OT: Car help, severe hestitation and stutter at idle

[Racer X]

yes, I believe they do.

[deckeda]

Yeah, AutoZone will pull the code for you for free. They have a hand-held thing they come out into the parking lot with.

If it points to something simple to replace, even if it's only part of the problem, you'll be ahead of the game prior to bringing a mechanic into the equation.

I was also going to suggest that if the issue was fairly consistent across most RPM, inspecting the plugs should tell you if the hesitation is due to not enough fuel (plugs too white or parts of insulation missing/running lean/engine knocking) or not enough spark (plugs too dark/running rich.)

[AAA]

pour a bottle of seafoam in the tank. In the intake a bit too.
I hear good things about that. (used some myself)

[Bernie]

Find some gas without corn oil.
Ethanol does that to all cars over time.

[blusubaru]

Just got back from Autozone. The computer couldn't pull the code. The guy claimed that the fuse was blown for the port and the cigarette lighter. I pulled the fuse and it was fine. I also checked the fuse for the ECU, and it was fine. To check it, we took the computer to his car and it almost immediately began pulling data. Hmm...

[JoeH]

Mechanic could not pull codes from my son's car a few months ago. He ended up having to run an additional ground wire to the computer mount before it would produce any codes for the reader. So there could be a bad ground connection.

As for vacuum leaks, if not one of the hoses, it could be a bad diaphragm in a control a hose is connected to, or internal to the intake header or throttle body. I would not be looking for for a vacuum leak in the fuel lines.

[btfc]

EGR

[martin]

Cracked plug might cause the stuttering.

[mrbigstuff]

btfc wrote:
EGR

Nah, he was banned from this place.

[modelamac]

Cracked plug will be evident at all speeds, not just idle.

I vote for vacuum leak as well.

Could also be bad throttle position sensor. I think those have a would resistor in them, much like a fuel tank sensor. The arm that slides over the windings may not be in contact at all times, sending erratic signals to the computer. Could be bad MAPP unit as well. Dealer time, I think.