazy i hope it doesnt happen to me but listen, what you really should do is put the car in 1st gear and then try the same thing and see wat happens? to me it sounds like the car isnt in the right gear and is in liek 3rdor 4th gear but then shouldnt the car shake/vibrate liek in a manual when ur in to high of a gear in a low speed? Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Mach 5 Posted August 8, 2006 Report Share Posted August 8, 2006 I don't believe its the converter because he didn't that the car jumps. I could be a fuel pump but you'll find that out when your fuel pressure is low or very high. Check your fuel pressure and EGR. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
FastSE2DR Posted August 8, 2006 Report Share Posted August 8, 2006 I would say since the car is fine in Reverse that it would be something with the tranny, or some sensor that relate between the two. Do what someone else said and try putting the car in 1st and see if that helps. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Mach 5 Posted August 8, 2006 Report Share Posted August 8, 2006 Yeah but your not going to use much thottle in reverse. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
FastSE2DR Posted August 8, 2006 Report Share Posted August 8, 2006 Yeah but your not going to use much thottle in reverse. Shouldn't matter regardless. He said the car doesn't move with ANY throttle unless its kicked so it will downshift. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
supreme_style21 Posted August 10, 2006 Author Report Share Posted August 10, 2006 I would say since the car is fine in Reverse that it would be something with the tranny, or some sensor that relate between the two. Do what someone else said and try putting the car in 1st and see if that helps. Doesn't matter in any gear. I haven't tried it in reverse.. it doesn't happen ALL the time, so I might be driving around in reverse for quite some time. So, you can hear the engine rev up fine, but it will barely move. I'm willing to bet it may have something to do with your torque convertor. Whether it be a solenoid, or the convertor itself. No, I don't even get it to rev.. its something with the engine, not the trans. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Regal_GS_1989 Posted August 10, 2006 Report Share Posted August 10, 2006 just a thought, but has the throttle cable somehow come loose, and now the whole thing is moving? I dont know how to explain it really, but i've had it happen before to a quad, and the whole throttle cable would move, but it wouldnt open up the throttle body at all. . Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
supreme_style21 Posted August 17, 2006 Author Report Share Posted August 17, 2006 just a thought, but has the throttle cable somehow come loose, and now the whole thing is moving? I dont know how to explain it really, but i've had it happen before to a quad, and the whole throttle cable would move, but it wouldnt open up the throttle body at all. . Guess I didn't look at that. I'll scope it out when it stops raining. It seems to have developed into more of a miss now than just hesitation. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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