Massive stall/delay/cutout w/ 2003 Turbo...HEEELP!

[CraigO]

Idle:
RMMMMMMMM*CUTOUT*MMMMMMMMMMMMMMMMMMMMMMMMMMMM
MMMMMMMMMMMMMMM*CUTOUT*MMMMMMMMMMMMMMMMMMMMM
Never quits, just entirely drops out

Partial throttle:
Hesitation, and the exhaust 'fart'

Full throttle:
Hesitation throughout the range until about 5k where it evens out.

What is on the PT:

2003 PT Dream Cruiser (Turbo)
Stage 1
Straigh thru muffler
19,000 miles
Plugs installed 3k ago

This is really bugging me [xx(] - I'd like to hear what this may be before the trip to the dealer. Still under warranty until May.

Help?!

[CREWZIN]

Craig,

Don't have a Turbo, but reading your list, I don't see anything about new plug WIRES. That's a weak link in the ignition system. If you haven't put new wires on, Do it! It might be an easy way of fixing your problem.

If your wondering which wires to use...there's an on-going thread under Tech & Performance...

http://www.ptcruiserlinks.com/forum/...TOPIC_ID=14434

[CraigO]

I'll bet it is! Just bought some Magnecors off EBay..........

THANKS!

[santacruzer]

I have the same model and had the same problem until I had the plug wires switched, I used the live wires from Moss Motors.

[Gary04GT]

While I never experienced the above-mentioned problem on my GT Stage 1 turbo car, I replaced the stock wires with Magnecores and new spark plugs at 15K miles -- no regrets at all -- just top performance. [8)]

[bobs turbo pt]

het craig, did you change the wires ?? just curious if you got the problem fixed ??

[littleblueGT]

I had the same problem with my 03 GT turbo. The pcm was replaced by the dealer, but the miss was still there. I replaced the OEM plug wires with Bosch Premium wires guarenteed for life and changed from stock plugs to single platinium champions. Later when the Iridium NGK's were available I went with heat range 6, which seemed perfect. The OEM Champion plugs I removed had missing ceramic around the electrode which was causing the miss or drop out. I have had the NGK Iridiums for nearly 20k miles and still she has a smooth idle.You may have a combination of problems, the PCM, plug wires and good plugs.I also saw the Champion plugs were leaking that was exibited by the carbon tracing from the metal body up vertically over the ceramic insulator. Both the OEM and single platinum plugs showed this characteristic, I will only use NGK (LZTR6AIX-13) gapped at .045 which never showed any sign of leakage. The use of the std Champion OEM plugs in the turbo can cause engine damage as the ceramic breaks away and falls into the engine and does nasty things before it passes the exhaust valve and goes thru the turbo.

[im4gzs]

I've had similar idle dropout problems on my '03 GT and my radio would also go on and off corresponding to the dropout (and also, my trip odo would reset).

When I wiggle the connection on my positive battery terminal, it completely stops the idle and radio dropout. So, apparently it's not making a great connection. When I drive, it loosens up again, so I have to wiggle it from time to time (I have one of those "quick disconnect" terminals so it will help clear my Prototype Power upper CAI pipe) and I need to do something different there, obviously.

Now, if only that would fix my flickering interior lights/dimming headlights!! (But it doesn't...)

[PTGT Redman]

Regap your plugs. The was a TSB about gaps.