I just want to say thanks in advance guys.

Here's my problem. I got new gas earlier today at a shady gas station. I drove to Best Buy and the mile or so from Best Buy to the interstate, it felt like the car was sliding out on me. When I got on the interstate it kept feeling like my car was loosing power, as if the tires were sliding out on ice. I pulled off at the next off-ramp and checked to see if maybe some lug nuts got loose or something, and everything was fine. I kicked the cruise control on and when I was driving, when it would feel like it was sliding out again, I would notice the RPM's would jump one line.

I'm not getting a CEL though, so I'm not too sure where to start. I do know I've adjusted my clutch pedal so that it's bottomed out, and I'm only getting clutch engagement the last 1-2 inches before it gets to the "soft" area at the first 2-3 inches.

Anyone have any ideas? I was wondering if it's my plugs maybe? Maybe my clutch? I honestly have no idea on this one.

Hope you guys can help.

Thanks.

 

How many miles are on your car? When were the plugs last changed? If you're not sure, i'd pull the plugs anyway just to elimintate the possibility of them being bad.

 

fuel pump?

 

Your clutch is slipping, needs ajustment or replaced.

 

Did this happen exactly when you put in new gas? Before anything else, I'd try to burn through this tankful, get gas at your usual station and see if the symptoms persist..

 

It's a 2002 with 47,XXX miles.

I don't remember this happening before the tank of gas. And I'm not sure how old the plugs are.

I did have the engine do the typical stutter and almost die when it goes down to idle.

I cleaned the MAP sensor and it seemed to clear up the problem.

How do you do a clutch adjustment?

 

Bump for more input. I'm trying to find a way to describe it but I've noticed it in all gears and all RPM ranges. The car also feels slightly sluggish in my opinion. I guess the best way to describe what happens is the RPM's either drop, or raise slightly for approximately a second, and then return to where it's supposed to be. I've noticed it with cruise control on too. The hiccup is pretty significant though. It has the same force as when you have cruise control on and tap the decel.

Anyone have any ideas? I'm thinking it's either my MAP sensor, or possibly my plugs.

The fact that it happens for more than just a few revolutions of the engine makes me think it's something electrical.

I didn't notice it exactly after I put the gas in. I didn't notice it for about 15-ish miles later.

 

Sounds to me like a bad tank of gas. This happened to my other car when I put in gas at a shady station as well. I'd burn through the gas as soon as possible, get good gas, and do a spark plug change/check. I noticed bad gas tends to leave deposits on my plugs. I always get gas from one of 3 stations I trust.

Anyway its also possible its the IAC valve or a MAP sensor issue. Both issues are covered in the DIY/FAQ section at the top of the "under the hood" forum.

If you're not getting any check engine lights, its probably one of those three issues.

 

I just got done cleaning the IAC, and cleaning the MAP. I used Mass Air Flow cleaner instead of MAP cleaner though. And I don't have any carb cleaner. Problem seemed to go away, and when it would idle down, it would drop to one bar below 1000, and then idle right at 1000. But the closer I got home when ever it would idle down after pushing in the clutch, the idle started getting lower and lower. Now it drops down to 2-3 below 1000 sometimes and studders, but not as bad as before. I didn't notice the power hiccups though. But I cleaned my MAP sensor about a week and a half ago before I left for vacation and it seemed fine, and the problem returned when I returned from Vacation.

I'm thinking it's my MAP sensor...

 

I GOT A SIMPLE! SIMPLE! WAY TO TELL IF YOUR CLUTCH IS SLIPPING!

So go on a uphill road and go around 30mph and stick it into 5th or 6th and floor it. Once your flooring it pay attention to your rpms. If your rpms jump up and down and have lots of movement then your clutch is slipping. If the rpms stays still and doesnt move or struggles up at a steady rate your clutch is not slipping.