She is now 15 years old and has 73,000 miles.

Almost since she was new, I've noticed a slight engine hesitation when she is cold. However, it would go away after a bit. Nothing has ever shown up on the code reader that would indicate that anything is malfunctioning. It has been 5 years since the codes were read. I should have had it checked when she was still under warranty.

The plugs were changed at 65,000 miles. No difference was noticed.

Last week, while she was cold, the engine skipped 3 times. This was quite noticeable, not the aforementioned almost imperceptible hesitation. I showered down on the pedal & it immediately it went away & it hasn't happened again.

I'm planning to go by the parts house and have the codes read.

Any ideas as to what this could be? Otherwise, she runs perfectly!

 

Try watching the fuel trims. Check the long term ones and then when it misbehaves watch the short ones.

 

Thanks!

Is the fuel trim something that can be adjusted? I suspect it is found with the code reader?
I noticed the other day when I left her running while I ran to get something in the house, the tailpipe emissions seemed particularly noxious. Would that be related to fuel trim? We also have a fairly high % of ethanol to the gas this time of year.

 

Some of those are the sorts of things web searches are for

The car adjusts but if there's a fault... it may not succeed and anyway the trims will show many things.

 

Just guessing-clean the TB

It wouldn't do any harm and you might even enjoy it!

If no improvement it MAY be possible to clean the TPS.

Photograph position of screws in slots first.

 

Thanks Jag V8 & Meirion1! Learned a good deal re fuel tabs via Google. Will investigate TB & TPS cleaning.

Often, in my haste to get started on a new project, I forget to take a photo & I usually wish I had; appreciate the reminder.

 

Have you tried different brands of fuel?
More than likely, you have. Injector cleaner, air, & fuel filter, are about the last of the cheap easy fixes, you try first.
The 07 V D P had the dirtiest air cleaner i have EVER seen on any used vehicle, believe it was still on the original, with 97,400+ miles, the fuel filter had some dark fuel on the tank side, but the gas on other side was still clean looking.
Still ran fine, passed e check but the mileage did get a good bit better after changing these basic parts.

 

Thanks, Wingrider. As one taking pride in the TLC I give my cars, I couldn't believe how dirty the engine air filter had gotten.
I have had the oil changed only once a year, every December. The shop that does the change is the go-to non-dealer shop in my area. I think the owner assumed that checking the air filter is something I would do; and, he was correct. Except, I just plain forgot. Don't get any older!!
While picking up the filter, a very helpful person at O'Reilly read the codes with a Bosch Code Reader. Only got P1000. Since December(oil change time) is around the corner, I will ask the shop to try its machine. I did not erase the code.