Questions and Answers

Oldsmobile LSS Loses Power Q. Hi, I have a 1997 Oldsmobile LSS, V-6, 52,000 miles. The car runs beautifully during the winter, early spring, and late fall. During hot weather, however, after the engine heats up, the car cannot take even a slight hill without bucking or lugging. I suspected bad plugs and had it to the Oldsmobile dealer, who said it was not the plugs and could not duplicate the problem.

I also took the car to a Penske service center, determined to replace the plugs anyway, but they told me that the plugs were very expensive (made of platinum alloy) and hardly ever deteriorate before 100,000 miles. They recommended that I add a fuel injector cleaner to a tankful of gas. If this helped a bit, they suggested I would need a fuel injector cleaning job. But the cleaning solution didn't work a bit. Help!

Milton

A. Not to throw stones here but I have to admit that the Oldsmobile dealer didn't want to sell you a bill of goods without "feeling" the problem. That tells me that they should be honest. I would go back to them when you have time to take a ride with a service tech and show him what you feel. He could take a scan tool with him if needed to watch the PCM data. The plugs are platinum and should go 100,000. This doesn't mean one can't have a problem though. You may have a plug wire breaking down, missing on one cylinder, very possible. Give the dealer another try.