2002 3.8 Hesitation problem

Hoofinstien · January 29th, 2012, 10:39 AM

I have a 2002 3.8 with 130k miles. The only performance mods are a cheap CAI and divorced duals Flowmaster gt catback exhaust.

Under acceleration, (almost always light acceleration) it has an intermittent bucking/hesitation problem. I have replaced my EGR valve,fuel filter,DFPE sensor and plugs/wires at about 80k.

The only known problems are cracked header and corroded battery cables to the point where it is getting acid build up under the rubber.

Should I start with replacing the cables and could this be an electrical problem?

Green_6er · January 29th, 2012, 08:32 PM

i would replace the coil pack with an OEM piece and see if that helps at all.

bluesmokesixxer · January 29th, 2012, 08:57 PM

Originally Posted by Green_6er

i would replace the coil pack with an OEM piece and see if that helps at all.

+1

and throw some new motorcraft copper plugs in there too while your at it, there cheap and while you got them out you can see if you have a misfire or not.

Hoofinstien · January 29th, 2012, 10:10 PM

I do all my own work, just wish I had someone that could pinpoint the exact problem. Without codes this is tricky. At idle it is very smooth and this hesitation is completely random, comes and goes. I have never had to replace a coil pack, can this lead to random hesitation and no codes.

Green_6er · January 29th, 2012, 10:45 PM

could be starting to take a dump on you. just test it with a multimeter thing. idr exactly how to though.

iPAPKE · January 30th, 2012, 12:12 AM

Bad coil pack can definitely lead to hesitation. Before replacing coil pack, pull all your plugs and make sure are properly gapped. Make sure the wires are all pushed on completely until the audible click. Then do the coil pack if the hesitation persists.

MustangV6Man? · January 30th, 2012, 02:57 AM

IAC

Air Filter

MAF Sensor

TPS Sensor

stephen · January 31st, 2012, 09:46 PM

I'd recommend new Motorcraft coil and clean the MAF. Also new wires and plugs if not already done.

It looks like you have replaced most of the EGR parts. That would be the other place to look.

stephen · January 31st, 2012, 09:48 PM

Also maybe clean the injectors. I usually remove them and send them off to Witchhunter
performance,

Green_6er · January 31st, 2012, 10:50 PM

or you could just get some injector cleaner... for like $6...

SON1C · February 1st, 2012, 12:17 PM

seafoam your car, change plugs, wires, possibly new coil pack, replace header, replace battery and terminals, if you have known problems why havent you taken care of them? problems only lead to more problems if you're proactive about things then they won't pile up or lead to even more problems.

Hoofinstien · February 1st, 2012, 09:57 PM

Thanks for all the suggestions. I think I will go ahead and tackle the known problems first.

I am going to oil my filter, clean my MAF and start redoing all my battery cables. Corrosion built up inside the rubber can't be good for anything.

Anyone know of a good how-to on battery cables. I know how to change them but was wondering if we can fabricate our own from Universal cables from walmart instead of the high priced set from the dealer.

iPAPKE · February 1st, 2012, 10:56 PM

Start with plugs and wires first.

Mr. Red Pony · February 1st, 2012, 11:31 PM

Is your fuel filter clogged?
Do you here clicking when it happens?

Don't spend money on cables, clean them ASAP.
Don't get plugs, wires, and coil pack. You are getting spark and it sounds like you are not getting a misfire.
Not an air filter. It would drive worse at higher RPMs and set codes.
Not the IAC because you are using the throttle, and obviously not idling. it would idle like shit from the IAC being bad.
Not the MAF, that would set a code.
Likely not the TPS. You would have a dead spot in the throttle.
No need to break out a multimeter. Electricity is going to have nothing to do with a hesitation.

When was the fuel filter changed?

Mr. Red Pony · February 1st, 2012, 11:35 PM

Originally Posted by SteeD43

seafoam your car, change plugs, wires, possibly new coil pack, replace header, replace battery and terminals, if you have known problems why havent you taken care of them? problems only lead to more problems if you're proactive about things then they won't pile up or lead to even more problems.

All those issues have nothing to do with the hesitation. please don't bash him. He may not have the funds to fix those issues.

Mr. Red Pony · February 1st, 2012, 11:37 PM

Originally Posted by stephen

Also maybe clean the injectors. I usually remove them and send them off to Witchhunter
performance,

Which is a waste of time. All they do is soak the tip in solvent for an hour and blow air through it backwards.

Hoofinstien · February 2nd, 2012, 06:43 AM

I just changed the fuel filter. Should I be looking at a fuel delivery problem?

Mr. Red Pony · February 2nd, 2012, 09:39 AM

Auto or manual trans?

You never answered the click question?

Hoofinstien · February 2nd, 2012, 09:51 PM

Automatic.
No clicking. Here is exactly what it does.

Idle revs are perfect. Purrs like a kitten.
Hard acceleration very rarely hesitates.
Medium acceleration hesitates like a bitch.
Very light gas sipping acceleration very rarely hesitates but when it does it will buck until I let off gas and get back into it.
When it starts to hesitate if I let off and get back into it, it usually goes away.

Btw, thank you red, you have been very helpfull so far. I really want to get this running right again so I can start my mods back up on it. I really dont feel like modding my pontiac to much

MustangV6Man? · February 2nd, 2012, 10:39 PM

I disagree red pony - My MAF dogged on me and did not set off any codes whatsoever.

January 29th, 2012, 10:39 AM	#1
Hoofinstien Newbie Join Date: Dec 2010 Posts: 49 iTrader: 0 reviews	2002 3.8 Hesitation problem I have a 2002 3.8 with 130k miles. The only performance mods are a cheap CAI and divorced duals Flowmaster gt catback exhaust. Under acceleration, (almost always light acceleration) it has an intermittent bucking/hesitation problem. I have replaced my EGR valve,fuel filter,DFPE sensor and plugs/wires at about 80k. The only known problems are cracked header and corroded battery cables to the point where it is getting acid build up under the rubber. Should I start with replacing the cables and could this be an electrical problem? __________________ 2002 3.8 Auto 17x8 Black Bullitt replica's FRPP lowering springs Chin Spoiler Stainless American Thunder catback with divorced midpipe AM CAI

January 29th, 2012, 10:10 PM	#4
Hoofinstien Newbie Join Date: Dec 2010 Posts: 49 iTrader: 0 reviews	I do all my own work, just wish I had someone that could pinpoint the exact problem. Without codes this is tricky. At idle it is very smooth and this hesitation is completely random, comes and goes. I have never had to replace a coil pack, can this lead to random hesitation and no codes. __________________ 2002 3.8 Auto 17x8 Black Bullitt replica's FRPP lowering springs Chin Spoiler Stainless American Thunder catback with divorced midpipe AM CAI

February 1st, 2012, 12:17 PM	#11
SON1C Run ur car, not ur mouth. 2003 Sonic Blue 4.6L Join Date: Jul 2010 Location: Northern Virginia Posts: 4,057 Blog Entries: 1 iTrader: 3 reviews	seafoam your car, change plugs, wires, possibly new coil pack, replace header, replace battery and terminals, if you have known problems why havent you taken care of them? problems only lead to more problems if you're proactive about things then they won't pile up or lead to even more problems. __________________ 238rwhp/263rwtq Drew's Build Thread

February 1st, 2012, 09:57 PM	#12
Hoofinstien Newbie Join Date: Dec 2010 Posts: 49 iTrader: 0 reviews	Thanks for all the suggestions. I think I will go ahead and tackle the known problems first. I am going to oil my filter, clean my MAF and start redoing all my battery cables. Corrosion built up inside the rubber can't be good for anything. Anyone know of a good how-to on battery cables. I know how to change them but was wondering if we can fabricate our own from Universal cables from walmart instead of the high priced set from the dealer. __________________ 2002 3.8 Auto 17x8 Black Bullitt replica's FRPP lowering springs Chin Spoiler Stainless American Thunder catback with divorced midpipe AM CAI

February 1st, 2012, 11:31 PM	#14
Mr. Red Pony Resident badass 01 Built V6 (3.9) 13.91 @ 99.1 N/A Join Date: Jan 2010 Location: Lawton, Oklahomo Posts: 6,789 iTrader: 10 reviews	Is your fuel filter clogged? Do you here clicking when it happens? Don't spend money on cables, clean them ASAP. Don't get plugs, wires, and coil pack. You are getting spark and it sounds like you are not getting a misfire. Not an air filter. It would drive worse at higher RPMs and set codes. Not the IAC because you are using the throttle, and obviously not idling. it would idle like shit from the IAC being bad. Not the MAF, that would set a code. Likely not the TPS. You would have a dead spot in the throttle. No need to break out a multimeter. Electricity is going to have nothing to do with a hesitation. When was the fuel filter changed? __________________ 271rwhp N/A V6 The Name is Danny. I'm a GM Technician. Suck it.

January 30th, 2012, 12:12 AM	#6
iPAPKE iPoopke Regular 2004 Mustang Join Date: Aug 2011 Location: Michigan Posts: 844 iTrader: 0 reviews	Bad coil pack can definitely lead to hesitation. Before replacing coil pack, pull all your plugs and make sure are properly gapped. Make sure the wires are all pushed on completely until the audible click. Then do the coil pack if the hesitation persists.

January 30th, 2012, 02:57 AM	#7
MustangV6Man? Enthusiast Join Date: May 2010 Location: USA Posts: 664 iTrader: 1 reviews	IAC Air Filter MAF Sensor TPS Sensor

January 31st, 2012, 09:46 PM	#8
stephen Hardcore Enthusiast Join Date: Feb 2007 Posts: 1,262 iTrader: 0 reviews	I'd recommend new Motorcraft coil and clean the MAF. Also new wires and plugs if not already done. It looks like you have replaced most of the EGR parts. That would be the other place to look.

January 31st, 2012, 09:48 PM	#9
stephen Hardcore Enthusiast Join Date: Feb 2007 Posts: 1,262 iTrader: 0 reviews	Also maybe clean the injectors. I usually remove them and send them off to Witchhunter performance,

February 1st, 2012, 10:56 PM	#13
iPAPKE iPoopke Regular 2004 Mustang Join Date: Aug 2011 Location: Michigan Posts: 844 iTrader: 0 reviews	Start with plugs and wires first.

February 2nd, 2012, 06:43 AM	#17
Hoofinstien Newbie Join Date: Dec 2010 Posts: 49 iTrader: 0 reviews	I just changed the fuel filter. Should I be looking at a fuel delivery problem? __________________ 2002 3.8 Auto 17x8 Black Bullitt replica's FRPP lowering springs Chin Spoiler Stainless American Thunder catback with divorced midpipe AM CAI

February 2nd, 2012, 09:39 AM	#18
Mr. Red Pony Resident badass 01 Built V6 (3.9) 13.91 @ 99.1 N/A Join Date: Jan 2010 Location: Lawton, Oklahomo Posts: 6,789 iTrader: 10 reviews	Auto or manual trans? You never answered the click question? __________________ 271rwhp N/A V6 The Name is Danny. I'm a GM Technician. Suck it.

February 2nd, 2012, 09:51 PM	#19
Hoofinstien Newbie Join Date: Dec 2010 Posts: 49 iTrader: 0 reviews	Automatic. No clicking. Here is exactly what it does. Idle revs are perfect. Purrs like a kitten. Hard acceleration very rarely hesitates. Medium acceleration hesitates like a bitch. Very light gas sipping acceleration very rarely hesitates but when it does it will buck until I let off gas and get back into it. When it starts to hesitate if I let off and get back into it, it usually goes away. Btw, thank you red, you have been very helpfull so far. I really want to get this running right again so I can start my mods back up on it. I really dont feel like modding my pontiac to much __________________ 2002 3.8 Auto 17x8 Black Bullitt replica's FRPP lowering springs Chin Spoiler Stainless American Thunder catback with divorced midpipe AM CAI

February 2nd, 2012, 10:39 PM	#20
MustangV6Man? Enthusiast Join Date: May 2010 Location: USA Posts: 664 iTrader: 1 reviews	I disagree red pony - My MAF dogged on me and did not set off any codes whatsoever.

Remove Advertisements Sponsored Links
Ford Mustang Forum Advertisement

Threads Similar to: 2002 3.8 Hesitation problem
Thread	Thread Starter	Forum	Replies	Last Post
95 Mustang Gt 5spd Bucking and Hesitation problem Also ECU Prob	95whiteGT	5.0 Mustangs	0	December 30th, 2011 05:39 PM
fuel hesitation problem	03saleen	99-04	0	April 30th, 2010 11:47 PM
Hesitation Problem	nHuman	96-98	23	June 3rd, 2009 04:55 PM
2002 V6 Problem	Stang1118	V6 Mustangs	13	May 25th, 2009 03:41 PM
Problem with hesitation after installing side exhaust w/pro charger	254gt254	2005 - 2010	10	April 10th, 2009 08:24 AM

All times are GMT -4. The time now is 09:32 PM.
Contact Us - Modded Mustangs : Ford Mustang Forums - Privacy Statement - Top
Modded Mustangs is ©2005-2008, All Rights Reserved, And is Not Affiliated with Ford Motor Company. Forum is powered by vBulletin ©2000 - 2012, Jelsoft Ent. Ltd. & SEO by vBSEO 3.3.2 ©2009, Crawlability, Inc.