# '02 Cavalier Z24 shudder on hard acceleration

**URL:** <https://community.cartalk.com/t/02-cavalier-z24-shudder-on-hard-acceleration/46282>\
**Category:** Maintenance/Repairs\
**Tags:** chevrolet, cavalier\
**Created:** [March 18, 2010, 8:30pm UTC](https://community.cartalk.com/t/02-cavalier-z24-shudder-on-hard-acceleration/46282 "2010-03-18T20:30:17Z")\
**Posts on this page:** 10\
**Page:** 1

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**Author:** ![jangliss](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/j/c4cdca/32.png) [@jangliss](https://community.cartalk.com/u/jangliss)\
**Post date:** [March 18, 2010, 8:30pm UTC](https://community.cartalk.com/t/02-cavalier-z24-shudder-on-hard-acceleration/46282/1 "2010-03-18T20:30:17Z")

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Hi All,  
  
 I have an '02 Chevy Cavalier Z24, with about 107k miles on it. For the last 3 or 4 months, I’ve had an issue with accelerating hard, when the engine is warm/hot. Usually it occurs in the 4th or 5th gear. If I’m doing about 50mph in 5th, and push hard, the car seems to shudder a bit, and seem to lose power, then suddenly pick up. It’s not limited to 50mph, I can be doing 40, 50, 60, etc.  
  
  
  
 If the engine is still relatively cold (ie \<10 mins after starting driving) I have no issues. If I accelerate gently (ie a slow depression of the accelerator), I appear to have no issues either. I’ve not had my CEL come.  
  
  
  
 Any ideas what might be going on?  
  
  
  
 Thanks,  
  
 ~ Jon

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**Author:** ![transman618](https://sea1.discourse-cdn.com/cartalk/user_avatar/community.cartalk.com/transman618/32/24_2.png) [@transman618](https://community.cartalk.com/u/transman618)\
**Post date:** [March 18, 2010, 8:35pm UTC](https://community.cartalk.com/t/02-cavalier-z24-shudder-on-hard-acceleration/46282/2 "2010-03-18T20:35:00Z")

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Slipping, worn out clutch.

transman

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**Author:** ![jangliss](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/j/c4cdca/32.png) [@jangliss](https://community.cartalk.com/u/jangliss)\
**Post date:** [March 18, 2010, 8:39pm UTC](https://community.cartalk.com/t/02-cavalier-z24-shudder-on-hard-acceleration/46282/3 "2010-03-18T20:39:05Z")

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That was one of the things I was thinking, except I’d not seen any other signs of clutch issues, such as trouble/issues gear shifting, or stiff clutch peddle.

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**Author:** ![cigroller](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/c/c68b51/32.png) [@cigroller](https://community.cartalk.com/u/cigroller)\
**Post date:** [March 18, 2010, 8:51pm UTC](https://community.cartalk.com/t/02-cavalier-z24-shudder-on-hard-acceleration/46282/4 "2010-03-18T20:51:08Z")

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Dirty fuel filter.  
Failing fuel pump.  
Old plugs & wires.

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**Author:** ![the\_same\_mountainbike](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/t/c89c15/32.png) [@the\_same\_mountainbike](https://community.cartalk.com/u/the_same_mountainbike)\
**Post date:** [March 18, 2010, 10:22pm UTC](https://community.cartalk.com/t/02-cavalier-z24-shudder-on-hard-acceleration/46282/5 "2010-03-18T22:22:36Z")

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Issues gear shifting or stiff clutch pedals are symptoms of other types of clutch assembly problems. A simple worn out clutchplate manifests itself as exactly what you describe.

NOTE: a clutch job means that the entire kit needs doing, the clutchplate, the pressure plate assembly, and the release bearing (also called a throwout bearing). A shop would check the flywheel surface for problems also, and resurface it of necessary, but your symtoms aren’t serious enough to suggest that that will likely be necessary.

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**Author:** ![circuitsmith](https://sea1.discourse-cdn.com/cartalk/user_avatar/community.cartalk.com/circuitsmith/32/40376_2.png) [@circuitsmith](https://community.cartalk.com/u/circuitsmith)\
**Post date:** [March 18, 2010, 10:42pm UTC](https://community.cartalk.com/t/02-cavalier-z24-shudder-on-hard-acceleration/46282/6 "2010-03-18T22:42:51Z")

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Add to cigroller’s list:

Dirty MAF sensor  
Dirty fuelinjectors  
Bad ignition coil(s)

Try pouring a bottle of Techron in the gas tank.

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**Author:** ![jangliss](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/j/c4cdca/32.png) [@jangliss](https://community.cartalk.com/u/jangliss)\
**Post date:** [March 19, 2010, 12:35am UTC](https://community.cartalk.com/t/02-cavalier-z24-shudder-on-hard-acceleration/46282/7 "2010-03-19T00:35:18Z")

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Techron is certainly a cheaper option than a clutch replacement… I’ll give this a shot, whilst finding out the costs for the clutch.

Thanks all for the feedback, and ideas. I’ll drop a note when it’s all fixed.

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**Author:** ![Carveaholic](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/c/f07891/32.png) [@Carveaholic](https://community.cartalk.com/u/Carveaholic)\
**Post date:** [March 19, 2010, 1:04am UTC](https://community.cartalk.com/t/02-cavalier-z24-shudder-on-hard-acceleration/46282/8 "2010-03-19T01:04:48Z")

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Put it in 4th gear and try and start like you normally would in 1st. It it stalls quickly it’s not the clutch, but if it doesn’t stall or takes a few seconds to stall it is. I went through this with my s10, it wasn’t that expensive to replace the whole clutch kit. I think I paid $760 including a tranny oil change with the GM synchromesh expensive stuff. Good luck.

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**Author:** ![circuitsmith](https://sea1.discourse-cdn.com/cartalk/user_avatar/community.cartalk.com/circuitsmith/32/40376_2.png) [@circuitsmith](https://community.cartalk.com/u/circuitsmith)\
**Post date:** [March 19, 2010, 9:57pm UTC](https://community.cartalk.com/t/02-cavalier-z24-shudder-on-hard-acceleration/46282/9 "2010-03-19T21:57:40Z")

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Do the RPMs rise when it acts up?

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**Author:** ![jangliss](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/j/c4cdca/32.png) [@jangliss](https://community.cartalk.com/u/jangliss)\
**Post date:** [March 19, 2010, 10:12pm UTC](https://community.cartalk.com/t/02-cavalier-z24-shudder-on-hard-acceleration/46282/10 "2010-03-19T22:12:39Z")

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No, just the same rate of increase inline with the speed, albeit jumpy when I have this issue, but nothing massive.