C4 - Acceleraton hesitation/sputter?
Thread Starter
Melting Slicks
Joined: Oct 2007
Posts: 2,334
Likes: 8
From: Ontario
C4 - Acceleraton hesitation/sputter?
Just noticed the car seems to have a hesitation/sputter 
when accelerating. Any ideas/suggestions on what would cause this and possible fixes?
Dave
when accelerating. Any ideas/suggestions on what would cause this and possible fixes?Dave
Le Mans Master
Joined: Feb 2004
Posts: 5,383
Likes: 11
From: Toronto Ontario
Race Director
Joined: May 2001
Posts: 15,324
Likes: 2,077
From: Guelph, Ontario
Could be the optispark, but before you go spending megabucks on a new one, start by changing all the plugs and wires.
I had a similar problem on my 95 Formula (same LT1 engine) and I thought for sure the optispark was toast and it turned out to be a bad spark plug. On another occasion I couldn't get the car started for a half hour, and also thought the opti was toast, and that turned out to be a burnt coil wire.
I had a similar problem on my 95 Formula (same LT1 engine) and I thought for sure the optispark was toast and it turned out to be a bad spark plug. On another occasion I couldn't get the car started for a half hour, and also thought the opti was toast, and that turned out to be a burnt coil wire.
Le Mans Master
Joined: Apr 2005
Posts: 8,077
Likes: 4
From: Scarborough ONTARIO
U got pretty good advises from 2 members, just check usual small stuff, like plug wires, change fuel filter, if nothing solves than opti-crap, thats a real tuff one, thats one of the reason i did not buy LT4, Oh yeah clean MAF sensor, TB ...GL on finding problem.
One of the great experience on my previous C4 (L98), on drag raceway pit area, i change all spark plugs, but forgot to hook one plug wire, car started fine, and i raced it, crap hesitation, exhaust back fire sputtering, came back to pit area, and checking here n there, luckily on stang guy (good guy), pointed out plug wire hangin loose. hooked up ran fine, a gain of full 1 sec in 1/4 mile, than he siad if u loose one cylinder, its a loss of 25% power which i believe.
Another incident, Clean the TB with a paper towel, but a small piece of paper stuck there in butterfly, same problem, running like crap, after 2 hrs of struggle i found out that paper stuck in TB, removed it there u go.
Fuel filters on C4 are easy to replace and cheap too.
GL on finding, let us know how it goes. Sami.
One of the great experience on my previous C4 (L98), on drag raceway pit area, i change all spark plugs, but forgot to hook one plug wire, car started fine, and i raced it, crap hesitation, exhaust back fire sputtering, came back to pit area, and checking here n there, luckily on stang guy (good guy), pointed out plug wire hangin loose. hooked up ran fine, a gain of full 1 sec in 1/4 mile, than he siad if u loose one cylinder, its a loss of 25% power which i believe.
Another incident, Clean the TB with a paper towel, but a small piece of paper stuck there in butterfly, same problem, running like crap, after 2 hrs of struggle i found out that paper stuck in TB, removed it there u go.
Fuel filters on C4 are easy to replace and cheap too.
GL on finding, let us know how it goes. Sami.
Burning Brakes
Joined: May 2008
Posts: 752
Likes: 28
From: Ottawa, Ontario
What kind of gas are you using? If it's Esso, I would suggest changing to something else for a couple of tankfuls.
I had this problem with a '98 LS1 Firebird and my wife's '94 C4. When starting to accelerate, the engine (in both cars) would stumble slightly, then start to accelerate slowly, then it would come on strongly.
We stopped using Esso and the problem went away. We now use Sunoco 94 or Shell premium.
I had this problem with a '98 LS1 Firebird and my wife's '94 C4. When starting to accelerate, the engine (in both cars) would stumble slightly, then start to accelerate slowly, then it would come on strongly.
We stopped using Esso and the problem went away. We now use Sunoco 94 or Shell premium.
Drifting
Joined: Aug 2000
Posts: 1,601
Likes: 52
From: Jefferson City MO
It could also be the plug wires.
Tonight, get the car in as dark of a place you can find, start the car, open the hood, and look for electrical arcing. This worked for me when a plug wire got too close to the header and burned a hole in it.
Tonight, get the car in as dark of a place you can find, start the car, open the hood, and look for electrical arcing. This worked for me when a plug wire got too close to the header and burned a hole in it.
1994, acceleration, back, c4, c5, car, corvette, exhaust, fire, hesitating, hesitation, issues, slight, sputter, sputtering, zr1
