I'm losing serious HP. Options

[cHinaman727]

About 3 weeks ago my car started idling funny. The needle always shows around 900 but when I got it inspected, the dyno said it was jumping down to 700 and back. Also, when I take off from a dead start in first gear, it is almost like I have the AC on, it takes a while to start moving. If I have the AC on, it took me almost 3 seconds to get any HP at all.

Also, when accelerating, the car is much more sluggish than before. After I get to around 3000 RPM's in 2nd or 3rd gear, its like the HP jumps back in but then sputters randomly.

I don't know what to do and I don't have much money!

[Bitter]

sounds like a bad misfire or dead cylinder.

[purplegt4]

yea check the spark plugs.

is a check engine light on?

[cHinaman727]

The CE light is not showing.

What would I check on the spark plugs?

Randomly, in the past, I will be accelerating (when it was normal) and right after I shifted into 3rd I would hear this large bang sound like air exploding out of a compressed container. Thats what it sounded like to me anyways.

Since I was driving I couldn't be positive if this was from my exhaust or my engine bay, but it sounded more to the front of my car.

This post has been edited by cHinaman727: Jun 19, 2008 - 10:37 AM

[supra12big]

its missing probally, check ur plugs, wires, cap and rotor, and also timing

[Remy]

The CE light is not showing.

What would I check on the spark plugs?

Randomly, in the past, I will be accelerating (when it was normal) and right after I shifted into 3rd I would hear this large bang sound like air exploding out of a compressed container. Thats what it sounded like to me anyways.

Since I was driving I couldn't be positive if this was from my exhaust or my engine bay, but it sounded more to the front of my car.

I notice in S54's that 3rd gear likes to grind over time I'm sure thats what the noise was (either that or it was a misfire) when did you last replace your clutch ??

[cHinaman727]

Well I have a really new master and slave cylinder but never my clutch.

I'm gonna let my dad drive it around today and maybe bring it in the shop next week.

Do you guys think this might be something that would seriously harm the car by driving it more?

[Havok1997GT]

You might also want to check if your getting good air flow. Dead cylinders normally make the car Sound different, and i mean really different and it wouldnt be in and out it would be a constaint noice change. Spark and air are good starts. most shops can check to see if you missfiring, and will do a basic inspection of the car for less then 60 bucks. To check yourself you can check that the wires are sparking by pulling them out with the car running and see if they all spark. depending on the problem will depend on how good or bad it is for the engine. You would be very suprised what these cars can take, but at the same time it all depends.

What kinda power loss are we talking about? Does that car feel like its bogging out when you hit the gas? is it idealing funny? does the engine move in the bay when you hit the gas (Like does it shake a lot, Side to side, back and forth, or just strait buck when you hit the gas)? Hows your MPG?

[cHinaman727]

I now have slower acceleration than a minivan. For two months it has idled roughly. The engine shakes sometimes if I go from a dead stop and don't give it enough gas but I thought that was normal.

My MPG dropped. Normally I have 250 miles at the point it shows on my fuel gauge but now I have only 210 and I'm at the same spot.

Also, when I idled, I listened to the exhaust and whenever it drops it starts sounding like a harley or somethin

Blubblubblub

[Havok1997GT]

Dead cylinder would cause the MPG to drop a lot more then that, and the like i said it wouldnt go in and out. Check Spark


And CHECK OUT THE AUSTIN THREAD

This post has been edited by Havok1997GT: Jun 19, 2008 - 6:13 PM

[cHinaman727]

Lemme drive to Austin with half the HP and gas mileage.

Oh well

[stephen_lee]

replace plugs. just start there, its always a good place. they cause weird accel misfires.

[cHinaman727]

Takin it into the shop tomorrow, needs a tuneup anyways. Just filled up and saw I dropped from 25 MPG three weeks ago to 19 MPG

[zero07]

Cool, fix it and come to Austin on the 12th!

[cHinaman727]

Haha well I got it fixed. It idles great and I don't accelerate like a minivan anymore! I look forward to actually getting more than 19mpg again lol

I don't think I'm gonna be going to Austin though, I don't have the money for a trip like that and since I have my new job its going to take forever to get those days off.

Yall have fun though.

[95CelicaST]

........... and the problem was.....?

[cHinaman727]

........... and the problem was.....?

oh my bad. My mechanic said the seal where the spark plugs connect to the engine was loose so oil was getting up into a plug and causing the misfire.

This post has been edited by cHinaman727: Jun 26, 2008 - 10:28 AM

[DEATH]

Did you go ahead and do the tuneup at the same time or should I plan to do it when my Mom buys the car?

[cHinaman727]

Did you go ahead and do the tuneup at the same time or should I plan to do it when my Mom buys the car?

I have no money at the moment so I didn't get a chance to do it.

[DEATH]

No prob. I only want NGK stuff on there anyway so I don't have to worry about it. I get serious discounts from NGK.com so I'll take care of that.