my 2006 3.0 has developed the shudder/stutter ( feels like someone is tapping your brakes random as your driving )

i have hooked up my scan tool , the actron 9575,

Amazon.com: Actron CP9575 AutoScanner: Automotive

and am getting NO codes. has anybody had success pulling codes with device or know with certainty that it will work?

or

What is the entry level priced scanner that WILL work on the X.


i have read this stutter can be caused by many different problems, would like to start with codes if any on this hunt.

thanks

 

I think I have the same one as that (I don't have it in front of me) and it read the codes in my X.

Do you have any warning lights on the dash right now or just the hesitation?

 

no warning lights, and no codes. do have leaking valve covers and just ordered new gaskets , plugs, coil packs and a pcv valve.

 

There's many mechanical malfunctions that will not set a code.

 

Could be an air leak that comes and goes (watch fuel trims) or misfires (ditto).

 

slownlo, based on what you are describing, you have some oil in your plug wells. Get a set of valve cover gaskets and change those out. What you are most likely experiencing is oil has gotten into the plug wells and it is periodically causing the spark to jump from the coil boot to the cylinder head vice where it should be which is the gap in the plug. When this happens, the cylinder doesn't fire properly and you will get that stutter you are talking about. Because this is happening only once in awhile, it isn't enough to trip the code as the computer will not trip the code till it sees the same code consistently for numerous cycles of the engine.

Something you can try is a long, hard acceleration (say a long on ramp onto a highway) and see if you can lock in a code that way. Get to the top of the onramp and stop (if possible, otherwise, as slow as you can). Then accelerate such that you are getting the RPMs up into the 4K range when the tranny will shift. Get going as fast as realistic and safe based on the conditions. This has a tendency to force a problem to put a code out.

 

turns out the code reader worked well, i just had NO codes


i had what i called a shudder , felt like someone randomly and quickly tapping the brakes on me. i had learned from other cars that this COULD be a misfire.

Common thought was i probbly had oil leaking into my spark plug wells ,

so i purchased:

6 new platinum plugs
6 new coil packs
1 set valve cover gasket
1 set manifold gasket

I stripped the car down and when i could see all 6 plugs i noticed the plug wells were bone dry. So rather than diving into that valve covers i installed plugs , coil packs, cleaned MAF sensor ,new air filter and soaked the pcv valve in carb cleaner.

The car had 90,000 when i did all this and i purchased it at 86,000. All i can say is what a difference these made in the driveability of the car . it is so much smoother on take off , instant acceleration and the shudder is gone.

I would also like to add the car was throwing NO codes.

 

I have a MaxiScan code reader, which is specific to several brands of cars including Jaguar. It works very well. It comes with with a booklet of generic codes and a DVD with specific car makes. Back in July I got a check engine light I took my code reader hooked it up and got a code for a bad O2 sensor left bank. Took car to my mechanic and verified with his very expensive code reader that was the right fault number and fault. Picked up the reader at Auto Zone a couple of years ago.

 

Thing is, not every problem throws codes. Plenty do, and they can be very helpful, but sometimes it just isn't enough out of spec to flag a fault or it doesn't know what code to flag.