My car... It's chugging...

odusgolp
odusgolp Posts: 10,477 Member
edited November 2024 in Chit-Chat
like it's out of gas, but has a full tank. It seems fine only when I'm pushing the gas or in park, otherwise it chugs.

Does anyone have the slightest clue what it could be?

My first guess was that there's a pine cone bird feeder stuck in my air filter. But there isn't, I double checked...
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Replies

  • taso42
    taso42 Posts: 8,980 Member
    maybe idle adjustment
    or clogged air filter
    or dirty fuel injectors or caburetors
    or mass air flow sensor malfunction

    it would be cool if you called up the guys on Car Talk and imitated the sound.... or at least imitation it for us.
  • Qarol
    Qarol Posts: 6,171 Member
    gas is not clear; therefore, it's not water.

    pour water in the tank...then report back.
  • _SusieQ_
    _SusieQ_ Posts: 2,964 Member
    Damn, I was going to say PCBF. In that case I'm going with...

    42.
  • Carl01
    Carl01 Posts: 9,307 Member
    It is missing the payment book that comes with a shiny new one. :smokin:



    Real answer...could be water in the gas,an ignition issue,plugged fuel filter,etc.
    Wish I could be more helpful.
  • odusgolp
    odusgolp Posts: 10,477 Member
    There's 42 gallons of water in my tank. I'm sure of it...

    air filter is new. can't imagine how there'd really be water in the gas line...

    I'll go w/ something dirty or plugged. Damn. *L*
  • MissO﹠A
    MissO﹠A Posts: 906 Member
    Gremlins.
  • ryno0618
    ryno0618 Posts: 361
    Lots of things. Could be time for new fuel filter, could be fuel pump acting up, could be clogged/dirty injectors, could be air intake issues, like air filter or air sensors..... that sucks
    Could be bad gas

    what year make model of car? age sometimes can help narrow maintenance issues down
  • KnottyJen
    KnottyJen Posts: 1,070 Member
    BWAHAHAHAHAHA!!!! I love my friends.


    ...in other news, I am zero help when it comes to car issues. I say to my boyfriend - it's not working right. Fix please. And it gets better. ;-)
  • YukonJoy
    YukonJoy Posts: 1,279 Member
    I would trust the guy with the car in his ticker.
  • jean1058
    jean1058 Posts: 86 Member
    Do you have any warning lights on in the dash? Sounds like there is a restriction... perhaps something is stuck shut... try throttle body clean. If that doesn't work, take it to a shop to pull diagnostic trouble codes. Could be many reasons. (yes, I work in the service department of a car dealership).

    And the guys who said it could be many other things are CORRECT!
  • JaimeBrown5
    JaimeBrown5 Posts: 324
    There's 42 gallons of water in my tank. I'm sure of it...

    air filter is new. can't imagine how there'd really be water in the gas line...

    I'll go w/ something dirty or plugged. Damn. *L*

    Do you live somewhere that gets cold winters? The temperature rising and falling can cause condensation which can cause water in the tank/lines. Buy some gas line antifreeze, let your gas get down to a quarter tank, refill it all the way and pour the bottle of antifreeze in it. Drive. Have you had the tranny oil changed lately? Is your car very old? Your catalytic converter could be dirty and plugged and causing the chugging when it gets hot (also very dangerous). You should also have your belts and hoses checks for leaks. Chugging could be all kinds of things.
  • JaimeBrown5
    JaimeBrown5 Posts: 324
    Also, if there's 42 gallons of water in your tank, you have some bigger problems.
  • chevy88grl
    chevy88grl Posts: 3,937 Member
    Mine did this.. come to find out it had a clogged fuel injector and wasn't getting the right amount of fuel. BUT. When mine did this, it also struggled to accelerate.


    When was the last time you changed your plugs and plug wires? It is possible your plugs need changed - it'll cause a chugging feeling if they aren't firing correctly.

    Could be the fuel filter is clogged.

    Could be a tank of bad gas or water in the lines - try running fuel injector cleaner and dry gas. It'll solve those.
  • odusgolp
    odusgolp Posts: 10,477 Member
    Long story short, I will simply take it in.. I'm not touching it.

    But, she is now 10 years old (Tribute), has had zero problems in the past. However, she is being stored outside sans garage in Wisconsin for the first time in 5 years (I just moved to an apt. w/ no garage).
  • Pocket_Pixi
    Pocket_Pixi Posts: 1,167 Member
    Maybe it is multiple tiny pine cone bird feeders?
  • JaimeBrown5
    JaimeBrown5 Posts: 324
    Throttle body cleaner! that was the thing I was trying to remember! My dad swore up and down that was the problem with my old car. "No dad, the cylinder is shot. This car is DEAD in a week, I am telling you."


    A week later... it sounded like a rocket ship taking off... very slowly. I took a video on my phone of my flooring it while trying to get up to 80km...it took 2 full minutes. You had to keep your foot on the gas all the time or it stalled. But... dad knows best. Aye yaye yaye!
  • odusgolp
    odusgolp Posts: 10,477 Member
    To any questions that state, "When was the last time..." The answer is never for all intents & purposes.

    :bigsmile:
  • odusgolp
    odusgolp Posts: 10,477 Member
    Maybe it is multiple tiny pine cone bird feeders?

    Could be... I should really take a closer look.
  • TWrecks1968
    TWrecks1968 Posts: 138 Member
    Lots of things. Could be time for new fuel filter, could be fuel pump acting up, could be clogged/dirty injectors, could be air intake issues, like air filter or air sensors

    This. Does the Check Engine light come on?
  • mikeyrp
    mikeyrp Posts: 1,616 Member
    <sarcasm>Is it eating its exercise calories? Maybe its in starvation mode.</sarcasm>
  • damonmath
    damonmath Posts: 359 Member
    Sounds like bad gas... aka water in the tank.... However this would cause it chug when pressing the gas pedal. Since it's doing it at idle, it could be a bad spark plug, clogged injector, or even a timing issue.
  • odusgolp
    odusgolp Posts: 10,477 Member
    Lots of things. Could be time for new fuel filter, could be fuel pump acting up, could be clogged/dirty injectors, could be air intake issues, like air filter or air sensors

    This. Does the Check Engine light come on?

    There are no lights/warnings on....
  • AdoraK
    AdoraK Posts: 724 Member
    There are additives you can put in your tank that may help

    Dry gas - this will help clean out water
    Fuel Injector cleaner
    Carb Cleaner
  • the_journeyman
    the_journeyman Posts: 1,877 Member
    1: Free checks

    A) Check air filter. Chugging & sluggish under load usually indicates rich. A clogged air filter will be cause rich running

    2: Cheap & easy fixes.

    A) Replace air filter if visually dirty

    B) Fuel dryer. I'm willing to bet if this started after a recent fill-up this could solve your issue.

    C) Next fill-up - Add some fuel system cleaner



    C)
  • Pocket_Pixi
    Pocket_Pixi Posts: 1,167 Member
    Maybe it is multiple tiny pine cone bird feeders?

    Could be... I should really take a closer look.

    its either that or it needs to eat back its exercise calories... or it needs some pregnant lady pee...
  • odusgolp
    odusgolp Posts: 10,477 Member
    Maybe it is multiple tiny pine cone bird feeders?

    Could be... I should really take a closer look.

    its either that or it needs to eat back its exercise calories... or it needs some pregnant lady pee...

    You forgot one - it could be her TOM.
  • taso42
    taso42 Posts: 8,980 Member
    I hope you didn't fall for no banana in the tailpipe
    http://youtu.be/HktV2yGtLv8
  • SmileyJ23
    SmileyJ23 Posts: 349 Member
    When mine did that it turned out to be a bad spark plug.
  • jenny95662
    jenny95662 Posts: 997 Member
    like it's out of gas, but has a full tank. It seems fine only when I'm pushing the gas or in park, otherwise it chugs.

    Does anyone have the slightest clue what it could be?

    My first guess was that there's a pine cone bird feeder stuck in my air filter. But there isn't, I double checked...

    i had it happen with my old car it need new spark plugs they needed to be clean and one plug was bad so i just decided to buy all new ones and prob was solved
  • Espressocycle
    Espressocycle Posts: 2,245 Member
    You didn't look hard enough, I bet some squirell shoved the pine cone in the air intake.
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