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I have 1998 Suzuki Sidekick and it hesitates badly as if there is water in the gas, or like the fuel filter and lines are gunked up, of which was all checked and/or replaced. While taking off in 1st it "bucks" as does in all gears and sometimes almost stalls, and I do smell gas.  I have had numerous ppl look at it, one says it is the "sensors" that tell the gas to go to the motor? (I'm a woman OK) What option(s) do I have to find out the cause of this annoying problem?? HELP!! THANKS!    

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is the check engine light on...    you might have the codes and data read with a scan tool anyway...

code readers start at 40 bucks.. but a scan tool that reads live data is really needed to do other than just clear the codes..


if you have a fuel leak.. that needs to be found.. ... follow the fuel lines and look for leaks... or clean spots... where fuel drips have washed away dirt and grease


see if you can read the many pages of info in the drivability and emissions section.. i don't expect you to understand it.. but it will help with finding the problem if you know some of the terminology..

post any codes that you find...

find a different mechanic...  

if they don't seem to know what they are talking about... they might not know..  

I'll make it simple.

because your female doesn't mean your dumb about car mechanics, most girls don't spend hours at a time working on engines but I know plenty who would make me look like a neanderthal under the hood..


Oxygen sensor, try unplugging this completely,

Pop your hood, go to the right side of the engine you should see a box with a hose going in to the top of the motor, unplug it completely both of the sensors.

Now try and start it, it should start, or if it doesn't no worries. If it does start and runs the same or better then you might want to look into an oxygen sensor.

I highly recommend trying this first; afterwards plug it back in.

Leave the hood popped during this.

Start your vehicle, hood propped, have someone give it gas rev the engine a few times and when you smell gas shut it down and look for where the smell is coming from.

Sounds like you have a broken fuel line leading IN TO the engine.

It needs quite a bit of pressure to squirt gas fast enough to feed the engine, even the smallest of cracks could cause hesitation.

If you don't feel your up to doing either of those take it to Autozone and find a charming young man that looks intelligent and helpful.  

Thank you! for your helpful and most humorous response. I actually do consider myself quite the "gear head" I owned and maintained a Harley, that counts right? However, the Suzuki breed is baffling to me. And when it starts getting too technical..its chinese..

What also is limiting me with this solution is I live on a small island in the Caribbean and to say my resources are limited is an understatement. I actually am going to take it on the ferry tomorrow,to get it put on the "machine" that tells what the problem is, for $50 of course.. but now I would like to try what you suggested, its just that getting on the ferry is itself a feat and I do have a spot tomorrow. if it wasn't a 2 person process..
Someone mentioned today and was quite confident with the assessment that the catalytic converter is "melted shut" apparently a problem in the tropics and either get it reamed or taken off. The platinum melts? and oxygen doesnt flow?..Does this make sense?  

I had the car put on the diagnostics machine and turns out the gas tank is full of sludge, from sitting for 8 months and our poor quality (one gas station) gas. So if this helpful to anyone, great!  

yeah that would have helped to know it sat that long to begin with tho.

Nice work finding out, now you just have to flush the tank...