Thread: Fuel/hesitation problems, please help!

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  1. #1 Fuel/hesitation problems, please help! 
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    I recently purchased a '99 GPGT Sedan. It ran fine for a few months, and then I had a coolant leak... which I fixed (Block seal, can't beat it).

    Well, as soon as the leak was fixed, almost simultaneously, the car began hesitating. When I'd go half throttle or more the car hesitates/bucks. I get a Service Engine Soon light also.

    The Codes tell me it's a cylinder misfire. I can clear the code, and I can drive with less than 1/2 throttle... but, as soon as I go past 1/2 throttle it hesitates/bucks and the Service Engine Soon light comes back on. I changed the plugs and wires immediately, but no change. If it's not getting fuel, then it makes sense for the sensors to report a misfire.

    Again, previous to thinking it was a fuel problem I did the following:
    I changed the plugs and wires immediately, but no change. I went with better than OEM, from what Autozones computer said.

    So, thinking it's a fuel problem I did the following:
    Checked Fuel Pressure at the Fuel Rail=> Result, 27psi, BAD!
    Changed the Fuel Filter => No change
    Checked all the fuel lines => No Kinks, all good
    Changed the Fuel Pump => No change
    Took a look at the Fuel Pressure Regulator => Looks good, no leaks
    Sniffed around for leaks => I don't smell anything, and I should know, it definitely smelled when I change the fuel pump
    Cleaned the MAF (why not) => No change
    Unplugged the MAF (why not) => No change

    The 1/2 throttle situation is actually getting worse, I can't go past 1/4 throttle now.

    WHAT THE HECK IS GOING ON!

    Any ideas???



    Other problems I'm having:
    1. ABS/TCS light on. I checked and cleaned the ABS harness connectors at the front hubs, but no change. Any other ideas, or threads to read up on that you recommend? I'm ready to just pull the cluster bulbs and say the heck with it.
    2. I need taillights, mine are so bad I had to dremel the outer lens and remove, but left the vertical lines. Not bad, but looks kinda silly up close, and you can play it like guitar strings. Anyone have some for cheap?
    3. Heater Core is bypassed. Any suggestions on getting one? Should I get one new at the autoparts store, does someone have one in good condition, or should I pick one up at the salvage yard?
    4. I recently put 20Kmiles on it over the past 6mo, has 178Kmiles, any recommendations? I'll likely do the LIM gaskets, and contemplating the HV3, but I might fab one up myself, $200 is retarded. Maybe I'll get a HUGE batch made and throw them up on ebay at a reduced price. I can't believe no one has made an alternative product.

    Side Note: The car was a DEA repo, so there are A LOT of gutted out items (seats, doors, trunk, etc), it's silly but I've been filling the car back up. The seats literally have all the stuffing ripped out of them, the doors have no window regulators, just a stick in each door to hold the window up; and the trunk has no spare/tools/jack. So far, I've redone the front windows and the trunk, but the rear seat is pretty bad along with the rear windows.

    PS. I paid $1500 for it, when it had 158Kmiles, the engine has lettering on it showing it had been recently replaced (it says "Good" "A"), and the transmissions shifts like butter. The engine leaks a bit of oil, and some coolant from the LIM gaskets. The transmission has no leaks. Rear shocks are blown, I replaced the front upper strut mounts, and I replaced the tie rod ends. Was it a good deal? I think so. Perfect Exterior but faded a bit, perfect interior except for the gutted sections. I thought it was a piece at first, but I'm really enjoying it.
    Last edited by McFly1999; 12-01-2011 at 03:37 AM.
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  2. #2 Re: Fuel/hesitation problems, please help! 
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    Change your plugs and wires use oem wires or upgraded ones from a vendor. Just a thought.
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  3. #3 Re: Fuel/hesitation problems, please help! 
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    Quote Originally Posted by Bob Padilla View Post
    Change your plugs and wires use oem wires or upgraded ones from a vendor. Just a thought.
    Thanks for the reply, Bob. Sorry, I forgot to mention, that was the first thing I did when it started hesitating. I thought that was pretty obvious, and need not mentioning. I'ved added that to the first thing on the list.

    You did bring up a thought though. I'll remove every spark plug and wire, and see if there seems to be a problem.

    The low fuel pressure is what has me scratching my head though.
    Last edited by McFly1999; 12-01-2011 at 03:40 AM.
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  4. #4 Re: Fuel/hesitation problems, please help! 
    SE Level Member Wisconsingrandprix's Avatar
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    take a look at the wires going to it
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  5. #5 Re: Fuel/hesitation problems, please help! 
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    Quote Originally Posted by Wisconsingrandprix View Post
    take a look at the wires going to it
    Do you mean the harness going to the fuel pump? I have a spare harness, and both the one on the car and the replacement one are in good shape. The connectors look good. Everything seems perfectly fine in regards to wiring.

    I haven't actually swapped the harness, but I may just go ahead and do that. I'm just shooting in the dark, but why not.
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  6. #6 Re: Fuel/hesitation problems, please help! 
    Turbo is the way to go. BillBoost37's Avatar
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    I attached part of a supply side fuel line (the metal of the rail) to a hose to run fuel pressure testing. From there I was able to hook up before the filter at the quick disconnect and at the fuel rail supply. This allows for you to test actual pump pressure w/o the regulator in line. And also without the length of fuel line.

    I'd check the voltage going to the pump as well. If it's low, that could explain low pressure.
    I drink..so consider that when reading my posts.

    2010 Audi A6 Dual IC's
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  7. #7 Re: Fuel/hesitation problems, please help! 
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    Quote Originally Posted by BillBoost37 View Post
    I attached part of a supply side fuel line (the metal of the rail) to a hose to run fuel pressure testing. From there I was able to hook up before the filter at the quick disconnect and at the fuel rail supply. This allows for you to test actual pump pressure w/o the regulator in line. And also without the length of fuel line.

    I'd check the voltage going to the pump as well. If it's low, that could explain low pressure.
    I'm actually trying to figure out how to check the pressure at the quick disconnect before the fuel filter, but I don't have anything that would work... so far.

    As for the voltage. I've done that already, and it is getting 5volts solid. Is that the proper voltage? It seems like a solid 5volts, so I figured that can't be it, but I do need to verify that's correct.
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  8. #8 Re: Fuel/hesitation problems, please help! 
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    I went over to junk yard and tried one of their Engine Computers. Theirs gave no code, yet after driving it the same symptoms appears, and sure enough the codes came up. So, ECU is good. That's not it.

    I redid the pressure test today. Looks like the pressure is good after having changed the fuel pump. I had only assumed it wasn't since the problem was still there. Apparently the fuel pump was on it's way out, but was still going. Now that I replaced it, I'm good on that.

    I finally found where the PCV valve was, and I replaced it. ONLY $3!!! Wow! Looks like it was bad also. So that's good now.

    Next I'm going to do a compression test. If it checks out, then I'm going to go ahead with the Upper IMG and Lower IMG. Since the plugs aren't wet then the Lower IMG can't be the problem. Although, I'm thinking that if the Upper IMG is bad, then I could have a vaccum leak, which may be causing it to misfire by going lean.

    IMG= Intake Manifold Gasket

    So far I've done:
    Spark plugs
    Spark plug wires
    Check fuel pressure, found to be low
    Changed Fuel Filter
    Checked Fuel lines for kinks, none present
    Changed Fuel Pump
    Checked fuel pressure regulator, no leaks
    smelled for leaks, none
    Clean MAF
    Unplugged MAF, no change plugged or unplugged
    Tried a different Engine Computer, symptoms still exist
    Checked Codes, Misfire and Lean codes, Reset, they came back
    Checked fuel pressure, good now, yet symptoms still exist
    Changed PCV Valve

    Sypmtom: Hesitates any more than 1/4 throttle, Misfire code, Lean code

    Next:
    Check Compression, if good then
    Replace UIMG
    If problem fixed, replace LIMG
    If problem continues, junk it!!!

    Another thing someone brought up (the Autozone guy that checked codes for me) was that maybe the coil was bad. Sure, why not... but that wouldn't explain the Lean code.

    Get this, the Autozone guy also told me: "Those numbers on the coil don't mean anything. They don't correspond to the cylinder numbers, it's "1" "2" "3" across the back, and then "4" "5" "6" across the front.

    I told him, "I'm not sure about that, but whatever you say." He did reset the codes for me, afterall. I looked it up in a service manual a friend loaned me, and the coils do indeed correspond to cylinder numbers: "2" "4" "6" across the back, and then "1" "3" "5" across the front.
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