My 2000 Max hesitated bad this morning and was knocking. Just got the car a few weeks ago and noticed it hesitating a little when first starting in the morning but thought little of it until today. It also knocks a little when first starting it up, any ideas whats going on here? it has 160k miles on it and otherwise runs damn good. Maybe plugs? knock sensor?

Thanks,

 

my pops' 00' gxe is starting to do it at startup. it has 80k on it. im thinking plugs.

 

any CEL's?

My car sorta does it at idle every now and then but its because of my coils.

 

thats a valid point. 160k on factory parts is up there....i know my dads coils are factory and it has 80k and thats bad on its own.

 

i'm tempted to not help since you have the verboten word "Jetta" in your username, but I'm in a good mood:

three things:
First: Change spark plugs at that mileage.
Second: Clean the throttle body...this will eliminate most hesitation problems. At 160K it must be dirty as hell...mine is grimy after every 10K miles.
Third: If still hesitating, replace (or clean) the MAF.


and there's always Seafoam!

 

Any brand of throttle body cleaner you recommend?

 

Any carbonator cleaner will work, but I choose Valvoline Carb Cleaner. One other thing, don't just spay the soln onto the butterfly plate and beyond, take a lint free cloth, soak it with the cleaner and then use that to clean the plate and beyond it. There are threads out here that spraying the cleaner into the throttle body has messed up some IVAC and other gadgetry.

 

Cool, thanks for the tips! I'll have to give it a shot after I get all the other stuff done, lots to do.

 

Well, I cleaned the throttlebody yesterday and also changed the plugs. It does run smoother, however now after paying much closer attention to the engine I noticed it does have a slight, steady knocking. MAF sensor?

 

Did you check the oil level? Has it been changed recently??

Mine also has a relatively quiet knock at idle. Sounds like a soft rod knock. Just chalked it up to no big deal since it's way quittier than the lifters in my last car.

 

This morning the car took right off! Almost no hesitation at all! Great improvement. Just need to diagnose the little rod knock at idle.