loses power going up hill and jerks on hills sometimes

1999 BUICK REGAL
92,300 MILES • 3.8L • V6 • FWD • AUTOMATIC
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HTESNEK
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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!
Feb 19, 2015 at 12:16 PM
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JDL
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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.
Feb 19, 2015 at 3:17 PM
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HTESNEK
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Do you mean to shift it manually? I could try but I'm worried it would mess up transmission.
Feb 20, 2015 at 9:34 AM
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JDL
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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?

Feb 20, 2015 at 2:44 PM
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HTESNEK
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My car has 1 2 3 then od. Do I drive in 3 up the hill?
Feb 22, 2015 at 9:56 AM
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JDL
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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.
Feb 22, 2015 at 12:47 PM
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JDL
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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?
Feb 22, 2015 at 12:52 PM
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HELPWITHBUICK
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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.
Aug 23, 2019 at 1:34 PM (Merged)
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STRAILER
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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.
Aug 23, 2019 at 1:34 PM (Merged)
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HELPWITHBUICK
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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
Aug 23, 2019 at 1:34 PM (Merged)
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STRAILER
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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.
Aug 23, 2019 at 1:34 PM (Merged)
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HELPWITHBUICK
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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
Aug 23, 2019 at 1:34 PM (Merged)
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STRAILER
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Good to hear, please use 2CarPros anytime we are here to help.
Aug 23, 2019 at 1:34 PM (Merged)
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KENNETH RUTTER
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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?
Aug 23, 2019 at 1:34 PM (Merged)
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SATURNTECH9
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Are there any codes? Was the old transmission fluid black and burnt?
Aug 23, 2019 at 1:34 PM (Merged)
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KENNETH RUTTER
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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.
Aug 23, 2019 at 1:34 PM (Merged)
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SATURNTECH9
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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?
Aug 23, 2019 at 1:34 PM (Merged)
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KENNETH RUTTER
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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.
Aug 23, 2019 at 1:34 PM (Merged)
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MICHAEL BYRD
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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.
Aug 23, 2019 at 1:34 PM (Merged)
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STRAILER
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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

Aug 23, 2019 at 1:34 PM (Merged)
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SATURNTECH9
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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.
Aug 23, 2019 at 1:34 PM (Merged)
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KENNETH RUTTER
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We are thinking it is an inside thing with the transmission as well, but we are not to sure because we cannot get a mechanic out here to look at it.
Aug 23, 2019 at 1:34 PM (Merged)
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SATURNTECH9
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If we knew if there were codes seen some live data maybe checked the actual transmission pump pressures. So you know the alternator is charging for sure?
Aug 23, 2019 at 1:34 PM (Merged)
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KENNETH RUTTER
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Yes, because we've gotten the car to move a little bit after putting in some transmission cleaner, but it's like the car loses power when it gets hot. There's plenty of coolant, so we know that's not the reason. So what we're going to try sometime -- maybe later today -- is just run it a little bit to loosen it up and we'll see what happens.
Aug 23, 2019 at 1:34 PM (Merged)
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SATURNTECH9
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If it's moving when it's cold but when it gets hot doesn't?then the fluid is thinning when it gets hot and fluid is probably going thru a bad sealing in the transmission.
Aug 23, 2019 at 1:34 PM (Merged)
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NOAHBELL22
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1988 Buick Regal Limited. 2.8

When I first was given the care from my inlaws the only problem was the gas pedal was really hard to depress. No big deal. Well, a couple of weeks later I hit the gas and the pedal went in quick and the car started to hesitate and sputter untill I let off. It did that the whole way home. A day later I started it up and it ran fine. Well, about a week ago I drove it and it did the pedal studder thing again but this time it died on me when I pushed the gas and after it would spudder, and now I cant even leave my driveway. I'm hoping its and easy fix, I was told to check the fuel rail pressure and the fuel pump, so I thought I'd get some expert advice before I dove into anything.

I would reeeeaaaly appreciate the advice its the wife and my only car. Thanks guys, :cry:

noah.
Aug 23, 2019 at 1:34 PM (Merged)
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HORVATH714
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to check the fuel pressure is not hard at all you just neet to find the valuve on the rails and press in the pin on it while someone turns the key on if it shots up and stays constant then its not the pump. Now when you were driving it was only under acceleration I would say one of your coils have gone bad.
Aug 23, 2019 at 1:34 PM (Merged)
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KENNETH RUTTER
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I've got someone looking at it Monday. He's pretty sure the filter just needs cleaned.
Aug 23, 2019 at 1:34 PM (Merged)
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SATURNTECH9
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That filter would have to be plugged solid and you said the fluid wasn't black or burnt so it sounds like the fluid wasn't really old and the filter usually gets changed with the fluid.You can try changing the filter my experience with that is usually doesn't fix a no engaging transmission.But worth a try.
Aug 23, 2019 at 1:34 PM (Merged)
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DREWDODSON89
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I replaced the 1,3,5 sparks plugs and wiring and now the care seems to shake more than ever. It has some power problems as well, when I step on the gas it will sometimes keep the same RPM till it goes to a lower gear or will jerk up and down in power. I have hecked the 3 spark plugs i replaced and they looks like the are fine. I did get a higher quality spark plug from auto zone which isn't the tranditional one. New Ones


https://www.2carpros.com/forum/automotive_pictures/240957_sparknew_1.jpg

Old Ones


https://www.2carpros.com/forum/automotive_pictures/240957_sparkold_1.jpg

I also replaed 1,3,5's wiring with better duralast wiring.
Aug 23, 2019 at 1:35 PM (Merged)
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DREWDODSON89
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I also forgot to add that it is now idling at a higher rpm.
Aug 23, 2019 at 1:35 PM (Merged)
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MMPRINCE4000
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You should replace all the plugs and wires on a major tune up.
You should use the same plug, not mix them up.

The high idle is more than likely a vacuum leak, which could have been caused when installing the new plugs (cracked, or disconnected a vacuum line).

Put the old plugs back in and see if it helps. You should also check coil output, some shops have testers which will measure coil output.
Aug 23, 2019 at 1:35 PM (Merged)
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DREWDODSON89
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[quote:a6ea1f48ba="mmprince4000"]You should replace all the plugs and wires on a major tune up.
You should use the same plug, not mix them up.

The high idle is more than likely a vacuum leak, which could have been caused when installing the new plugs (cracked, or disconnected a vacuum line).

Put the old plugs back in and see if it helps. You should also check coil output, some shops have testers which will measure coil output.[/quote:a6ea1f48ba]

It is the coil, I just had it tested and it has gone bad. Thanks
Aug 23, 2019 at 1:35 PM (Merged)
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DOCKRAT100
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1998 Buick regal has no power to the fuse block for several circuits. heated mirror, cruise control, hvac and low blower circuits are all dead. Naturally, my cruise control, air conditioning system, and low beam headlights do not work.

My windshield wipers just stopped working, and the fuse tests good. How do I test the motor? I also just got around to replacing the ignition switch, (after the windshield wipers quit), and that did not fix the problem. Is there another problem that could cause this problem?
Aug 23, 2019 at 1:35 PM (Merged)
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RASMATAZ
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Hi dockrat100, Welcome to 2carpros and TY for the donation . heated mirror, cruise control, hvac and low blower circuits are all dead. Check and test ignition maxi fuse 40amp if okay either the ignition switch is defective or the orange wire is open between the ign switch and the fuse block. See EWD


https://www.2carpros.com/forum/automotive_pictures/12900_r1_7.jpg


https://www.2carpros.com/forum/automotive_pictures/12900_r2_7.jpg

Aug 23, 2019 at 1:35 PM (Merged)
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DOCKRAT100
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40 amp fuse checks out ok. There is not power from the orange wire at the ignition switch.

Bad ignition switch?

I did run a jumper wire from the cigarette lighter directly to the hvac fuse and the compressor still doesn't cycle on. (I still need to check the freon level to see if it isn't a low pressure switch.)
Aug 23, 2019 at 1:35 PM (Merged)
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RASMATAZ
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40 amp fuse checks out ok. There is not power from the orange wire at the ignition switch.

Ignition switch is defectve
Aug 23, 2019 at 1:35 PM (Merged)
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SHELBY25
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1989 Buick regal custom 3.1 I just had the catalytic converter and muffler changed 2 days ago now it sounds worse than it did prior and has loss of power and bad rattling noise
Aug 23, 2019 at 1:35 PM (Merged)
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ASEMASTER6371
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take it back to the shop and have them istall it correctly.

i doubt it should run bad from exhaust work but have them fix what they charged you for

Roy
Aug 23, 2019 at 1:35 PM (Merged)
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DAWN4411
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Engine Performance problem
1991 Buick Regal 6 cyl Front Wheel Drive Automatic

Idles ok when in park.When in drive runs very rough loses power
Aug 23, 2019 at 1:35 PM (Merged)
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JDL
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Welcome to the forum, I'd give it a tune-up, check for trouble codes, clean the throttle-body.
Aug 23, 2019 at 1:35 PM (Merged)