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Popping and Hesitating

Engine Makes Popping Sounds and Hesitates or Lags

By , About.com Guide

the Symptom:Engine hesitates, and a popping is heard from the engine. When you step on the gas, the engine seems to bog down or takes a second to respond. You may notice a general lack of power. You may notice the problem when the engine is hot or cold or when you are low on fuel. The popping noise really tells you something is not right.

Possible causes:

  1. You may have a dirty air filter.
    The Fix: Replace the air filter.
  2. The ignition wires may be bad.
    The Fix: Replace ignition wires.
  3. There may be some other type of ignition problem.
    The Fix: Check distributor cap or rotor. Ignition module may be bad.
  4. Internal engine problem.
    The Fix: Check compression to determine engine condition

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