Hesitation at highway speeds

[Blue Streak]

My '03 GT (autostick) is hesitating when I'm cruising at about 50-60mph (in D) and trying to pass. The car acts like it can't decide whether or not to downshift and sorta "bucks" for lack of a better term. If I punch it it immediately drops down and takes off, but if I just ease into the throttle, it's like riding a mechanical bull. This only seems to happen in this speed range. Anyone else experience this and/or have a solution? [:I]

[ptTurbo528]

YOU KNOW I SUFFER A SIMILAR PROBLEM BUT MINE DOES IT CRUISIN ABOUT 35-40 BUT ILL BE 3RG GEAR IN THE AUTOSTICK AND WHEN I GRADUALLY PUSH ON THE THROTTLE IT DOES THAT MY CONCLUSION WOULD BE A TUNE UP NEW SPARK PLUGS...WHEN I DO MY TUNE UP IM GONNA DO NEW PLUGS AND WIRES AND THE REASON BEING IM UPGRADING MY PLUG WIRES TO A 10MM PLUG WIRE INSTEAD OF THE STOCK 8MM..FOR A COLDER SPARK AND A LITTLE MORE PERFORMANCE...SO YEA IF YOU WANNA DO A MINOR TUNE UP JUST CHANGE THE PLUGS AND YOUR PROBLEM SHOULD AND MORE THAM LIKELY GO AWAY...GET ME POST AND LET ME KNOW WHAT YOU FIND OUT BUT THAT IS MY IDEA ON THE HESITATION AS A FORMER AUTO MECHANIC

[pppt03turbo]

quote:Originally posted by Blue Streak

My '03 GT (autostick) is hesitating when I'm cruising at about 50-60mph (in D) and trying to pass. The car acts like it can't decide whether or not to downshift and sorta "bucks" for lack of a better term. If I punch it it immediately drops down and takes off, but if I just ease into the throttle, it's like riding a mechanical bull. This only seems to happen in this speed range. Anyone else experience this and/or have a solution? [:I]

my '03 gt did this under load (passing gear/high rpms). a new set of copper champion plugs and a set of magnecore spark plug wires did the trick. i'm 99.9% sure that if you install new quality plug wires and 4 new champion copper spark plugs gapped at 0.40 -- your problem will be solved.

[Mean Green]

quote:Originally posted by ptTurbo528

YOU KNOW I SUFFER A SIMILAR PROBLEM BUT MINE DOES IT CRUISIN ABOUT 35-40 BUT ILL BE 3RG GEAR IN THE AUTOSTICK AND WHEN I GRADUALLY PUSH ON THE THROTTLE IT DOES THAT MY CONCLUSION WOULD BE A TUNE UP NEW SPARK PLUGS...WHEN I DO MY TUNE UP IM GONNA DO NEW PLUGS AND WIRES AND THE REASON BEING IM UPGRADING MY PLUG WIRES TO A 10MM PLUG WIRE INSTEAD OF THE STOCK 8MM..FOR A COLDER SPARK AND A LITTLE MORE PERFORMANCE...SO YEA IF YOU WANNA DO A MINOR TUNE UP JUST CHANGE THE PLUGS AND YOUR PROBLEM SHOULD AND MORE THAM LIKELY GO AWAY...GET ME POST AND LET ME KNOW WHAT YOU FIND OUT BUT THAT IS MY IDEA ON THE HESITATION AS A FORMER AUTO MECHANIC

Ouch. Please don't use all cap letters. Hard to read and is considered shouting.

[SteelBlueGT]

After I replaced my stock plugs and plug wires with NGK Iridium and MOPAR high performance wires my car has run silky smooth.

[xyster]

I changed out my wires and coil with aftermarket parts. I gained alot more throttle response and the accel was more smooth and seemed a hair quicker. Also idling seemed a little less jumpy I guess you could say... don't know how else to describe it.

[Blue Streak]

Cool. Thanks everyone for your advise. Guess I'll try some new plugs and wires and go from there. Start with the cheapest fix and work up, right?

[quicksilverdon]

quote:Originally posted by Blue Streak

Cool. Thanks everyone for your advise. Guess I'll try some new plugs and wires and go from there. Start with the cheapest fix and work up, right?

Well, I wouldn't go cheapest - the stock wires are crap - best for the money are Cranes from RaceAndStreet.Com. Also, Champion now has irridium plugs #9403 - Sparkplugs.com.
Bet the wires & plugs cure your problem...[?]

[bobs turbo pt]

let us know how it turns out, good luck !!

[zzzhuh]

Agree with all above, and Mopar also makes a better plug wire for the PT Cruiser. It's part # P4876511.