Shuddering problem sometimes during acceleration

Tiny
JNELSONMBF
  • MEMBER
  • 2004 BMW 525I
  • 6 CYL
  • 2WD
  • AUTOMATIC
  • 11,770 MILES
So first off the car is in excellent shape, you can clearly tell that besides the normal maintenance over the years that there has been no other wrenching anywhere on the car, at least not anywhere the eye can see. I have had it around two weeks the previous owner had just gotten a tune up during which plugs were changed due to car displaying misfire codes, after being changed car no longer misfires but it still has the stutter while accelerating from a stop or lower speeds it normally happens around thirty to forty five mph; what it does it when reaching 1,500 to 1,600 rpm's they will bounce up to 2,000 to 2,100 rpm's then back down. It will do that a few times if I do press gas down further to power through it or let off for a quick second then re-apply the gas, the rpm's will then rise and shift through the gears perfectly. Thinking it was injector issue I added a Chevron fuel system cleaner and it helped the issue by the rpm's no longer bouncing, but reaching the spot they once began bouncing and instead would almost surge through as if the injector was clogged but still managing to get squirts out. Then after "surging" their way up enough to shift or I give the car more gas to power through it, or releasing and re-applying the gas. However, the rpm's get there they reach the shift point, shift and then run through rest of gears just fine. This only happens sometimes, and it is always during acceleration never decelerating that it takes place. The only lights/codes the car is showing is for the rear brake pad wear sensor because the shop that checked the brakes broke it sometime while they were inspecting the pads. Because I still have around 60% to 70% left on them according to shop. I am planning on taking a video/videos of the issue because what it is doing as well as the way the car feels while issue happens is very hard to explain. If anyone has any ideas I am all ears.
Thursday, June 7th, 2018 AT 6:52 PM

7 Replies

Tiny
JACOBANDNICKOLAS
  • MECHANIC
  • 109,885 POSTS
Hi and thanks for using 2CarPros.com

This is a tough one, but to be honest, it sounds like the transmission is slipping. If you release the throttle, does the shuddering stop? The reason I am questioning it is because you mentioned the rpm's jump up, which if the car does not accelerate to compensate for the increase, leads me to believe it is slipping.

Here is a link that discusses transmission issues. If you page down a bit, it mentions slipping and what is recommend to check. Take a look at it and let me know what you find.

https://www.2carpros.com/articles/automatic-transmission-problems

Take care and I will watch for your reply.

Joe
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Saturday, June 9th, 2018 AT 8:12 PM
Tiny
JNELSONMBF
  • MEMBER
  • 10 POSTS
If I let off gas yes it stops but that goes for just letting off pedal very quickly, once I press pedal again the shuddering is gone, or if I press gas farther down rather than let off accelerator. The dealership, who mind you did not look at car only sat behind desk listening to me explain issue, said that from what he thinks it is not anything to do with transmission cause there is definitely a light/lights that would come on with any kind of transmission problem. He said it sounds like either something with my airflow or spark, or fuel delivery. I am thinking about taking it to a shop so they can get under it to see what is really going on.
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Monday, June 11th, 2018 AT 12:59 AM
Tiny
JACOBANDNICKOLAS
  • MECHANIC
  • 109,885 POSTS
Hi again. I would think if there is an air flow, spark issue or fuel delivery problem that would sent a light before a slight slippage of the transmission. Also, the things he mentioned would not cause the RPM's to increase. However, and please keep in mind, not being there to drive it makes it difficult for me. Regardless, if the RPM's increase the vehicle should too. Fuel pressure, spark, will not arbitrarily increase RPM's. Plus it seems to happen at a specific speed which tells me a specific gear.

Let me know what you find.

Take care,
Joe
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Monday, June 11th, 2018 AT 7:30 PM
Tiny
JNELSONMBF
  • MEMBER
  • 10 POSTS
No, I have tested specific gears and it happens regardless of gear it is more a speed, it also does it more when it is lower on gas. At first I thought slipping to but the way and amount that the rpm's bounce up is no where near what I have seen cars that begin slipping do this really feels as though an injector is having trouble spraying or something similar to that. If it was transmission would not giving car more gas when issue happens cause the car to slip more and the rpm's to jump more? When it happens and I give it more gas it seems to power its way through the issue and faster than any other way. Do you think it could be something with the throttle and the valve-tronic stuff our cars use?
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Tuesday, June 12th, 2018 AT 11:14 AM
Tiny
KEN L
  • MASTER CERTIFIED MECHANIC
  • 48,363 POSTS
This sounds like a misfire issue to me. That video you are talking about would really help so we can tell if it is an engine issue or transmission. Do you have a check engine light on? I would run the codes.

https://www.2carpros.com/articles/checking-a-service-engine-soon-or-check-engine-light-on-or-flashing

Please run down this guide and report back.

Cheers, Ken
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Friday, June 15th, 2018 AT 10:49 AM
Tiny
JNELSONMBF
  • MEMBER
  • 10 POSTS
Light is on but only throwing code for rear brake pads and brake pad wear sensor due to the shop breaking it when they checked my brake pad life. Lol. However, last night I cleaned my MAF sensor an so far, which has only been a short drive, the issue has not happened and the car feels like it not only has more power but it also seems to be a lot more responsive to my foot pressing down on the gas pedal. I will be going for long drive this evening and will post update as well as after I go through the link. Thanks again for the help.
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Saturday, June 16th, 2018 AT 2:15 PM
Tiny
KEN L
  • MASTER CERTIFIED MECHANIC
  • 48,363 POSTS
That will do it, I would replace the sensor though because cleaning helps but it does not beat a new sensor. Here is a video that can help:

https://youtu.be/QOMiXhx2hbI

Please let us know what happens.

Cheers, Ken
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Sunday, June 17th, 2018 AT 10:46 AM

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