Tom W

Last weekend my car developed a strange behavior that has been erratically repeated. I get a "hesitation" or loss of power that lasts for about 5 seconds (it feels like the car isn't getting gas). This has only happened after driving about 1 mile and only just after the car is started.

I don't believe it's bad gas because the first occurance was the morning after I added some nice 104 octane prior to an autocross and it has happened after that gas was used and a fresh full tank on new 91 octane. I don't think it's related the a cold engine because the second time it happened was after a full ady of autocrossing (20+ runs between my wife and I) with no occurances during the autocross runs. After we were done I had turned the car off, packed it up, and after starting up and heading back to the expressway I got the hesitation again.

It happend both last night and this morning too. A few seconds of no power/stuttering power then fine. No strange sounds during the probelm period, just now power.

(I have the updated wiring harness and 30k service was about 900 miles ago. I "tweaked" my ISV about 400 miles ago and eliminated the stalling associated with the RS flywheel.)

Ideas?

SundayDriver

Could be the Mass Airflow Sensor. If it gets dirty, the heated wire does not gove the correct signal and the computer gets confused. You should get the car hooked up to a Hammer and see if it has any codes, though many times that particular problem is so quick that no codes get stored.

Harold

Tom,

Just wondering how you eventually resolved this issue? Did you go down the o2 sensor route or was there something else? My car once again has this problem....

Edward

Just a shot:

Fuel Filter? When was it last replaced? I've heard of intermittant problems with a semi-clogged filter. Post if you find the fix...I'd be interested

Edward

Dave Crellin

Could be a fuel injector. I had 2 go earlier this year about 2 mths apart - the first on Cyl3 caused exactly what you describe, and after a few occasions caused a check engine light. The second injector (cyl 4) was much milder - just a slight momentary hesitation when cold, and this also caused a CEL after afew days

Jeff 993TT

I had a similar problem ( not on a p-car ) when my spark plug wires were bad. The spark plug was only getting intermittent sparks, causing the hesitation feeling that you describe.

motion

I've had it happen to me 3 times in the last thousand miles or so. I have 29,400 miles. 30k service has already been completed.

Tom W

Wow, just noticed this popped up. Ancient history, I should have followed up...

I changed the oxygen sensor (only 1 in '95 cars) and the problem was completely eliminated as well as the occasional CEL that I had before the sensor change.

This happened to me about a year or 12,000 miles ago and the 30k service did not fix it or turn up any OBDI faults. I did have both distributor caps changed at 30k due to small cracks (and no change in anything). My car has been running great since the sensor change.

Harold

Thanks guys. I have done the fuel filter already. Will be bringing the car in Thursday for the 02 sensor. Cross fingers this will resolve things.

Tom W

Harold, the oxygen sensor change is a very simple DIY. The sensor costs about $150 and it takes about 20 minutes to change (when you take your time as a first time job - repeats wouldn't take more than 10 minutes).

Harold

Well guys, a new take on an old problem. Wasn't the O2 sensor in the end. Turns out my MAF was kaput....unfortunately a hell of a lot more expensive than if it had been the 02 sensor, but at least its now fixed. Here's to trouble free motoring...

chris walrod

Maybe I should think about changing my o2 sensor? Its more than likely original with almost 43k on it. HHMMMM.