leenny

My car ia a 2.0L manual tranny. When ever I snap the accelerator, either in the driveway at a stand still or accelerating on the highway, it sputters and some times backfires. I am getting good gas milage on the car, It starts, no problems. I had a look around thinking it might be a vacuum leak, I could not find one. Any help would be appreciated.

Johnny Mullet

Is there a check engine light on? Usually something like that would set off a code. Could be a throttle position sensor maybe.

leenny

No. There isn't a check engine light. The last time I checked there were no codes stored. What sensor is used to retard or advance the timing? In the older cars it was the vacuum to the distributer. This car does not have a distributer.

Johnny Mullet

This may have a throttle position sensor malfunction. If you slowly depress the gas, is it OK? Snapping the gas with a TP sensor with slow response may cause those problems.

leenny

I tried a new tps. It did not fix the problem.

Johnny Mullet

Hmmmm........

Try hooking a fuel pressure guage to it and tape it to your windshield. Drive the vehicle and monitor the fuel pressure when it act up. I could be a fuel pump.

I also found a Tech Service Bulletin about a PCM reprogram for "Lacks power/stall" with the Zetec 2.0L, but it is not a recall.

leenny

Well, I found the problem after changing the plugs. It was the plug wires, specifically #4. When I changed the plugs, I visually inspected the wires, everything looked ok, no cracks, etc. I put everything together, stsrted it no problems. Took it out to the street, at the traffic lights, sputtering, way worse than before. Popped the hood, and at the plug boot arcing to the head. Replaced wires , runs like new, all faults have disappeared.