Ugh. I've had my car for about 3 weeks now and I seem to have some problems - and of course it doesn't do it all the time. After about 30 minutes of driving in traffic, the car seems to "stutter" when accelerating - mainly 2nd and 3rd gear (MT) and doesn't have the normal power. It doesn't do this every time. I took the car to my mechanic and they didn't find anything other than the intake being disconnected - and they couldn't get the car to have the stutter problem. Then, 2 days after getting the car back, the car had a SES light! I took it to them and it pulled 0455 - Gross Air Leak or something - The gas cap wasn't on tightly, we tightened and I drove away. The light has come on again now. Any ideas from the Max community? Thanks

 

Just wait until your left channels start cutting out if you have Blose cd changer...That still ****es me off...
Your problem is probably the MAF sensor...Common problem

 

You didn't mention the engine speed.
There was a TSB to re-program the ECU to fix an intermittent engine hiccup at around 1800 rpm.
My car (early production 2003 6spd) had this problem and the TSB fixed it.
I'm sorry but I don't know what the TSB number was any more. I think it came out around Nov. 2002, but it might have been early 2003. However, this didn't cause a SES light.

BTW if the gas cap is loose, you will get a SES light after something like 45 min. or so of continuous driving. However if you put the cap on correctly it will reset itself in 15~20 min.

Code 0455 is "Evap Control System Gross Leak" That's consistent with a loose gas cap, but if that is the only code you are getting it doesn't seem like that would be related to the stutter. If you get that repeatedly and you are sure the gas cap is tight, maybe there is some other problem - gas cap vent could be bad, bent or damaged sealing surface around the gas filler, or perhaps a loose or damaged hose somewhere in the evaporative control system.

 

You think the problem is with the MAF is with the SES code or with the stuttering problem??

 

Just make sure all of the TSB's have been updated on your Max and you shouldn't have anymore problems.

 

I've never had to deal with a problem like this before - how can I make sure all of the TSBs have been handled??

Thanks again..