Dodge Stealth engine shudders when under a load.

My Stealth has been in the garage for about 4 years without having been
driven much. Now when you drive it you get a shudder. I put some Lucas fuel
cleaner in it and I'm ordering a gas filter for it. Anyone have any other
ideas as to what it could be? Tank is full so I'll have to drive it out to
put new gas in. Only seems to shudder when under a load, like when you get
it up to 3000 rpm in 3rd. Half expecting a backfire but have yet to get one.

KY

"KYHighlander" > wrote in message
...
> My Stealth has been in the garage for about 4 years without having been
> driven much. Now when you drive it you get a shudder. I put some Lucas
> fuel cleaner in it and I'm ordering a gas filter for it. Anyone have any
> other ideas as to what it could be? Tank is full so I'll have to drive it
> out to put new gas in. Only seems to shudder when under a load, like when
> you get it up to 3000 rpm in 3rd. Half expecting a backfire but have yet
> to get one.
>
> KY

Is this a manual transmission? Shuddering is often caused by automatics,
and you didn't say whether you had the girly model Stealth.

No I have a very manly 5 speed. a automatic is a waste in a sports car IMHO.

KY


"Joe" > wrote in message
...
>
> "KYHighlander" > wrote in message
> ...
>> My Stealth has been in the garage for about 4 years without having been
>> driven much. Now when you drive it you get a shudder. I put some Lucas
>> fuel cleaner in it and I'm ordering a gas filter for it. Anyone have any
>> other ideas as to what it could be? Tank is full so I'll have to drive it
>> out to put new gas in. Only seems to shudder when under a load, like when
>> you get it up to 3000 rpm in 3rd. Half expecting a backfire but have yet
>> to get one.
>>
>> KY
>
> Is this a manual transmission? Shuddering is often caused by automatics,
> and you didn't say whether you had the girly model Stealth.
>

"KYHighlander" > wrote in message
...
> No I have a very manly 5 speed. a automatic is a waste in a sports car
> IMHO.
>
> KY
>
>
> "Joe" > wrote in message
> ...
>>
>> "KYHighlander" > wrote in message
>> ...
>>> My Stealth has been in the garage for about 4 years without having been
>>> driven much. Now when you drive it you get a shudder. I put some Lucas
>>> fuel cleaner in it and I'm ordering a gas filter for it. Anyone have any
>>> other ideas as to what it could be? Tank is full so I'll have to drive
>>> it out to put new gas in. Only seems to shudder when under a load, like
>>> when you get it up to 3000 rpm in 3rd. Half expecting a backfire but
>>> have yet to get one.
>>>
>>> KY
>>
>> Is this a manual transmission? Shuddering is often caused by automatics,
>> and you didn't say whether you had the girly model Stealth.
>>
>
So it doesn't do it at low rpms? If it was the engine, I'd expect it to be
worse at 1500 rpm than it is at 3000, if you know what I mean.

its almost like it isnt getting gas or a dead spark plug. Might have to
check the plug wires. it only has 58k miles on it. I just dug a mouse nest
out from under the intake manifold, I guess that is what the cast aluminum
part is between the valve covers. I haven't worked on engines since I sold
my '71 ford Torino GT so all the stuff under that hood is like it came from
mars or something. LOL

KY

"Joe" > wrote in message
...
>
> "KYHighlander" > wrote in message
> ...
>> No I have a very manly 5 speed. a automatic is a waste in a sports car
>> IMHO.
>>
>> KY
>>
>>
>> "Joe" > wrote in message
>> ...
>>>
>>> "KYHighlander" > wrote in message
>>> ...
>>>> My Stealth has been in the garage for about 4 years without having been
>>>> driven much. Now when you drive it you get a shudder. I put some Lucas
>>>> fuel cleaner in it and I'm ordering a gas filter for it. Anyone have
>>>> any other ideas as to what it could be? Tank is full so I'll have to
>>>> drive it out to put new gas in. Only seems to shudder when under a
>>>> load, like when you get it up to 3000 rpm in 3rd. Half expecting a
>>>> backfire but have yet to get one.
>>>>
>>>> KY
>>>
>>> Is this a manual transmission? Shuddering is often caused by
>>> automatics, and you didn't say whether you had the girly model Stealth.
>>>
>>
> So it doesn't do it at low rpms? If it was the engine, I'd expect it to
> be worse at 1500 rpm than it is at 3000, if you know what I mean.
>

KYHighlander wrote:

> No I have a very manly 5 speed. a automatic is a waste in a sports car IMHO.
>
> KY


To which I would reply that anything built by Mitsubishi is a waste of
the term "sports car," but I digress :-)

But seriously, shuddering under load with a manual trans pretty much has
to be a misfire or a broken motor mount- have you checked for excessive
engine motion? Have you checked the plugs and plug wires? It could also
be a clogged injector causing that particular cylinder to lean-out under
load.

My advice would be to drain the gas tank and get fresh fuel in there,
check the plugs and wires, and then see what happens. I don't know how
to read the error codes on Mitsubishi-built faux-Mopars, but certainly a
code reader could do it if there's not a "cheat" like there is on
Chrysler-built cars. Many parts stores offer free code-reading. That
might provide a better starting point than our SWAGging.

On Sun, 15 Jul 2007 20:33:53 -0400, "KYHighlander"
> wrote:

>its almost like it isnt getting gas or a dead spark plug. Might have to
>check the plug wires. it only has 58k miles on it. I just dug a mouse nest
>out from under the intake manifold, I guess that is what the cast aluminum
>part is between the valve covers. I haven't worked on engines since I sold
>my '71 ford Torino GT so all the stuff under that hood is like it came from
>mars or something. LOL
>

I think you just answered your own question there. Mice love wire
insulation and most other types of insulation too. Why carry the
stuff to build a nest all the way from the yard when you can just chew
up some of these nice yummy wires! You will probably find that they
have nibbled at the spark plug wires and a few other wires as well but
the plug wires are where I would put my money as being the culprit
here.

Steve B.

thanks. I appreciate it.

there hasn't been a check engine light go off though.

KY

"Steve" > wrote in message
...
> KYHighlander wrote:
>
>> No I have a very manly 5 speed. a automatic is a waste in a sports car
>> IMHO.
>>
>> KY
>
>
> To which I would reply that anything built by Mitsubishi is a waste of the
> term "sports car," but I digress :-)
>
> But seriously, shuddering under load with a manual trans pretty much has
> to be a misfire or a broken motor mount- have you checked for excessive
> engine motion? Have you checked the plugs and plug wires? It could also be
> a clogged injector causing that particular cylinder to lean-out under
> load.
>
> My advice would be to drain the gas tank and get fresh fuel in there,
> check the plugs and wires, and then see what happens. I don't know how to
> read the error codes on Mitsubishi-built faux-Mopars, but certainly a code
> reader could do it if there's not a "cheat" like there is on
> Chrysler-built cars. Many parts stores offer free code-reading. That might
> provide a better starting point than our SWAGging.

KYHighlander wrote:
> My Stealth has been in the garage for about 4 years without having been
> driven much. Now when you drive it you get a shudder. I put some Lucas fuel
> cleaner in it and I'm ordering a gas filter for it. Anyone have any other
> ideas as to what it could be? Tank is full so I'll have to drive it out to
> put new gas in. Only seems to shudder when under a load, like when you get
> it up to 3000 rpm in 3rd. Half expecting a backfire but have yet to get one.
>
> KY
>
>
I had a '93 Stealth and really enjoyed it. I decided to sell mine when
we moved to a different state (pesky IRS).

Unfortunately I don't think your problem is repairable. Your best bet is
to sell it to me.

--
Gyz

07 Saturn Sky
98 Dodge Status ES
94 Mitsubishi Eclipse GST

Dirty plugs, dirty injectors, bad wires, dirty throttle body, plugged air
filer, defective AIS, bad EGR?

Most of that is pretty simple stuff to replace. I'd burn through a couple
tanks of fresh premium gasoline before making any changes.

Bob

"KYHighlander" > wrote in message
...
> No I have a very manly 5 speed. a automatic is a waste in a sports car
> IMHO.
>
> KY
>
>
> "Joe" > wrote in message
> ...
>>
>> "KYHighlander" > wrote in message
>> ...
>>> My Stealth has been in the garage for about 4 years without having been
>>> driven much. Now when you drive it you get a shudder. I put some Lucas
>>> fuel cleaner in it and I'm ordering a gas filter for it. Anyone have any
>>> other ideas as to what it could be? Tank is full so I'll have to drive
>>> it out to put new gas in. Only seems to shudder when under a load, like
>>> when you get it up to 3000 rpm in 3rd. Half expecting a backfire but
>>> have yet to get one.
>>>
>>> KY
>>
>> Is this a manual transmission? Shuddering is often caused by automatics,
>> and you didn't say whether you had the girly model Stealth.
>>
>
>