I notice that sometimes upon accelerating from a stop, the car shudders like crazy, then out of nowhere takes off like a bat out of ****.

What is this?

My cel is on btw

if you get the fault code read and then post it here we can help you

Well heres the thing. It's got about 8 codes supposedly. When I bought it, no codes. About 2 days later, maybe even the same day on a trip Home, it threw the code. One dealership says that they could be old, another says they are current.
I know it has the lean on bank one code, but the dealership also says it's got some pollution controls problem that will take 800$ to fix. Upon him putting the top end back together and resetting the code, (note: he didn't fix anything), a few months later it came back on. I also have noticed in the past few months excessive smoking out the tailpipe and oil consumption. Weird.

if it's unning lean on bank one it is very likely to be the oxygen sensor, this would also possibly account for the smoking and poor engine running. the only way to be sure is to clear the codes (using the scanner or disconnecting the battery) and wait till the cel comes on again to get a fresh reading

I was thinkin the 02 sensor also.. but I've read around and I've seen where a new maf will also fix this problem?

I've tried clearing the codes.. but the dealership says that THEY need to go in and actually clear the codes outta the memory.. that even disconnecting the battery is not clearing them.

what you have been told is utter garbage, disconnecting the battery WILL clear the memory.....also it takes just a few mins. to clear the codes on the scanner.......find another dealer they are trying to rip you off

I figured they were trying to rip me off... telling me it's some $800 dollar emmisions piece that goes atop the intake manifold. Thanks for clarifying the whole erasing memory thing though.

Should I have the dealer scan my car? Or a garage? Or is the autozone scanner good enough?

autozone is fine,

Ok I'll snag those codes and report back with them

Try to find a slack from inner and outer steering-wheel bar joints on both sides of the car. If there is no sluck its probably bearing of the driving shaft (the shaft thats turns the frontwheels).

Try to dry the lamps with the hairdryer.

I guess I should have been more specific. It's not a mechanical shudder.. it's the engine cutting in and out.. like it gets power, then it cuts out. Gets power, then cuts out. Then takes off like a bat outta ****.

But I dont think it's moisture inside the lamps (though I could be wrong). Seems like somthing else? I'll try the blowdryer.

Then its probably assy water (cooldant) temp. sensor failure.
In time it gets worse. (I know)

After a longer ride the revs just go up by no need at all and when you the need to accelerate from the line in center in the middle of the corssroad the revs go so down the engine stalls, only with very little accel. You might get away without stall.

Try to get the codes to assure.

This post has been edited by Mihkel: Jul 12 2008, 12:35 AM

Hmmm... ok. I think autozone was only pulling up one code, but the dealer was pulling up a few, but I'll see what autozone says.

And yes, if you give it only very little gas sometimes it wont stall out like that. BUT, the car doesn't do this all the time. Sometimes it runs great. Weird.

quick update: Today upon driving somewhere, going inside and coming back out, the cel shut off. I started up the car, and it's gone. It's done this in the past, but the cel came back on shortly after.

Any ideas? I cant get a code now that it's off can I?