Help! 2003 Turbo Engine problem!

[henroid2]

My mom's 2003 2.4 Turbo has started acting really funny, the engine spudders and then backfires while under acceleration while going up any hills, seems to happen when a load is being put on the engine, It does not do it from a dead stop on a flat road, Also after it does it there is a foul almost rotten egg like smell in the car.

We have though of the idea of a bad batch of gas, not the problem, we put higher octane gas in it, didnt help. The warrenty on the car just recently expired.

HELP!!!

[MINIHEMI46]

When was the last time the spark plug wires or the plugs were changed? It sounds like the wires are arcing causing the engine to misfire when there a load on the engine. The backfire is cause by unburnt fuel in the cylinder on the exhaust stroke and the valve is open and the plug fires. The rotten egg small is unburn fuel your cat converter couldn't deal with it.
Hope this helps

[tpscruiser]

Minihemi46 covered it! How many miles on it?

[henroid2]

40,000

[Mean Green]

You put higher octane in it? What do you normally use? The factory spark plug wires are crap. How long since plugs have been changed and what are they gapped at?

[henroid2]

im pretty sure that the plug wires or plugs have never been changed in the car.

[Mean Green]

Originally Posted by henroid2

im pretty sure that the plug wires or plugs have never been changed in the car.

At 40k miles on the car they are 10k miles overdue for changing. Now ask me why it has started acting really funny, the engine spudders and then backfires while under acceleration while going up any hills, seems to happen when a load is being put on the engine?

[tpscruiser]

Start with plugs and wires! You're 10 K miles overdue.

[bobs turbo pt]

i agree plugs & wires !!