Contour Enthusiasts Group Archives Forums General Troubleshooting Studdering when accelerating

Hey guys,

My car has been studdering whenever I accelerate (usually going up hills) Usually in 3rd and 4th gears. I have read around on the forum and I changed my fuel filter, plugs and wires, recharged my k&n air filter, and used fuel injection cleaner, and still no luck of fixing the problem. It also seems like it's getting worse. Let me know what you guys think...

Thanks

1998 Svt Contour
83000 Miles

Water in the gas (use HEET), oxygen sensor (???) but this should throw a code. Check if Fuse 11 is in and okay. Note that the CEL light will come on for a few seconds at start eventhough Fuse 11 is missing or blown. It just won't have the CEL in memory (and hence keep the CEL light on).

The tranny experts would probably suggest checking that too (and again tranny problems should throw a code too).

Check fuel pressure to see if the pump is putting out. Vacuum leaks will do it too. Got Code?

no codes are being thrown, and I also just replaced all the O2 sensors. I checked the fuse and it's good, and all vacuum hoses appear to be attached and in good shape. Let me know if you guys have any other ideas, but it's looking like i'm gonna have to take it to the shop for this one...

Does this happen at all fuel levels? Mine stutters under brisk acceleration at a quarter tank or less. I believe there is a revised fuel pump?

What kind of plugs and wires you have in there? And did you reset the computer when you changed the O2 sensors, and why did you change the O2's?

the plugs are bosch, the computer reset itself after so many starts, and i replaced the O2s because they were bad and throwing the CEL.

The studdering occurs in all gears and with different amounts of gas in the tank...

let me know what you guys think
thanks

My Mystique did a similar thing, 40 mph 4th gear even on the level ground. The #2 spark plug got a carbon track from the top along the insulator to the base, shorting out the spark under load. Check if all wires are: secure, correct firing order and the plugs should be Autolite or Motorcraft double plats gapped to .052. The coil pack could be a suspect too. I forget the number...Seems the Bosch plugs should still work though if new.

What rpm are you running when this happens? Try reinstalling the proper OEM Motorcraft plugs, you'd really be suprised how often problems like this can be resolved by simple reverting to the parts the car is supposed to run on. If not, fuel, as someone has already mentioned would be the first possible problem area to supect.

usually between 2000 to 3000 rpms.......i'm going today to get different plugs, so hopefully it will work..

THanks for all ur input guys