At around mile 320 of a 400 mile trip, my car started giving me some issues. I was going 75 up a fairly steep grade, and all of a sudden the car started shuddering. this lasted less than a second, and it happened again about 5 seconds later. after this, i turned off the cruise. when i pushed the gas a little bit, the car shuddered again. the shuddering only occured 3 or 4 times total.

It felt like the pavement was rippled, but it definitely had to do with me getting on the gas.

after this i pulled over to take a look at everything. I babied it all the way home, keeping it under 70. It didn't happen again. the car runs great, sounds like it has an exhaust leak at the passenger side donut gasket. This problem has not happened since. My friend said it could be a clogged cat, but I don't have any strange smells/CEL's.

I just bought the car, haven't done anything but some techron in the tank and some new front brakes. I'm planning on spark plugs and a fuel filter whenever I have some time. any ideas what it is?

 

Will it do it if you get on it, or be going in 5th gear around 60-65 and floor it. Try that and see if itwill stumble, or hesitate again.

 

I think your friend is right..it sounds like your cat is collapsing and starting to clog up your exhaust flow

 

I'd be much more curious about the condition of your fuel filter, air filter and spark plugs before I started questioning a clogged cat.

Tune her up before you do anything else.

 

You know a cat is really clogged when the car wont come up off an idle.. If you have the time or tools, jack the car up, loosen the H-pipe at the collectors, leaving a pretty big gap... and take it for a quick run to that speed (safely!) see if it runs fine.. That an easy way to tell if your cats are the culprit...Bypass them!

 

I'll try a little cat bypassin, as well as a quick air/fuel filter and spark plug tune up.

we'll see what happens

 

Let me know. But do the bypass BEFORE you send the money on the tune up! X-pipes are more expensive than plugs/filters[:@]

 

well i need to do my fuel filter anyway, and I already have a k&n so I'm just gonna clean it.

i'm doing everything BUT the plugs tomorrow, no plugs because I want to buy a 3/8" torque wrench before I do them.

 

I know what every body tells you about torque`n the plugs...Its not really needed tho man. I've been working on Fords for 5 years, and never had a problem with a plug change. You just have to have a feel for plugs. Snug but not too tight...

 

well, my air filter is cleaned and oiled. I also changed my oil and fuel filter. The car still hasn't stumbled like it did last thursday, but I haven't gone over 60 in it yet. I'll be taking the highway to school tomorrow, and I'll know if she's fixed or not.