madrx3boy
Member
- Joined
- Aug 25, 2008
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- 78
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- Location
- New Zealand
- Members Ride
- 98 VT Acclaim
Hi everyone,
My VT 3.8 Ecotec has had a bit of a sputter since I got it 1.5 years ago. For a long time I never really noticed it unless I walked round to the back of the car, then I could faintly hear the exhaust sputtering (sounds like a pffft sort of noise). I didn't think too much of it at the time
But lately it's been a lot more noticeable - now I can feel the car shaking at idle - and now it's really starting to bug me. One by one I've replaced the air filter, plugs, and leads but it's still doing it.
I can't say I notice anything while the engine is under load - maybe a slight decrease in performance, hard to say due to the fact that the problem was already there when I got the car, and partly because it's gotten worse slowly over a long period of time.
I've got a couple more ideas of what it could be, but want to get some advice before I start replacing parts unnecessarily.
I'm thinking either: Coils (How can I test them?), Fuel Filter, Cracked vacuum hoses. Although I would have thought that if it was any of those, then it would be even more noticeable once I open up the throttle more and more?
Any ideas will be much appreciated!
cheers
My VT 3.8 Ecotec has had a bit of a sputter since I got it 1.5 years ago. For a long time I never really noticed it unless I walked round to the back of the car, then I could faintly hear the exhaust sputtering (sounds like a pffft sort of noise). I didn't think too much of it at the time
But lately it's been a lot more noticeable - now I can feel the car shaking at idle - and now it's really starting to bug me. One by one I've replaced the air filter, plugs, and leads but it's still doing it.
I can't say I notice anything while the engine is under load - maybe a slight decrease in performance, hard to say due to the fact that the problem was already there when I got the car, and partly because it's gotten worse slowly over a long period of time.
I've got a couple more ideas of what it could be, but want to get some advice before I start replacing parts unnecessarily.
I'm thinking either: Coils (How can I test them?), Fuel Filter, Cracked vacuum hoses. Although I would have thought that if it was any of those, then it would be even more noticeable once I open up the throttle more and more?
Any ideas will be much appreciated!
cheers