V6 Woes. Shuddering, loss of power.

[MX30wner]

In the low end (from 1000-3500), my car has recently started to jig along the road. It certainly doesn't have the power it had a month ago, and now I have what sounds like an exhaust problem - the car sounds like a helicopter... So, I shake along the road, with the helicopter sound, until somewhere at the 3500 mark, all the weird noises stop, and the car zips off like it always did, minus some occasional shudders again. The car idles up and down, up and down, almost stalling. <P>Now I know that you'll say its the plugs. They were replaced a year ago, so I can't see how it could be them. I can understand the wires maybe, but how would anything electrical effect the noise coming out of my muffler? <P>Oh yeah, and it grinds sporadically going up and down through almost every gear. <P>Help guys, I think my baby is dieing, and I think it's going to break my heart! <p>[ September 23, 2002: Message edited by: MX30wner ]

[lazzyie]

check all your vaccum hoses, id say the rubber intake tube on the throttle body to the vaf, or maybe broken motor mounts? mine seem to vibrate when the rear mount ate it!, good luck

[MX30wner]

Thanks. Any other advice?

[pelado]

Lazzyie is giving you good advice, check your motor mounts, particularly the front and read ones.

[MX30wner]

Will do, thanks guys!

[IvsD]

As well as the vacuum leak potential, the shuddering could be associated with leaking EGR, or plugged PCV valve, the fuel pump not getting you enough fuel, or even something as simple as your air filter being plugged. The WORST CASE scenario could be a head gasket leak, or even worn camshaft lobes.....

[masonholmes]

has it been running rich? If so, you could definetely have fouled plugs in the last year. I'd check them, and note what they look like. Got any CEL codes? a bad knock sensor can cause the timing to be off, and cause it to stumble on acceleration. The distributer could also be failing, but I'd bet on the intake hose being ripped as a first place to look. (in one of those ribbed sections, might have to pull around on teh rubber a bit to make it show up) If it is infact the rubber hose, a healthy coating of ductape will take care of it for a while