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Topic: Shuddering engine...UPDATE July,1 (Read 14859 times) previous topic - next topic

Shuddering engine...UPDATE July,1

Reply #45 –
It looks like there should have been one from the factory. There's a raised section in the trunk right over the sending unit.
2002 Honda Civic EX

1984 Ford Thunderbird Elan
5.0 CFI, T5, Dual Exhaust

Shuddering engine...UPDATE July,1

Reply #46 –
Yep, I cut it, and felt good about it, and never looked back. Swapping a pump in less than 10 minutes, taking my time, with a full tank of gas, does not hurt my feelings (if it has to be done at all). With the panel installed to cover the hole, and the carpet in place, nobody would ever know. Tomorrow I'll be back out looking for the problem. Working all weekend. I got the 9 volt for the code checker, and that will be the first step of business tomorrow after the gym.
'88 Sport--T-5,MGW shifter,Trick Flow R intake,Ed Curtis cam,Trick Flow heads,Scorpion rockers,75mm Accufab t-body,3G,mini starter,Taurus fan,BBK long tube headers,O/R H-Pipe, Flowamaster Super 44's, deep and deeper Cobra R wheels, Mass Air and 24's,8.8 with 3.73's,140 mph speedo,Mach 1 chin spoiler,SN-95 springs,CHE control arms,aluminum drive shaft and a lot more..

Shuddering engine...UPDATE July,1

Reply #47 –
Going out as soon as the sun comes up. Then, I WILL figure the issue out TODAY !!!!
'88 Sport--T-5,MGW shifter,Trick Flow R intake,Ed Curtis cam,Trick Flow heads,Scorpion rockers,75mm Accufab t-body,3G,mini starter,Taurus fan,BBK long tube headers,O/R H-Pipe, Flowamaster Super 44's, deep and deeper Cobra R wheels, Mass Air and 24's,8.8 with 3.73's,140 mph speedo,Mach 1 chin spoiler,SN-95 springs,CHE control arms,aluminum drive shaft and a lot more..

Shuddering engine...UPDATE July,1

Reply #48 –
Still no codes. ran out of time today. Swapped the fuel pump and distributor (that took all of 20 minutes) reset the timing to 12....no change. I haven't had time to pull the headers so I can pull the plugs. Too much going on. It may be time to trade the old girl in on something newer. I seriously did talk to Gayle about it. I have little things going on all the time, and for the last few months, no time to be wrenching on little . Man, tired of little  to deal with. 5 minute jobs to fix, but forever in diagnosing. No funds for it either. All funds are tied up in the house, new deck, school stuff for the youngest and on and on. Will I keep the car? Probably, but for the first REAL time ever, I'm having thoughts of letting her go. I gotta get some time to do some real thinking about it.
'88 Sport--T-5,MGW shifter,Trick Flow R intake,Ed Curtis cam,Trick Flow heads,Scorpion rockers,75mm Accufab t-body,3G,mini starter,Taurus fan,BBK long tube headers,O/R H-Pipe, Flowamaster Super 44's, deep and deeper Cobra R wheels, Mass Air and 24's,8.8 with 3.73's,140 mph speedo,Mach 1 chin spoiler,SN-95 springs,CHE control arms,aluminum drive shaft and a lot more..

Shuddering engine...UPDATE July,1

Reply #49 –
Quote from: vinnietbird;392654
Still no codes. ran out of time today. Swapped the fuel pump and distributor (that took all of 20 minutes) reset the timing to 12....no change. I haven't had time to pull the headers so I can pull the plugs. Too much going on. It may be time to trade the old girl in on something newer. I seriously did talk to Gayle about it. I have little things going on all the time, and for the last few months, no time to be wrenching on little . Man, tired of little  to deal with. 5 minute jobs to fix, but forever in diagnosing. No funds for it either. All funds are tied up in the house, new deck, school stuff for the youngest and on and on. Will I keep the car? Probably, but for the first REAL time ever, I'm having thoughts of letting her go. I gotta get some time to do some real thinking about it.

Vinnie, I think you may have a temperature, you should go lay down for a bit...

Shuddering engine...UPDATE July,1

Reply #50 –
I'm just about at the end of my patience with the little BS  that happens every 4 months. For the first time ever, I am feeling that I can let go, and still sleep at night.
'88 Sport--T-5,MGW shifter,Trick Flow R intake,Ed Curtis cam,Trick Flow heads,Scorpion rockers,75mm Accufab t-body,3G,mini starter,Taurus fan,BBK long tube headers,O/R H-Pipe, Flowamaster Super 44's, deep and deeper Cobra R wheels, Mass Air and 24's,8.8 with 3.73's,140 mph speedo,Mach 1 chin spoiler,SN-95 springs,CHE control arms,aluminum drive shaft and a lot more..

Shuddering engine...UPDATE July,1

Reply #51 –
Does this only happen at wot under load Vinny?  Or is it rpm based?
[SIGPIC][/SIGPIC]

Shuddering engine...UPDATE July,1

Reply #53 –
Vac lines?

Shuddering engine...UPDATE July,1

Reply #54 –
Quote from: Bob;392660
Does this only happen at wot under load Vinny?  Or is it rpm based?

At idle, it's right about 950....just as always, smooth as it always is (for the TFS-1 cam). Once I push the gas, whether in neutral or in gear, the vibration/shudder/ whatever starts. It's not an earth shaking thing, but I can feel the stammer in the car.

The TPS and IAC were swapped a few minutes ago before I came in from watering the yard. No time to drive it yet and see where it stands after those parts were changed. I am trying to find time to pull the headers and check the plugs. The simplest parts to check first, but a job to get to.

The vacuum lines all checked good. I went through every one of them, twice.

I gave the harmonic balancer a look over from all angles I can see from, and the rubber is good, and it APPEARS to be good. It's less than two years old, and MAYBE 20,000 miles on it. Not that always means anything.


Swapped parts...

_New fuel pump
-New Coil
-New TFI module
-my extra distributor (known good, was on my E-303 engine)
-timing at 12

This wasn't happening Saturday, then all of the sudden it started Sunday (a week ago, not yesterday).

Tomorrow, one way or another, I'll run codes, and go from there. If time allows, I'll pull the plugs. Hopefully.
'88 Sport--T-5,MGW shifter,Trick Flow R intake,Ed Curtis cam,Trick Flow heads,Scorpion rockers,75mm Accufab t-body,3G,mini starter,Taurus fan,BBK long tube headers,O/R H-Pipe, Flowamaster Super 44's, deep and deeper Cobra R wheels, Mass Air and 24's,8.8 with 3.73's,140 mph speedo,Mach 1 chin spoiler,SN-95 springs,CHE control arms,aluminum drive shaft and a lot more..

Shuddering engine...UPDATE July,1

Reply #55 –
Did you run the cylinder balance test and pass?
[SIGPIC][/SIGPIC]

Shuddering engine...UPDATE July,1

Reply #56 –
I have honestly never heard of the balance test until this thread.....
'88 Sport--T-5,MGW shifter,Trick Flow R intake,Ed Curtis cam,Trick Flow heads,Scorpion rockers,75mm Accufab t-body,3G,mini starter,Taurus fan,BBK long tube headers,O/R H-Pipe, Flowamaster Super 44's, deep and deeper Cobra R wheels, Mass Air and 24's,8.8 with 3.73's,140 mph speedo,Mach 1 chin spoiler,SN-95 springs,CHE control arms,aluminum drive shaft and a lot more..

Shuddering engine...UPDATE July,1

Reply #57 –
Oh, and the test plug under the hood....there's only the bigger plug, not the smaller one. Strange, my last two Birds (both '88's as well) had the smaller plug also. This car...MIA. I can't find any broken wires, no sign it was ever there.
'88 Sport--T-5,MGW shifter,Trick Flow R intake,Ed Curtis cam,Trick Flow heads,Scorpion rockers,75mm Accufab t-body,3G,mini starter,Taurus fan,BBK long tube headers,O/R H-Pipe, Flowamaster Super 44's, deep and deeper Cobra R wheels, Mass Air and 24's,8.8 with 3.73's,140 mph speedo,Mach 1 chin spoiler,SN-95 springs,CHE control arms,aluminum drive shaft and a lot more..

Shuddering engine...UPDATE July,1

Reply #58 –
You should run it vinny, it will cut one cyl at a time and let you know if one of them is not contributing to the idle speed..

What do the plugs look like?
[SIGPIC][/SIGPIC]

Shuddering engine...UPDATE July,1

Reply #59 –
I hope to pull the plugs tomorrow. haven't had time to pull the headers to get to them yet.

How do I do the test?
'88 Sport--T-5,MGW shifter,Trick Flow R intake,Ed Curtis cam,Trick Flow heads,Scorpion rockers,75mm Accufab t-body,3G,mini starter,Taurus fan,BBK long tube headers,O/R H-Pipe, Flowamaster Super 44's, deep and deeper Cobra R wheels, Mass Air and 24's,8.8 with 3.73's,140 mph speedo,Mach 1 chin spoiler,SN-95 springs,CHE control arms,aluminum drive shaft and a lot more..