kil2board

Okay, it's gotten freakin' cold up north here quick, and ever since then, i've had a few problems for almost a month that i've kind of ignored, but still paid attention to.

Just did an oilchange, use 91octane religously, did plugs 15k ago along with new KS.

Okay, If i baby the car after it warms up from 1st -3rd Gear, the car drive like *** and has no power whatsoever and jump shifts WAY too early( like, 1st gear shifts at 5200rpm @ full throttle)
BUT, if i get on it, i'll have full power and shift EASILY at 6200.
* I don't beat my car, i'm using this for an "example"*

While this crap has been happening, i've been averaging 273miles a tank.
(filled up $36.00 at 15.21gal) which is NOT GOOD.

ALSO.
I notice after initial startup if i give it a little rev it will sputter below 500rpm, lights dim, then it jumps back to 1100.

I ran it for codes and i got nothing. I think it might be one of the coils.
Any suggestions? I'm not bringing it to the stealership and i dropped my most current mechanic because i don't trust him. (told me my struts were perfectly fine and the left front blew out 2 weeks later) Any help would really be appreciated.

Thanks in advance.

heynow

iTrader: (1)

you might wanna throughly clean your TB and IACV (by taking them OFF, and using a little elbow grease, not just sraying TB cleaner in there) IF those won't bring about any improvements, then we can go down the list.

heynow

iTrader: (1)

Is that city mileage or HWY? "cause i'm lucky if i can squeze out 220mi/16GAL!!! I usually don't rev about 3krpm, but my trips are short so, i'm always running rich.

kil2board

I cleaned the TB a month ago. I do mostly highway, but now im back to school i do a fair amt of city as well. i would say its a 50 50 split.

ewuzh

iTrader: (20)

MAF sensor, O2 sensors

Love_00_Max

First, I wouldn't be hard on the engine. Take your heavy foot off the gas pedal.

Things to check,

1) Alignment and 35psi on the fronts and rears, since you live in a colder place, 37psi would be needed since air does not expand too much in the place you live.
2) TB cleaning, new coils and plugs
3) Replace fuel filter and air filter
4) Replace O2s if you already have a lot of miles on the present ones. Also check the MAF.
5) General tuneup

That is what I can think off.. and be nice to the vehicle.

heynow

iTrader: (1)

well said, dude

Rydicule

Classic signs of a MAF sensor failing.

Cdg2125

iTrader: (7)

I have a very bad gas mileage now as well. Brand new KS and wire in there too. I also have an 00vi so my gas is worse with that but I've been told to the MAF as well. Grab a new one and see what happens. Sucks because no codes show up for that. New o2's and new maf and all is expensive and to not know for sure if it will help sucks. But go for that.

:edit: I realized that I basically reposted what everyone said. My bad.

kil2board

UPDATE:

Swapped MAF's with my friend (98 SE) and the car ran beautifully.... for 30 seconds. It then sputtered and died. I checked the connector to the MAF to make sure it was plugged in correctly, and wasn't loose. Started it again and it started right up. BUT...my favorite little light in the right hand corner popped on and i haven't yet had a chance to check the code.

Drove it for...90-100 miles and its a bit of an improvement, but nothing major. Got my low end back, but seems to lack "*****" at midrange. i KNOW this issue has been beaten to death, but is there a good chance it could be my knock sensor again? because i'm having similar symptoms as i did when it was dead last time?

kil2board

bump........

foxracing12

iTrader: (3)

I recently had this same issue, except I was getting 200 miles to a tank. I had a bad o2, KS, and MAF. When you scan the codes the KS will only show up then, as a ghost code it won't trigger a CEL. As for the cel coming on after you put in that maf.. thats just strange. make sure all the vacuum lines and 2 connectors on the intake are hooked up after you put the MAF back in. When I was putting in my MAF I found a few vacuum lines that were disconnected that have been like that since I bought the car.


Theres an older thread about a quick and easy way to check coils. Search that and try it. Pull out a couple spark plugs and check the condition. Run premium gas if you already arent.

kil2board

okay, went to autozone today and had the code checked, it said MAF malfunction... so i checked the connector and it was a little loose. but still made contact. the guy cleared it for me, so i asked him to check and see if there were any other codes and, there weren't.

so my computer is telling me there is NOTHING wrong with my car when there is.


i'm gonna check the O2 sensors this weekend and mabye replace them. who knows. I just wanna get my 400miles per tank i was getting again...

thanks for the help so far.