Engine stumble it might stumble again after a few seconds?

Tiny
JOE WRIGHT2
  • MEMBER
  • 2012 CADILLAC CTS
  • 3.6L
  • V6
  • 2WD
  • AUTOMATIC
  • 150,000 MILES
My car runs fine, except it idle. I have an occasional stumble, acceleration seems fine. When I decelerate the engine, RPMs drop below 500 at times, but never dies. At a traffic light, it will be idling fine, and all the sudden I get a stumble it might stumble again after a few seconds, or maybe a minute. I have no codes. If I slow down from 30 mph and try to turn in a parking lot, it may stumble, the power steering will not perform very well, when that happens.
I don’t know if it’s O2 sensors or maf sensor, or coil packs, or spark plugs, as I have purchased this vehicle used with 119,000 miles on it. I just don’t want to randomly start replacing parts. Any suggestions on where to start looking?
Also at idle in drive and I cycle the AC on and off, it sometimes will stumble. But not every time.
On the highway it performs very well, there are times when I may be driving between 40 and 60 miles an hour, and I lightly step on the gas, to pass, the engines seems flat, or possibly the transmission, is that culprit. But, in general the car performs very well.
Friday, March 10th, 2023 AT 8:48 AM

3 Replies

Tiny
KEN L
  • MASTER CERTIFIED MECHANIC
  • 47,643 POSTS
The engine stumble is usually caused by a vacuum leak, or a throttle bore that needs to be serviced. Also, you should install new spark plugs as part of a regular tune-up service. Here is a guide to help walk you through the steps with instructions in the images below to show you how the services are done on your car:

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

This guide, only do this when the engine is cold:

https://www.2carpros.com/articles/how-to-use-an-engine-vacuum-gauge

and

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

Check out the images (below). Let us know what happens and please upload pictures or videos of the problem so we can see what's going on. If you leave the wires connected to the throttle body, you should not need to perform the throttle body relearn.
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Monday, March 13th, 2023 AT 8:37 AM
Tiny
JOE WRIGHT2
  • MEMBER
  • 81 POSTS
I just noticed that when engine running, parking brake on, put in drive it idles smooth, then apply the brakes, and engine runs rough.
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Tuesday, March 14th, 2023 AT 7:24 AM
Tiny
KEN L
  • MASTER CERTIFIED MECHANIC
  • 47,643 POSTS
That is a good find, this can mean the brake power booster is leaking but to be sure you can close off the vacuum line to the booster and try it again, if the engine stays smooth you have found the problem. Here is how to change the booster out in the images below.
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Tuesday, March 14th, 2023 AT 12:17 PM

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