Well I fixed the leaking heater control valve today so the coolant leak is fixed. The stumbling while cruising is still happening though The car acts normal when it's cold and when you are first driving around. It's when it's at normal operating temperature and I have been driving around is when it will start. It starts out light and progressively gets worse. It feels like someone repeatedly tapping the brakes when under steady throttle. It will go away when more throttle is given or when the throttle is let off. Like I said it gets worse as I drive more. Feels like someone tapping the brakes harder and harder. When I rev it in neutral you can feel the engine doing it around 2k RPM. I checked the spark plug wires but I didn't see any that looked burnt. The car isn't throwing any codes. Also once the problem starts when I take off from a start the car will hesitate a little bit. I am at loss of what's happening Anyone have any clues what might be causing this. Luckily it's not my primary car anymore but I still would like it to be normal for when I go cruising.

 

Hey Nigel,

It could be a faulty Ign. module inside the distributor. As you drive the car around it might be heating up inside and then going haywire on you. Another thing it could be is the pickup-coil. Have you ever replaced that yet?

It's sounds like an ignition/spark related problem to me. You said you already checked the wires, but did you actually check them with a volt/ohm meter?

How old is the Ign. coil? Is it a AC/Delco version or an just an aftermarket one? I remember reading on here about people having reliabilty problems with some of the aftermarket coils on our cars.

Hope this helps.

 

I checked the ignition module a few months ago but I will have it checked again since its free. I haven't replaced the ignition coil and I believe it is stock. I don't think it's ever been replaced. I am hoping it is something with the ignition. Everytime I have these type of problems I am always worrying it's my tranny

 

Check 2 things, Spark plug wires may be burn on the headers. They may have cracks on them.

2nd- take off the fuel filter and blow through it. If you're have a hard time blowing through it that means it is clogging up. Replace it anyway if you haven't done it in a couple of years. It's only $9.00. You will not get a check light with these problems.

 

I have a new fuel filter waiting to be installed but I don't think that is the problem. Since the car only acts up after it is warmed up. I still plan on changing it as soon as possible.

I have a feeling it is something with the ignition or at least that's what I am hoping it is. None of the spark plug wires looked toasted or damaged and the spark plugs from what I could see looked fine as well. Still need to check on the ignition module and pick-up coil. I am hoping it's one of those things acting up.

 

When I had a similar problem I checked everything,wires,cap,rotor,coil, module,etc
It turned out that one of the wires at the end that came pre-assembled was seperated/ broken right at the connector. As long as the wire was in a certain position the car ran fine. Airflow or what ever moving it gave an instant miss, like a hit that you could feel at any RPM as long as the wire was in the wrong position.How I found it was I stopped checking the wire at the core and stuck the clip on the connector.The weight of the clip bent the wire to the position that no longer made good contact. Stranger things have happened.

 

I would check the connections on the top of the coil and if you can borrow one see if you can swap in someone else's coil and see if the problem persists.