Hesitation and jumping

[hoover]

I've just overcome my alarm problems with kind help from this forum but unfortunately it's been followed by another issue, this car have been really good to me over several years, maybe it's showing its age now! This fault is intermittent unfortunately, I can be driving along and sometimes the car will start jerking down the road like the power is being cut and reconnected. It will tick over ok but throttle response is unpredictable stopping and starting. Suddenly all will clear and back to great performance. It so far always overcomes this within a mile or so. If it's going to do it, it's usually shortly into the journey which is making me think something to do with any cold start components about to switch off. I have thought it may be injectors but have added cleaner and run on a full tank. It did once stumble after first firing up and took a couple of minutes to even out, not sure if that is relevant though. Sorry to post so soon after my last problem but as usual my gratitude to your thoughts is assured.

[dgcantrell]

It could be a flakey DME relay. I had a OEM one go bad and after troubleshooting it, I replaced it with new unit. A few weeks later all of sudden, it started cutting out for no reason. One day it stopped on the side of the road and would not start. From previous experience, I keep my DME relay jumper in the fuse box. I removed the new URO DME relay and installed my jump. She fired up and ran fine all the way home. Turned out the URO DME relay was basically crap inside. I spent the extra $20 on a OEM KAE relay and haven't had a problem since.

Install this relay jump in the DME socket and take it for a drive. If it runs fine, you need get new relay or pop the cover and clean the relay contacts inside.





Be sure to unplug it when you turn the car off. This thing energizes the fuel pump and DME and will run the battery down in short order if left plugged in.

[thomasryan]

What does the carbon track look like in the AFM?

[hoover]

Thanks again for your help, I've got a spare DME relay, I'll swap it over and check it out. The jump idea is handy to remember. Sorry thomasryan, I don't know about this AFM thing.

[dgcantrell]

He's talking about the Air Flow Meter in front of the Throttle Body. I wouldn't crack it open until I eliminated the DME relay though.

Here's a link to testing the AFM if you don't get it going with a new DME relay or the jumper method.

Air Flow Meter (AFM) Operation and Testing

[hoover]

Thanks for the link and advice, I'm storing all this valuable info!

[dgcantrell]

Here is a link to the main part of the Clarks Garage Workshop Manual.

http://www.clarks-garage.com/shop-manual/repair-procedure-index4.htm

And a link to the main page: Clark's Garage Home Page

[hoover]

Great, thats going to be useful.

[hoover]

Wanted to drag this thread up to offer further thanks for solving my hesitation issue, I had a spare DME relay and replaced the original with it, and to date and after many drives in the car I feel I can report success!