Accelerates like crap

04_yelneon · Post by **04_yelneon** » Thu Nov 29, 2007 2:08 pm

I got a 04 SXT. When I accelerate hard, it gets through 1st gear ok, all the way to 6,000 but as soon as I shift into second it boggles out aroun 3500. It feels like its starving. But im not sure. It basically accelerates like ass. Sometimes it wont accel to 4,000 an it stutters really bad an the engine light blinks breifly and goes away. It also missfires every now an then too. Il give it gas an you can hear a pop from under the hood. Thats the best way I can describe whats going on. Any Ideas? Thanks

hansken_yo · Post by **hansken_yo** » Thu Nov 29, 2007 2:16 pm

O2 Sensor or a clogged injector?

not that it matters tooo much but is your car MTX or ATX?

Wenuden · Post by **Wenuden** » Thu Nov 29, 2007 2:22 pm

in one of the stickies around here, i think the how to section, there's a procedure you can do to pull the check engine light (CEL) codes on the dash without using a tool, and a list of CEL codes. either do that, and let us know what codes are showing/stored, or go to a dealer or service shop and have them pull them for you. the key trick is easy, you shouldn't have a problem with it.

how many miles are on the car? do you know when the last tune-up, oil changes were done? sounds like a plugs/wires problem, but pull the codes and let us know. we're a very good bunch of internet diagnosers when we have enough information.

FYI, when the CEL stays on steady, you have a problem that might leave you stranded, or could be trivial. when it flashes, it means there's something potentially catastrophic happening, and you really shouldn't drive the car until you figure it out. i know this is hard to do when you have things that need to be done and it's your daily driver, but it's better to not do some things than end up habing to spend tons on motor repairs.

04_yelneon · Post by **04_yelneon** » Thu Nov 29, 2007 2:41 pm

The car has 60,000 miles. Iv only had the car for about 10,000 miles or so. I change the oil every 3,000 but im not sure when the last tune up was. Il try to find that how to with the CEL. If anything il stop by my buddies shop an throw a scan tool at it an let you all know what it says. I was thinking it might need a tune up. Il check that out as well. To be honest, im not sure if its a MTX or ATX. How would check that?

DJ CptnCrnch · Post by **DJ CptnCrnch** » Thu Nov 29, 2007 2:49 pm

....u either have to shift your car (MTx ie manual transmisson) or the car shifts by it self (Atx auto transmission)

my car feels the same way...i think its bc i have no low end power after doing all my upgrades...kinda sucks

04_yelneon · Post by **04_yelneon** » Thu Nov 29, 2007 3:31 pm

Ah, my bad, I didnt even stop to think what mtx an atx ment. haha, yeah its stick

04_yelneon · Post by **04_yelneon** » Thu Nov 29, 2007 3:48 pm

Also, I was running the spoolboy sending unit for about a month or so. I couldnt get the fuel pressure up to where it needed to be so I took it out and put a brand new stock sending unit in. But the car ran lean for that time i was using the spoolboy and was doing it even worse. When i put the stock unit back on, it drove alot better, but it still has the issues I described above. Just incase this helps any.

Skidman · Post by **Skidman** » Thu Nov 29, 2007 5:24 pm

lmao..if ur going to pull off at 6000RPM make sure ur on a track!

Post by **racer12306** » Thu Nov 29, 2007 5:41 pm

Why?

1st gear at 6000 rpm is about 30mph.

Wizzard~Of~Ozz · Post by **Wizzard~Of~Ozz** » Thu Nov 29, 2007 6:37 pm

Fuel pressure could cause it, but it would be in every gear.

My first 2 guesses would be, bad plugs, or bad ignition timing (camshaft sensor?)

04_yelneon · Post by **04_yelneon** » Thu Nov 29, 2007 8:04 pm

ok guys, I found the problem. I hooked up my scan tool to it and it sure enough through a code. Its P0301. Missfire in cylinder 1. So a tune up is due for her this weekend. I put a high flow magnaflow cat on last month, an got a breif engine light soon after. but it went away the same day but the scan tool shows 2 monitors. The catalyst Monitor and the Oxygen Sensor Monitor. I got the cat at modern performance. It was suppost to be a direct replacement. Any way i can get the monitors off without replacing the new cat?

aperson · Post by **aperson** » Thu Nov 29, 2007 9:04 pm

What's up with the monitors? Are they saying N/A, OK or something else? Reset the computer with the tool. It's the best way. Screw disconnecting the battery.

Skidman · Post by **Skidman** » Thu Nov 29, 2007 9:56 pm

racer12306 wrote:Why?

1st gear at 6000 rpm is about 30mph.

cuz....someone said i was crazy to want to start at 5000rpm...

i was being sarcastic.

04_yelneon · Post by **04_yelneon** » Fri Nov 30, 2007 1:53 pm

The monitor icons where bleeking on the scan tool. Doesnt tell me any more then that. But I know its the new cat. Il just clear them with the ST. Theres no engine light. Its just the location of the O2 bung on the cat. The sensor plug is right in the middle of the stock cat, while the high flow Mag is at the exit end of the cat.

TN.Frank · Post by **TN.Frank** » Fri Nov 30, 2007 2:16 pm

First thing I'd do is dump some Fuel Injector cleaner into your next take of gas to see if that'd help. Then I'd look at plugs, wires and coil and possible the O2 sensors. If you can't get it figured out and no codes are showing then your best bet is to take it to the shop where they can hook it up to their computer and see what's going on. This is where the OBD II really comes in handy even though I still don't care for computers controling cars, LOL.

04_yelneon · Post by **04_yelneon** » Fri Nov 30, 2007 3:58 pm

Yeah, I hooked up my scan tool to it yesturday. And got the P0301, missfire in cyl. 1. SO i bought some champion plugs an put them in last night. She runs like new. The coil is a new msd, and im goin to buy new wires this weekend just finish up the tune up. Thanks for all the help guys...