Engine hiccups while accelerating

Tiny
KYLE102
  • MEMBER
  • 2008 DODGE CALIBER
  • 2.0L
  • 4 CYL
  • 2WD
  • AUTOMATIC
  • 147,000 MILES
When my car hits 20 mph from a stand still the engine loses power and the car jerks a little and rpm drops low too. I think its the throttle body or the throttle position sensor but I need a second opinion. It's also very consistent, it happens every day. It also idles extremely low at traffic lights and the car has a lot of vibration and shaking. It stalls occasionally too because of the low idle.
Monday, March 11th, 2019 AT 7:52 AM

7 Replies

Tiny
SCGRANTURISMO
  • MECHANIC
  • 4,897 POSTS
Hello,

This could be a fuel filter that is starting to plug. Anyway, I have included a few links for you to go to down below.

https://www.2carpros.com/articles/symptoms-of-low-engine-power
https://www.2carpros.com/articles/engine-has-low-power-output
https://www.2carpros.com/articles/how-to-change-a-fuel-filter

Please go through these guides and get back to us with what you find.

Thanks,
Alex
2CarPros
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Monday, March 11th, 2019 AT 8:02 AM
Tiny
KYLE102
  • MEMBER
  • 4 POSTS
I'm pretty sure when I got the car at 140,000 I think my parents and I replaced the fuel filter. I've read a lot of forum posts lately and it seems like a lot of Chrysler cars have this problem with their transmissions/parts and the majority of the problems were with the throttle bodies and throttle positioning sensors. But I will double check on the fuel filter.

Edit: Did not change the fuel filter. I looked at the articles and I still think it has to do with the MAF or Throttle body and TPS. I'll keep doing research.
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Monday, March 11th, 2019 AT 8:05 AM
Tiny
KEN L
  • MASTER CERTIFIED MECHANIC
  • 51,506 POSTS
Yes, this is a classic throttle body being dirty issue. What happens is the PCM loses correlation between the throttle body and computer causing it to go into limp mode. Here is a guide that will help you fix the problem:

https://www.2carpros.com/articles/reduced-power-limp-mode

Please run down this guide and report back.
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Monday, March 11th, 2019 AT 3:20 PM
Tiny
KYLE102
  • MEMBER
  • 4 POSTS
Awesome, thanks so much.

I think its time for a new throttle body anyway. I just hit 148,000 today anyway.

Thanks again!
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+1
Monday, March 11th, 2019 AT 3:25 PM
Tiny
KEN L
  • MASTER CERTIFIED MECHANIC
  • 51,506 POSTS
Let us know if it works. :)
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Tuesday, March 12th, 2019 AT 10:17 AM
Tiny
KYLE102
  • MEMBER
  • 4 POSTS
Update!

Put in the new throttle body earlier this morning, completely different car. It drove amazing on the initial test. I had to reprogram it a little to fix some rough idling but overall it fixed the hiccup problem and the car drove like it was brand new.
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Thursday, March 14th, 2019 AT 8:33 AM
Tiny
KEN L
  • MASTER CERTIFIED MECHANIC
  • 51,506 POSTS
Good to hear, please use 2CarPros anytime we are here to help.
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Thursday, March 14th, 2019 AT 12:30 PM

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