The past month ive noticed a very noticable problem in the car, it seems when im clipping along doing normal driving at say 1000 or 1500 RPM and i go to push in on the gas a small bit the engine seems like it "hickups" the tach will show the RPM drop about 3 or 4 hundred RPM (sometimes more sometimes less) and then pick right back up again in a split second.

It seems to do it on the highway as well when cruising arond 2000 to 2500 RPM. Wont do it in any higher RPM range.

Im really worried and would like to know what is causing this as im taking a road trip in a few weeks.

Also A couple of people have told me I just need to change my tranny fluid? someone else told me my transmission screen? what ever that is, and another told me these engines have a tendancy over time to stretch their timing chains, so he gave me a vacuum gauge to plug into a vacuum line but the timing was dead on.

Any insight to this mysterious problem would be great

Thanks, Trent

 

Does it feel like you're losing 3-400 rpm? Might be a dizzy issue- cap, rotor, coil.....

If that's not it- check your fuel pressure at idle and under load.

Use the vacuum gauge to check your vacuum at idle- what does the needle read, and how does it act (steady, bouncy, oscillate slowly or fast, etc).

 

At first it didnt really, althought after about a day it did, now It deffinitly feels like im loosing the RPMs, theres no missing it, the whole car knocks at times.

How would I check my fuel pressure at idle and both under load?

Also thats what I did with the vacuum gauge, it acted steady when idleing in my driveway in the "good timing" portion of the gauge. (almost prety much in the center, wich I would say according to the gauge is "close to dead on" timing)

 

anything?

 

Check your FP with a gauge. Under load, just tape it to your windshield and take a spin around the block. Ideally, you'll get it to hiccup on the drive.

"Good timing" portion of the gauge- you meant 'good vacuum', right? You were above 15 inches I assume?

Does it happen when the engine is hot or cold, or regardless?

 

well yeah good vacuum but for some reason there is a small sectin of the gauge that is green and it actually says "good timing"

What gauge would I use to check the fuel pressure?

And it does it worse when its cold.

Another thing I noticed the past couple of days, when i go to take off from a light (civilized or WOT) the engine sputters for a split second, it dosnt do that little hickup trick its like it bogs down slightly and then picks up and goes.

 

Fuel pressure gauge. If it's carb'd or TBI, most Vac gauges have a pressure side that could handle the job too.

 

It is cab but where would i plug/hook it into?

 

You'll need a T fitting to splice into the feed line.

You could also test the initial pressure by starting the engine, shutting it down, and then plugging the gauge line into the carb feed line. Have someone start it and run it on the gas in the bowls while you eye the gauge.

Also, have you checked for vacuum leaks? If it's worse when it's cold, it could be due to the heat causing the parts to expand and partially seal the leak.

 

I have a similar problem. Running my car is fine. The other day I let her sit running, and her RPMs would drop very low and felt almost like she was going to stall. I havent had the problem again. I am still kind of worried about it though.