Car idles great but sluggish, hesitates in drive

Tiny
MARKJOHNSON
  • MEMBER
  • 1989 OLDSMOBILE 88
  • V6
  • 2WD
  • AUTOMATIC
  • 125,000 MILES
Hey, when I first started the car its fine, but when I put it in drive it seems to have power then not have power. It's weird, it'll do great for a few miles then feels sluggish less power, and then back to power again. Up and down. Please advise! Thanks
Friday, January 21st, 2022 AT 10:10 AM

1 Reply

Tiny
AL514
  • MECHANIC
  • 4,671 POSTS
Hello, these are known for a few different issues, you can try tapping on the Mass Air Flow sensor very lightly while the car is idling and see if it stumbles, it probably needs to be cleaned at this point anyway, They are also know for shorted fuel injectors, this happens when they get hot, but I would try cleaning the Mass Air Flow sensor first, Just be easy on it while cleaning them, They are usually a hot wire sensor, so it will be a small wire inside with a resistor on it, they sell cleaning spray at you local auto parts store for these sensors, some people try to clean them with a little brush, but that can possibly damage the sensor. You can also try unplugging the sensor and see if the car goes into a default fuel strategy, if it has that programmed into the engine computer, not sure if these older cars have that. But it would tell you if its that particular sensor.
Heres a picture of the Mass Air flow sensor, on the front there is a mesh screen don't take that out, clean it from the other side. Those screens cants be damaged.

https://www.2carpros.com/articles/mass-air-flow-service

https://www.2carpros.com/articles/how-a-mass-air-flow-sensor-works-maf
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Friday, January 21st, 2022 AT 1:00 PM

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