02 SSEi acceleration problem (fuel related?)

[hottoddy1987]

My Bonny has only 87k miles. Last month I replaced plugs, wire and 3 coil packs.

When I accelerate she chugs, sputters, now she will occasionally stall at low speed.
This does not happen when car is in neutral, and the service engine soon alert comes on occasinally.

Fuel pressure reg?

[MKMike]

My Bonny has only 87k miles. Last month I replaced plugs, wire and 3 coil packs.

Was this preventative maintenance or were there problems? If there were problems, what were they?

When I accelerate she chugs, sputters, now she will occasionally stall at low speed.
This does not happen when car is in neutral, and the service engine soon alert comes on occasinally.

Often cars don't stall in neutral simply because the idle speed increases in neutral.
Did the stalling/sputtering problems begin immediately after the parts were replaced?
What brands were the parts you installed?
Service engine soon light indicates that you should use a scan tool or take it to Pep Boys or elsewhere to check for codes that indicate what type of problem the computer has detected.
Contrary to what some shops seem to believe (or try to tell you) , a code does not always indicate the need for a sensor to be replaced.
A code indicates that the computer has detected a problem and some troubleshooting needs to be done to determine the cause.

Fuel pressure reg?

It could be but you can't possibly determine that unless you check the fuel pressure.
Fuel pressure gauges are not too expensive and some parts stores will even lend you a gauge to use.
It really could be one or more of a number of different things.
Something as simple as a vacuum hose or fitting that was left disconnected or cracked when you did the work would cause problems.

To check fuel pressures, here's what you do:

(There is a valve, covered by a plastic cap on the metal fuel rail that feeds the fuel injectors, which you connect the gauge to.)
1.Turn OFF the ignition.
2.Turn OFF the air conditioning system.

Wrap a shop towel around the fuel pressure connection when connecting or disconnecting the gauge in order to reduce the risk of fire.
The towel will absorb any fuel leakage that occurs.

3.Thread the fitting on the pressure gauge hose onto the fuel pressure fitting.
4.Place the bleed hose of the fuel pressure gauge into an approved gasoline container .
5.Turn ON the ignition.
6.Bleed the air out of the fuel pressure gauge into an approved gasoline container.
7.Turn OFF the ignition for 10 seconds.
8.Turn ON the ignition.


Take the following 3 readings and write them down
A) Read fuel pressure Key On /engine OFF (KOEO) should be above 50
B)Key On /engine running (KOER ) mid to upper 40's is typical running fuel pressure
C)Key on/ engine running -- disconnect vacuum hose to fuel pressure regulator and then reconnect it
When you do this there should be approximately a 10 psi increase in fuel pressure until the vacuum hose is reconnected.
If pressure does not increase, you have a faulty FPR.
There should not be any gasoline in the FPR vacuum hose.

You also want to watch the fuel pressure with the Key off engine off and see if it rapidly drops or steadily drops.
It shouldn't do either.
If it does, this often causes hard starting due to there not being enough fuel/pressure in the fuel lines initially.
Causes are faulty fuel pump check valve or a leaky fuel pressure regulator.

Service manual lists normal fuel pressures as:
2001 - 2004 VIN 1 & K KOEO 53-59 psi
2001 - 2004 VIN 1 & K KOER 3-10 psi less than above

[hottoddy1987]

Wow that's a lot to swallow and I will take all of your advice.

I read your post/reply after replacing my fuel filter (AC Delco filter)
Problem seemed to not be there for the first couple of miles, but is back.
(Did not stall and may be slightly better, not completely sure.)

The ignition parts were replaced solely for preventative maintenance.
I recently bought car in Tennessee, completed the ignition parts & air filter before my drive home to Minnesota.

Thank you for your attention of this problem.

[MKMike]

You're welcome. Hope you'll post your findings and whatever resolves the problem.
When I decided to replace the lower intake manifold gaskets on my 02 SSEI, the vacuum hoses crumbled.
For parts, Rockauto is typically a good place pricewise and they give forum members a 5% discount on all orders.
The code for that is in the Vendor's Forum.
Any more questions, feel free to post them.