Loses power going up hill and jerks on hills sometimes

Tiny
HTESNEK
  • MEMBER
  • 1999 BUICK REGAL
  • 3.8L
  • V6
  • FWD
  • AUTOMATIC
  • 92,300 MILES
I recently bought this car, it had blew the intake on the previous owners and they had it fixed, but it did set awhile before I bought it. They sold it because the brake lines were rusted out and didnt have any working brakes and the abs light was on. I drove it home using the e brake. My neighbor who is a mechanic fixed the brakes and the abs light went off. Then shortly after we had to buy a new starter, and battery. After that the car ran really good no problems, no lights on. Few days later the service engine light came on and stayed on. My neighbor thought it could be an o2 sensor. I went to fill it up and when it got full gas started coming out all over under the car. So my neighbor had me refill it so he could see where it was coming out. We ended up having to get a new fuel pump sending unit o ring. Fixed the leak drove it about half a mile check engine light went off. Now no lights are on but now the car loses power up inclines and will jerk sometimes. I live in a hilly area there is no other way around going up hill. It also hesitates to shift sometimes going into 4th gear. The trans fluid looks OK and is full. Not sure what the problem is either does my neighbor! PS it runs fine any where else other than hills. Sorry so much info probably more than you need. Just want to be thero as possible! Please help!
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Thursday, February 19th, 2015 AT 12:16 PM

45 Replies

Tiny
JDL
  • MECHANIC
  • 16,098 POSTS
I was just curious, if you take it out of od into drive, just for the hills, does it do better? At the moment, that's the only thing that comes to mind?

This guide should help

https://www.2carpros.com/articles/engine-has-low-power-output

Please run down this guide and report back.
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Thursday, February 19th, 2015 AT 3:17 PM
Tiny
HTESNEK
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  • 3 POSTS
Do you mean to shift it manually? I could try but I'm worried it would mess up transmission.
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Friday, February 20th, 2015 AT 9:34 AM
Tiny
JDL
  • MECHANIC
  • 16,098 POSTS
You could take off in drive instead o/d. Try it on the hills? I'
ve done this on different makes and models, I had no problems. I can't guarantee what shape your tranny is in?
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Friday, February 20th, 2015 AT 2:44 PM
Tiny
HTESNEK
  • MEMBER
  • 3 POSTS
My car has 1 2 3 then od. Do I drive in 3 up the hill?
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Sunday, February 22nd, 2015 AT 9:56 AM
Tiny
JDL
  • MECHANIC
  • 16,098 POSTS
Watch your rpms and give it a try. If you think rpms are getting too high, forget it. Your rpm gage should have a red line, stay away from it.
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Sunday, February 22nd, 2015 AT 12:47 PM
Tiny
JDL
  • MECHANIC
  • 16,098 POSTS
Usually you can tell if engine is wanting to shift. I haven't looked at your ownersmanual to see if there is a third gear shift point, rpm, listed?
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Sunday, February 22nd, 2015 AT 12:52 PM
Tiny
HELPWITHBUICK
  • MEMBER
  • 2 POSTS
  • 1998 BUICK REGAL
  • 0.5L
  • 6 CYL
  • TURBO
  • 2WD
  • 155,000 MILES
Was getting on the freeway too slow, punched it real hard. Now car misses going up the hill and can’t hardly make it up the hill it or pass another car or anything. Maybe feel injection system or something dirt from the fuel we don’t know. Thought it was the transmission Amco said it wasn’t. Have tried to be a little boosters injection cleaners but they don’t work at all. Please advise at your earliest convenience as I am in need of my car for out of town doctor appointments next Monday and Tuesday and must fix before then. Thank you so very much. John

Maybe it’s a 3.8 L, sorry.
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Friday, August 23rd, 2019 AT 1:34 PM (Merged)
Tiny
KEN L
  • MASTER CERTIFIED MECHANIC
  • 42,554 POSTS
Hello,

Did the problem happen all at once and is there a noise that the engine makes when it is running? It sounds like you broke a valve spring or have low compression. Can you please shoot a quick video with your phone so we can hear the noise? that would be great. You can upload it here with your response.

This guide can help:

https://www.2carpros.com/articles/engine-misfires-or-runs-rough

Please run down this guide and report back.
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Friday, August 23rd, 2019 AT 1:34 PM (Merged)
Tiny
HELPWITHBUICK
  • MEMBER
  • 2 POSTS
Thank you for answering my dilemma, Ken. I think it’s probably/hopefully #17. Hope it’s just a clogged fuel filter. Thus far it’s making no noise, and only misfires going up a big hill or just stepping on the gas a little. Am taking it to the garage tomorrow for them to evaluate. Thank you and if I need more help I will definitely email you back. Thank you so much. Patience
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Friday, August 23rd, 2019 AT 1:34 PM (Merged)
Tiny
KEN L
  • MASTER CERTIFIED MECHANIC
  • 42,554 POSTS
It sounds like the engine is misfiring and you need a tune up. this guide will show the correct steps to do so:

https://www.2carpros.com/articles/how-to-tune-up-a-car-engine

Also service the throttle bore.

https://www.2carpros.com/articles/throttle-actuator-service

Please run down these guides and report back.
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Friday, August 23rd, 2019 AT 1:34 PM (Merged)
Tiny
HELPWITHBUICK
  • MEMBER
  • 2 POSTS
Thank you for helping me with my Buick regal. Took it into the garage finally they said it was a catalytic converter. Had them put on yesterday. Thank you again for your help. Patience Davis
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Friday, August 23rd, 2019 AT 1:34 PM (Merged)
Tiny
KEN L
  • MASTER CERTIFIED MECHANIC
  • 42,554 POSTS
Good to hear, please use 2CarPros anytime we are here to help.
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Friday, August 23rd, 2019 AT 1:34 PM (Merged)
Tiny
KENNETH RUTTER
  • MEMBER
  • 6 POSTS
  • 1996 BUICK REGAL
  • 3.8L
  • 6 CYL
  • RWD
  • AUTOMATIC
  • 165,000 MILES
Until recently, it has ran fan. And then, this past Sunday (as of the time of this post), the RPM's began to shoot up to five and six and the car lost acceleration. I thought it needed more transmission fluid, but today I found out that I had put too much in it. So my dad and I drained the pan and refilled it, but the car refused to go into gear. Let me rephrase, it would go into gear, but it would not go anywhere. I found several posts on various sites about how it might be a transmission pump or a transmission lockup solenoid, but the results upon testing them were still the same; no acceleration at all. Does anyone know how this can be fixed without the need for a mechanic?
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Friday, August 23rd, 2019 AT 1:34 PM (Merged)
Tiny
SATURNTECH9
  • MECHANIC
  • 30,870 POSTS
Are there any codes? Was the old transmission fluid black and burnt?
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Friday, August 23rd, 2019 AT 1:34 PM (Merged)
Tiny
KENNETH RUTTER
  • MEMBER
  • 6 POSTS
No codes, fluid was not black or burnt, there were no metal shavings in the fluid. And today we checked to see if the transmission cables had come undone, but if that were the case, the car would not go into gear. All signs are pointing to the transmission having gone bad, but I do not know.
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Friday, August 23rd, 2019 AT 1:34 PM (Merged)
Tiny
SATURNTECH9
  • MECHANIC
  • 30,870 POSTS
If your taking about TCC solenoid that wont make it not go into gear. Are there any codes in the computer? The shift linkage is moving? The alternator is working?
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Friday, August 23rd, 2019 AT 1:34 PM (Merged)
Tiny
KENNETH RUTTER
  • MEMBER
  • 6 POSTS
I do not have a thing to look for codes. The linkage works and the alternator works, otherwise it would not go into gear and the car would not start.
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Friday, August 23rd, 2019 AT 1:34 PM (Merged)
Tiny
MICHAEL BYRD
  • MEMBER
  • 1 POST
  • 1992 BUICK REGAL
  • 3.1L
  • V6
  • 2WD
  • AUTOMATIC
  • 180,000 MILES
My car will start, but as soon as I give it gas it bogs down and shuts off. We have changed the timing, plugs, plug wires, changed the electric mod. And fuel filter. It cuts off as soon as I give it gas.
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Friday, August 23rd, 2019 AT 1:34 PM (Merged)
Tiny
KEN L
  • MASTER CERTIFIED MECHANIC
  • 42,554 POSTS
Hey MICHAEL,

You should start will a fuel pressure test. Here is a guide please let me know what you find:

https://www.2carpros.com/articles/how-to-check-fuel-system-pressure-and-regulator

Best, Ken

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Friday, August 23rd, 2019 AT 1:34 PM (Merged)
Tiny
SATURNTECH9
  • MECHANIC
  • 30,870 POSTS
I have seen alternators not putting out the voltage they should. Car starts, but the transmission does not work correctly. So never bank on stuff like that.I would make sure there are no codes for sure. What is the voltage at the battery with it running? You could have a internal failure in the transmission as well.
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Friday, August 23rd, 2019 AT 1:34 PM (Merged)

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