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1998 express idles great, studders when over 20 mph and up


dwarf car guy
04-02-2009, 10:58 AM
Just bought van and it has 193k miles..... Van idles great and has no problem starting.... Yet under load of normal driving...... van has a chug... or feels like is running on 6 out of 8 cylinders..... Vehicle has no engine lights on and no service engine light... :confused:

MT-2500
04-03-2009, 10:36 AM
Just bought van and it has 193k miles..... Van idles great and has no problem starting.... Yet under load of normal driving...... van has a chug... or feels like is running on 6 out of 8 cylinders..... Vehicle has no engine lights on and no service engine light... :confused:

Do not wait for the check engine light to tell you all.
May be Time for a good tune up with AC delco parts and fuel pressure test.
Does check engine light come on key on?
Does check engine light blink on a pull or when it is missing?

dwarf car guy
04-03-2009, 11:45 AM
Well yesterday I changed out spark plugs and removed the cap and rotor.... Seems that the car electrodes were coroded and plugs were burned up..... Guess thats why it was for sale..... Now it runs alot better.....
The engine light bulb does work, but the van is not showing it on once started...... So it appears there is no codes....

When the vehicle is started it idles great.... but once you put in gear and get to 15 mph and above it it would act like 2 cyl were missing..... I will have to take it for a drive and go to parts store and get fuel pressure gauge..... couldn't hurt.... will repost results

MT-2500
04-03-2009, 03:13 PM
If check engine light does not come on key on it may not show a code.
Get it on a scanner and check it out.

DFBonnett
04-04-2009, 08:46 AM
OP,
As MT noted, a tune-up is likely in order. I don't know what parts you changed out, but the symptoms seem like failing ignition parts. On an 11 year old vehicle , unless you have service history, I'd change out (if you haven't already) the plugs, wires, cap, and rotor, along with the air filter(after inspection). That will give you a base line to work from. If the tune-up doesn't solve the problem, it will be time to move on to fuel issues.

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