# Stuttering and Stammering and Jerking and Coughing **URL:** \ **Category:** Maintenance/Repairs\ **Created:** [July 16, 2008, 6:09pm UTC](https://community.cartalk.com/t/stuttering-and-stammering-and-jerking-and-coughing/16798 "2008-07-16T18:09:24Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 5\ **Page:** 1
**Author:** ![smilingowl](https://sea1.discourse-cdn.com/cartalk/user_avatar/community.cartalk.com/smilingowl/32/888_2.png) [@smilingowl](https://community.cartalk.com/u/smilingowl)\ **Post date:** [July 16, 2008, 6:09pm UTC](https://community.cartalk.com/t/stuttering-and-stammering-and-jerking-and-coughing/16798/1 "2008-07-16T18:09:24Z")
Hi, I have a 1992 Toyota AllTrak wagon (Corola). It has about 208,000 miles on it. I live in Bend, Oregon (dry and cold and high desert-like climate). I started getting about 26 MPG, now I’m up to about 29 MPG on a consistent basis. Ever since I bought it a year and a half ago it has stuttered and stammered. Sometimes when cold, sometimes when hot, sometimes for a long time, sometimes short, sometimes not at all. I have tried to fix it by shot-gunning the things I thought caused the problem. Right after each ‘fix’ it seemed good. Psych!!! This is what I’ve done: \* New plugs \* New Rotor and Cap \* New Wires \* New fuel filter \* New Air filter \* New oil \* New oil filter \* New cup holder (actually it doesn’t have one, so I had to install one) \* Detailed inside and outside \* Lubed the front drivers-side brake caliper that was sticky \* Switched the studded tires for normal tires \* Replaced the broken antenna with a coat hanger (metal) \* Hmmmm… \* Now what? The stuttering and stammering is less severe than before, but still makes itself know, on a less frequent basis, yet just as much of a stutter and stammer as when it was first noticed by this car owner. Any suggestions? Injectors is my next guess. ---
**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:** [July 16, 2008, 6:13pm UTC](https://community.cartalk.com/t/stuttering-and-stammering-and-jerking-and-coughing/16798/2 "2008-07-16T18:13:59Z")
Do a compression test. ---
**Author:** ![smilingowl](https://sea1.discourse-cdn.com/cartalk/user_avatar/community.cartalk.com/smilingowl/32/888_2.png) [@smilingowl](https://community.cartalk.com/u/smilingowl)\ **Post date:** [July 16, 2008, 6:19pm UTC](https://community.cartalk.com/t/stuttering-and-stammering-and-jerking-and-coughing/16798/3 "2008-07-16T18:19:47Z")
What’s that going to tell me? I like the idea…but then what? ---
**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:** [July 16, 2008, 7:10pm UTC](https://community.cartalk.com/t/stuttering-and-stammering-and-jerking-and-coughing/16798/4 "2008-07-16T19:10:49Z")
The compression test will give you an indication of the condition of the insides of the engine. Uneven and/or low compression, signs of a worn out engine, can cause an engine to run unevenly, especially an engine like yours that was modestly powered to begin with. I’d add to that a fuel pressure test to determine if the pump has grown weak or the regulator malfunctions, and link up with someone skilled and put the ignition on a scope. A scope will show details of how the ignition system is working. It’ll show uneven firing, low voltage (from a weak coil…you may have some shorted windings), and a myriad of other ignition related issues. I’m guessing you have either a weak fuel pump or a weak component in the ignition system. Yes, a sticky injector is a possibility. I’m guessing that has throttle body injection (a single injector up by the throttle body rather than an injector at every intake port???), so a stick injector could easily cause your symptoms. It can be cleaned with a parts-store solvent at little cost. ---
**Author:** ![NYBo](https://sea1.discourse-cdn.com/cartalk/user_avatar/community.cartalk.com/nybo/32/17281_2.png) [@NYBo](https://community.cartalk.com/u/NYBo)\ **Post date:** [July 16, 2008, 8:43pm UTC](https://community.cartalk.com/t/stuttering-and-stammering-and-jerking-and-coughing/16798/5 "2008-07-16T20:43:57Z")
i think it’s a faulty cupholder. Or coolant temperature sensor.