Bad Response, slow take off Options

[94st_santos]

I have a stocked out 94 st and my take off is really slow. This has just been happening recently. I can floor it and more noise than anything is happening. Does anybody know what might be wrong.

For example I can floor it in gravel and it doesn't even burn out, it's kinda scary entering a Hwy. and your barely moving.

[b1gr3d]

milege?

[ZacMan1987]

It's an auto? Torque converter maybe?

[94st_santos]

milege?

just hit 200,000

It's an auto? Torque converter maybe?

yeah it is an auto

give you guys a little 411, the car is used I don't know what # owner I am I recently replaced the coil, rotor, distributor cap, trans. oil + filter. I don't know if it has anything to do with it but I have a cracked exhaust manifold but I'm working on getting headers, but what really bothers me is my brother bought some Throttle Body cleaner and I'm wondering if that might have messed up the IAC valve or if that has something to do with it.

This post has been edited by 94st_santos: Jul 2, 2006 - 12:36 PM

[Griff]

before i bought mine, it was slow like this, what it was, the local car place topped of the fluids...someone put power steering fluid in the brake reseviour....which made the lines swollen...which made my brakes stick...and obviously greatly reduced the performance...it ended up costing 800 to fix everything and get all new lines, and even pads, cause they were scrwed...this dude drove like this for a while.

...he commented...damn, i thought this thing lost some power...
just some FYI, may be somthing to check out.

[celicaST]

maybe your auto tranny needs to be rebuilt, the clutches and bands might be worn at that mileage.

[94st_santos]

maybe your auto tranny needs to be rebuilt, the clutches and bands might be worn at that mileage.

The tranny seems to be fine I mean nothing really noticeable. I was thinking it was maybe a sensor or valve. Has any body ever had problems with their injectors or there fuel pump, what are some of the symptoms. I was also reading in the chiltons manual about valve lash has anybody ever replaced their shims or had them adjusted. Alot of these parts are pretty pricey and I want to get some ideas before I go and buy them and it's not the problem. Thanks.

[Bitter]

is your timing advancing and your knock sensor working correctly? any abnormal engine noises?

[DomGT]

Exhaust leaks result in a loss of torque (low end power). Our engines need backpressure in the exhaust system. With your leaking exhaust manifold, I can see you losing low end power.

edit: 1 more thing, I bet with that loud exhaust leak your not giving it gas like you used to. I bet at WOT your car is loud as hell.

This post has been edited by DomGT: Jul 2, 2006 - 5:28 PM

[Bitter]

Exhaust leaks result in a loss of torque (low end power). Our engines need backpressure in the exhaust system. With your leaking exhaust manifold, I can see you losing low end power.

edit: 1 more thing, I bet with that loud exhaust leak your not giving it gas like you used to. I bet at WOT your car is loud as hell.

all of that is very true as well. you'd need a pretty signifigant leak to cause as much of a loss of power as he's feeling.

fast way to look for a leak, disable the spark/fuel, plug the tail pipe, crank the engine and pour soapy water on all the pipes, manifolds, and gaskets.


just dont forget to unplug the pipe when you're done! you wouldnt beleive how far and how hard things will shoot!

[DomGT]

all of that is very true as well. you'd need a pretty signifigant leak to cause as much of a loss of power as he's feeling.

fast way to look for a leak, disable the spark/fuel, plug the tail pipe, crank the engine and pour soapy water on all the pipes, manifolds, and gaskets.


just dont forget to unplug the pipe when you're done! you wouldnt beleive how far and how hard things will shoot!

I like the 7A-FE but it does make small power compared to newer engines. I agree you'd have to have 1 hell of leak, but remember his leak is at the manifold! He could be losing a lot more pressure than if the leak was further down the exhaust system. A minor power loss on a 7A=trouble getting on the highway.

[94st_santos]

is your timing advancing and your knock sensor working correctly? any abnormal engine noises?

Yes actually I'd guess a month or two ago I reset the timing becaues there was a slight knocking noise coming from the engine, but that noise is still there and it seems to make alot more noise than other cars would. Any I checked the timing again and it had advance again so I reset it. I haven't checked the knock sensor.

As far as the crack goes, it is leaking but it doesn't seem like enough to take that much power. I want to get a header hopefully order this week. But then again the 7a doesn't have much power to begin with. I saw some patching stuff for cracked manifolds has anybody used it.... if so does it work, may try that before buying anything else to make sure thats the problem.

This post has been edited by 94st_santos: Jul 2, 2006 - 6:47 PM

[LewFX]

try seafoam in the throttle, gas tank, etc...start it up, blow it out.

[Bitter]

set the timing to base, which is 10 degress below top dead center, change up to a high octane fuel and see if the knocking goes away. if it does then the issue is carbon buildup or something else causing a hotspot. make sure the plugs are the correct heatrange.

[94st_santos]

try seafoam in the throttle, gas tank, etc...start it up, blow it out.

I read a post about seafoam a while back on here, what does it really do and where can I buy it.

[LewFX]

most auto stores carry it, its in a silver can costs about 6 bux, its a super cleaner.

[94st_santos]

set the timing to base, which is 10 degress below top dead center, change up to a high octane fuel and see if the knocking goes away. if it does then the issue is carbon buildup or something else causing a hotspot. make sure the plugs are the correct heatrange.

If I recall right I did use a higher octane because I read that in the chiltons manual but I did'nt see no difference to tell you the truth it felt like I wasted more gas. If it is carbon build up or hotspot what can I do to treat it.

[LewFX]

try the seafoam and tell us how it feels after

[Bitter]

set the timing to base, which is 10 degress below top dead center, change up to a high octane fuel and see if the knocking goes away. if it does then the issue is carbon buildup or something else causing a hotspot. make sure the plugs are the correct heatrange.

If I recall right I did use a higher octane because I read that in the chiltons manual but I did'nt see no difference to tell you the truth it felt like I wasted more gas. If it is carbon build up or hotspot what can I do to treat it.

as lew said, you can try seafoam. follow the directions on the can, but i would omit adding it to the oil.

also try chevron techron in a double-dose.

[94st_santos]

Thanks guys I'll try and get some seafoam asap. But does anybody else have any ideas.

set the timing to base, which is 10 degress below top dead center, change up to a high octane fuel and see if the knocking goes away. if it does then the issue is carbon buildup or something else causing a hotspot. make sure the plugs are the correct heatrange.

What plugs are you talking about?

Oh yeah I said I had a stocked out ST but I also have straight through muffler and NGK iridium spark plugs, this is also a reason I'm wondering why I'm losing so much power. I Probably have like 50 hp now LOL.

This post has been edited by 94st_santos: Jul 2, 2006 - 9:33 PM