this just happened today while driving down the road, and would like some advice.

when I was starting off from a light, there seemed to be a "surging" then hesitation under acceleration. this has happened before, but very random so I wasnt ever too concerned, but today it was very pronounced. there are no codes coming up with a scanner, so as far as my ECU is concerned the truck is running fine.
anyone have any ideas ?

the only thing Ive done to my truck recently is change the plugs n wires, but she has been running great since then. (about a month ago)

 

I have the same problem.

 

Hahaha at the bump picture

 

ok, well, since no one can answer this, Im just going to swing by my mechanic and ask him to check it out
I'll let you know if he finds anything out Nate and Ben.

 

I would like to know what's causing it for future reference

 

no problem, I'll be posting it on here for all to read.
storming pretty good here today so I think it wont be for a couple days until the storms pass.

 

LOL Trailer Park Boys FTW!

 

Definatley make sure to post back on this problem. I did my plugs/wires not too long ago, but after talking to mechanic a little bit, he said it may be a faulty plug with a crack in the porcelain. Time to get out all of my extensions, universals, sockets, and prepare myself for some more swearing. My favorite one to change is the back passenger one of course.

 

I talked with my mechanic, but he hasnt had a chance to look into it yet (super busy as he lost one of the guys that works for him)
when he can get some time for me to come by he said he will throw it on the diagnostic system and see if he can read anything from that.

I did a little more testing myself and it seems to only happen when accelerating from a stop, if Im moving and gun it, it doesnt happen. also, as mentioned, it doesnt feel like any type of hesitation, more along the lines of a brief power loss, or a bogging down, sort of like its getting too much gas or a poor mixture of it. so Im thinking it might be more fuel related than mechanical.

 

What did you find out?

 

sorry, forgot to update this

he hasnt had a chance to check on it. just after talking with him last time, he failed to mention the shop will be closed for 3 weeks, so Im hoping to catch him next monday.

 

ok, so small update
today, for the first time since.... well, since Ive owned the truck, I got a small backfire while accelerating. so it appears its going downhill drastically.
I should mention that I was running the AC, which I hardly ever do, and it seems to be far more prevalent with it on (not sure if that would be an "obviously" or not)

anyways, Im going to take some time tomorrow and go through my wires and make sure everything is still seated good, if so, I may then go and look at the plugs, as when I changed them 1 of the new ones ceramics shattered so I had to use 1 of the old plugs.
lastly, I will probably give my coil pack a look and see if anything looks screwy.

after that, if I cannot figure out the issue myself, I will have to leave it up to my mechanic.

 

well, looked at most of everything I could and didnt see anything. took it by advanced and no codes came up, so I guess my next move is to wait on the mech to throw it on the comp...

what kills me, is just a few weeks ago, I changed my plugs/wires and the truck has been running solid since, until the day of my original post and since it has been getting steadily worse.

so I guess until the mech can look at it I most likely wont have an update, but Im going to cont to look at things and if I happen upon something I will update.

 

You said it backfired? Was it threw the intake or exhaust?

 

exhaust I think, there was a lot going on at the time, the stereo was playing, my wife and son both talking at once and the fan for the AC was set 1 below high (which is still pretty loud)
what bothers me is it isnt consistent. most of the time, the truck runs flawlessly, its just that every once in a while it would seem to have that power loss in my earlier post, which is now becoming much more evident.
going through the forums points to about a dozen things it could be, from plugs (new except the 1) to sensors. thats why I think I need to get it on a diagnostics computer, since the data logger shows no codes.

 

'nother update, and I think I remember reading someone else having a similar issue
when the truck is cool, like a first start of the day, or even after it has sat for 20-30 mins, it runs fine, but after it gets to operating temps is when I start seeing problems.
had to drive it 300 miles today and towards the end I was almost afraid to give it gas. so it gets progressively worse as time goes on, but then the next morning when I go to start it starts great and runs fine, until it reaches operating temps, then its a rinse/repeat scenario.
no codes showing with a scanner, so until I can get it on a diagnostics comp I cant get detailed info.
things I read so far:
coil pack
plug
fuel filter
injectors
IPS (idle position sensor)
PCV line "crimping" from the vacuum.
MAS

as far as I have been able to tell, it honestly seems like its bogging from bring too rich, it def backfires occasionally, but I still cannot tell if it is from the exhaust or intake.

 

and another update

due to getting ripped off when buying a family car, I have been unable to get it to a shop yet, that and the shop I use has been so busy that it is over a week long wait for a "minor" problem...

but there is a new symptom showing and I think I read about this problem somewhere else on the forums, so I will be doing some looking around.
but now, if I need to gun it to cross an intersection, but have to stop in the center, so basically an abrupt take off, followed by an abrupt stop, the truck seems to want to stall. it doesnt, not even really close to it, but you can feel it shudder like its considering it...

anyways, I'll be doing some searching about all these issues and see if I can come up with a viable reason for this happening. but I dont think I'll have anything conclusive until my mechanic can have a diagnostics run on it. :(
oh yea, my truck is an automatic, not manual.

 

I've been having the same problem for the past month or so, and is progressively getting worse. The check engine light had came on, so decided not to mess with it until I got the money to put out for it.

Same problems - power loss. Especially from a dead stop and especially first couple gears (manual). The problem even happens if I gun it in 4th gear. If I shift and gas real slow, it won't seem to do it...but is getting harder to do each time.

If anyone has any updates, please post!

 

yea, sorry for not updating anything
I havent had anything done as yet, but my mechanic and I have been talking about it quite a bit trying to decide which route to take.
his first advice is to get a new spark plug to replace the old one I used when I changed mine and shattered the ceramics on 1 of the new ones.
his second advice is when it is acting up, pull over, pop the hood and lightly tap on the IAC (located at the very top of the intake at the mani, I'll get a pic of it tomorrow) to see if its sticking. if it is, the tapping should unstick it and this will, of course, tell you that the IAC needs replaced.
after that, it goes downhill for possibilities... :(

 

ok, so not a good update.
changed the spark plug with a new one, and the truck was only running on 5 cyl.
so I changed the old one back in, and the same thing, only running on 5.

checked the wire and Im getting spark, checked that entire side and all 3 are getting spark. now its raining and I have to wait til that stops. but as it stands, my truck is only running on 5 cyl and I havent had any luck finding which one isnt firing.
but since the wires are new, and the plugs are new, if I do find that one of the cyl isnt getting spark, Im going to have to say coil.

 

Hmm. I've had people tell me that cat might be clogged. Which may be the case since the catalyst and oxygen sensor on both sides of the cat gave back question marks. Either that or the sensors are bad and I'm about to waste my time =p I'm going to get the cat scoped out tomorrow, I'll keep it posted.

Thanks

 

check your converter mike

 

the cat ?
I thought of that, since I read the same thing as Scott was told.

I just hadnt gotten that far yet.
I'll be able to do more tomorrow morning while my son is at school, as it is now, I simply cant find anything wrong, per my mechanics advice, I checked to make sure none of the ceramics had gotten cracked and they all appear in good shape, but I wasnt able to pull them since it was hot from running this afternoon, then the rain.

 

finally, some good news
Im 90% sure I found the problem

while the engine is running, under the wire that attaches to the same plug I changed out, I can see a lot of spark seeping out from under it. so chances are very good that has been the problem all along.
I never would have seen that during the day, so it was by pure luck that I checked it this evening after resetting the computer.
tomorrow morning, while my son is at school, I'll put the old wire back in for that cyl and cross my fingers :D
I'll post an update in the AM.

 

so, 4 different wires and still the same....
I got a wild hair last night and decided to switch the wires last night while it was easier to see the sparking.
went through 3 of the older wires (all still in good shape) and its happening with all of them, I can see spark coming from under the cap as it sits on the plug.
Im thinking it might be the plug, so that will be switched out next after I take my son to school, if its still acting up then... what ?
cylinder ?