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Please help. Engine stumbling.
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wiggleplum
Novice
Mar 8, 2012, 6:54 PM
Post #1 of 11
(2097 views)
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Please help. Engine stumbling.
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Hello everyone,
About a month ago, the service engine soon light came on. At the time the car was running fine, no issues at all. However, today I started having some issues with it stumbling while accelerating. As of right now, the car runs decent while idling, but as soon as I hit the accelerator it stumbles really bad. Once I get up to speed it evens out a bit and runs OK. I dont the money to fix it, so I dont know what I am going to do about work. But it would be nice to know what the culprit is for when I do manage to get it to a shop. Oh, and I had someone hook it up to the computer when the light was on a few weeks ago, and the machine came up with an error. Unknown code or something to that effect.
Everything thet I remember being done to the car in the last few years: The spark plugs and wires were replaced 3.5 or so years ago. About 6 months ago the timing chain/belt and the gear were replaced. When i first got this car 4 years ago, it had 66,000 miles. Currently has 120,000.
The car is a 1998 Pontiac Firebird with a 3.8 Liter V6
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Discretesignals
Ultimate Carjunky
/ Moderator
Mar 8, 2012, 6:56 PM
Post #2 of 11
(2091 views)
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Re: Please help. Engine stumbling.
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Unknown code? Do you know the trouble code number?
Since we volunteer our time and knowledge, we ask for you to please follow up when a problem is resolved.
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wiggleplum
Novice
Mar 8, 2012, 7:00 PM
Post #3 of 11
(2080 views)
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Re: Please help. Engine stumbling.
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Unfortunately they didn't give it to me. I could attempt to stumble my car into the local auto zone or something in the morning and see if their machine can handle the code. Does the light have to be on, or does the computer store all the stuff? The light has been coming off and on this whole time.
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wiggleplum
Novice
Mar 8, 2012, 7:02 PM
Post #4 of 11
(2080 views)
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Re: Please help. Engine stumbling.
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I also forgot to mention the fuel filter and transmission fluid were replaced about 6 months ago as well.
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Discretesignals
Ultimate Carjunky
/ Moderator
Mar 8, 2012, 7:09 PM
Post #5 of 11
(2069 views)
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Re: Please help. Engine stumbling.
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Sometimes their scanner may not have a description for a specific code. This usually happens when it is a manufacture code. If you can give us the code number, we can translate it for you and give you some information on how to find out what is making that code appear.
Since we volunteer our time and knowledge, we ask for you to please follow up when a problem is resolved.
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wiggleplum
Novice
Mar 8, 2012, 7:16 PM
Post #6 of 11
(2059 views)
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Re: Please help. Engine stumbling.
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Thanks for all your help. I will try and get it to the store tomorrow morning somehow. In the meantime, do you have any ideas as to what may be causing this?
Thanks again
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Discretesignals
Ultimate Carjunky
/ Moderator
Mar 8, 2012, 7:20 PM
Post #7 of 11
(2051 views)
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Re: Please help. Engine stumbling.
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If you can get the code(s), that may or may not help with isolating which system to troubleshoot. There are a lot of possibilities, but the computer may be pointing to one of those possibilities that is causing your problem. Besides, I don't think you want HT to bring out the crystal ball just yet.
Since we volunteer our time and knowledge, we ask for you to please follow up when a problem is resolved.
(This post was edited by Discretesignals on Mar 8, 2012, 7:21 PM)
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wiggleplum
Novice
Mar 9, 2012, 6:09 AM
Post #8 of 11
(1988 views)
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Re: Please help. Engine stumbling.
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Thanks for all your helpful replies.
I managed to get it to Advance-auto and back this morning, and he gave me 3 things. First, that I have a misfire on cylinder 1. Also, he came up with codes 1404 and 301. Does anyone have a way of looking these up for me? I would be extremely grateful. Maybe they will tell me what is wrong.
Thanks again.
(This post was edited by wiggleplum on Mar 9, 2012, 6:10 AM)
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MarineGrunt
Enthusiast
Mar 9, 2012, 9:10 AM
Post #9 of 11
(1974 views)
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Re: Please help. Engine stumbling.
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1404 is the code for a clogged egr valve which could be causing your poor engine performance. If you have any mechanical skills at all it is something that you could probably do yourself. Egr valves can sometimes just be cleaned. If not, you're looking at over $150 not including labor. It's only held on by two two bolts. If you do try and replace it or clean it yourself make sure you get a gasket. It may be something that you could be walked through in order to take it off.
I'm sure the real mechanics will post shortly. Make sure you take their advice before you take mine. 
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MarineGrunt
Enthusiast
Mar 9, 2012, 2:38 PM
Post #11 of 11
(1957 views)
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Re: Please help. Engine stumbling.
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Like I said, don't listen to my advice over the real mechanics here.
A few years ago I was helping a buddy of mine with his car and and he had a similar problem and he cleaned the egr and it seemed to take care of it. I guess that is if I remember right and I wouldn't put any money on it!
And here I thought I'd actually be able to help somebody else out for once. Maybe next time!
Thanks for the correction Hammer Time.
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