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Leto · 06-22-2009, 04:53 AM

Help... I thought of posting this in Tilted Motors, but that forum seems to be dedicated to obiesance verses maintenance...

Can anybody diagnose my car problems so that I don't spend a lot of $ on a garage telling me something expensive?

Basically I have to discernable problems:

1) my car stutters badly. even idling, it is jerky, like it's missing a cylinder. rough sounding. It's been doing this for about 3 months now, and doesn't seem to get worse or better. Sometimes, if it is rainy, it seems to be worse.

- does it need a tune up? is it the spark plugs that are gummed up?
- does it need a new fuel pump? It's got its original (1997 VW) pump
- is there something more sinister ($$$) happening?

2) there is a grinding sound coming from under the car when I accelerate. It doesn't happen when the car is cold, but after about 5km of driving, if I accelerate I hear it. Not when coasting or stopped.

At first I thought the differential was shot. but after looking under the car, I realized that front wheel drives have no differentials. So it's not that.

The heat shield is loose, and rattles, I suppose I could take it off, but I think I know the rattle that it makes, so no worries there.

I thought it may be the bearings in the rear wheels (the sound seems to come from behind the driver's seat) but when I switched my winter tires to summer tires, I tried to jiggle the wheels, and there was no play.

Could it be the muffle is full of rust?

Thanks in advance!

06-22-2009, 04:53 AM	#1 (permalink)
Leto Junkie Location: The Danforth	My car stutters! Help... I thought of posting this in Tilted Motors, but that forum seems to be dedicated to obiesance verses maintenance... Can anybody diagnose my car problems so that I don't spend a lot of $ on a garage telling me something expensive? Basically I have to discernable problems: 1) my car stutters badly. even idling, it is jerky, like it's missing a cylinder. rough sounding. It's been doing this for about 3 months now, and doesn't seem to get worse or better. Sometimes, if it is rainy, it seems to be worse. - does it need a tune up? is it the spark plugs that are gummed up? - does it need a new fuel pump? It's got its original (1997 VW) pump - is there something more sinister ($$$) happening? 2) there is a grinding sound coming from under the car when I accelerate. It doesn't happen when the car is cold, but after about 5km of driving, if I accelerate I hear it. Not when coasting or stopped. At first I thought the differential was shot. but after looking under the car, I realized that front wheel drives have no differentials. So it's not that. The heat shield is loose, and rattles, I suppose I could take it off, but I think I know the rattle that it makes, so no worries there. I thought it may be the bearings in the rear wheels (the sound seems to come from behind the driver's seat) but when I switched my winter tires to summer tires, I tried to jiggle the wheels, and there was no play. Could it be the muffle is full of rust? Thanks in advance! __________________ You said you didn't give a fuck about hockey And I never saw someone say that before You held my hand and we walked home the long way You were loosening my grip on Bobby Orr http://dune.wikia.com/wiki/Leto_Atreides_I