Now its chugging?

[Naterman35]

Ok so...

Awhile ago was having problems with the car before the fuel pump issue...
Well was able to take the car out for a drive today and the issue is still there... When you accelerate sometimes it will make like a chug noise when you first press the gas or a few times it will make this noise then will start to pick up speed and what not... Any idea on my problem?

[81DaytonaPaceCar]

Ah, my gremlin is now your gremlin.

Start with changing the fuel filter.

If that doesn't do it, go to a heavy fuel system/injector cleaner like Seafoam.

While you're at it, check the plugs.

That's a good start.

[Naterman35]

Well i go try out the fuel system cleaner i suppose... Would STP or lucas oil be a good brand or should i just try seafoam?... I've replaced plugs, fuel filter, TPS... can't think of anything else right now.

[00FlowCamaro]

Coil packs and wires? That was my problem recently and I had about the same problem you seem to be having.

[Naterman35]

any idea on the pcv if it would cause this?

[jakes_GSXR]

check your exhaust gaskets

[Naterman35]

how would i go about that?

[Naterman35]

Well... im pulling a code 23 which is "Manifold air temperature sensor"... would that cause me problems?

[jakes_GSXR]

i have no manifold sensors so have no clue. but to check the exhaust gaskets go to every connection like where the Y connects in and where the manifolds meet the block. listen with the car. give it a little gas. check for leakage.

[Naterman35]

well after me and brad drove it today it also seems to be "Popping" a very very faint popping noise on acceleration.

[roadblaster]

that sounds just like a leaking valve. is it popping thru the intake side or thru the exhaust.

time for compression test

[1BADAIR]

if the IAT is bad if usually defualts to a very rich setting. This will cause your issues

[Naterman35]

the popping i talk about is a very very faint sound.. you barely hear it when driving and its only when you accelerate. Other wise you don't hear it... even revving it in neutral you wont hear it... Im going to look into replacing the IAT sensor and see were this gets me..

[dboersma]

There are so many things that can go haywire with a tpi car.... Mine would do a similar thing a while back. It turned out that my computer went bad and thought the car was running at 220 degrees all the time. Well, it richened the mixture and caused the motor to bog, and hesitate on acceleration but it ran fine in park. It would still hesitate at high speeds after that. I went through the entire car and ended up finding a bad VSS (speed sensor) I replaced it and it fixed the problem. I think an 89 might have switched to a trans mounted VSS but I am not sure. Finally, the valve seals started getting really bad. More than embarassing blue smoke at start up. It ended up fouling my #8 plug all the time. So I replaced all the valve seals. It has been almost 4 months and the car is running better than ever and getting almost 23mpg on the highway.

Even a low mileage 30,000 mile car has problems.... Unlike Indiana Jones "it's not the years, it's the mileage"... old third gens do funny things with age.

Hope that helps you out.

[dboersma]

Im going to look into replacing the IAT sensor and see were this gets me..

You can check the IAT sensor with a meter very easily.... These are the same sensor as the coolant temp on the front of the block. Getting to the IAT sensor means taking the upper plenum off the TPI....

Is it posting any codes? Have you checked the plugs, wires, cap/rotor? Have you run some seafoam through the tank?

I'm betting it is a spark issue (bad plug or wire) high speed miss.