2K Power...normal?
Thread Starter
Senior Member
Joined: Sep 2003
Posts: 201
2K Power...normal?
Now that I finally purchased my 2k SE 5 speed and driven it a week, I'm wondering if the engine is performing the way it is supposed to.
Low end torque is wonderful! I came out of a 4 cyclinder saab turbo, which had nothing below 2000 RPM. This V-6 pulls all day from 1000 RPM and up.
But...
I've noticed that the power from ~2500 RPM to red line is pretty flat. It doesn't pull much harder at 4000 rpm than it does at 2000 or 2500.
Is this normal or am I just used to the turbo that pinned me to my seat and accelerated exponentially as the rpms rose?
So what is normal?
Low end torque is wonderful! I came out of a 4 cyclinder saab turbo, which had nothing below 2000 RPM. This V-6 pulls all day from 1000 RPM and up.
But...
I've noticed that the power from ~2500 RPM to red line is pretty flat. It doesn't pull much harder at 4000 rpm than it does at 2000 or 2500.
Is this normal or am I just used to the turbo that pinned me to my seat and accelerated exponentially as the rpms rose?
So what is normal?
I'm not sure if mine's normal either, but I have very little low-end torque below 2000, and it pulls hard, especially by 3000 and above (though I don't feel it pulling that much harder beyond 4000 than it does at 4000, however this makes sense because peak torque does occur AT 4000...)
As for things to check, there's a feature in the intake manifold called the VIAS... search about it (short summary: there's a little L-shaped rod underneath the driver-side edge of the intake manifold, you can see it if you peek close enough... rev it up to 6000 RPM or so, you should see it move... have an assistant rev it if necessary... it opens around 5200 RPM I think, and closes below there)
As for things to check, there's a feature in the intake manifold called the VIAS... search about it (short summary: there's a little L-shaped rod underneath the driver-side edge of the intake manifold, you can see it if you peek close enough... rev it up to 6000 RPM or so, you should see it move... have an assistant rev it if necessary... it opens around 5200 RPM I think, and closes below there)
On Cali-spec emissions 2k's, there is also the "Swirl control valve" which opens somewhere around 3000 (I think?)... if that's not opening properly it could drastically restrict intake flow above 3000...
and FYI, if it doesn't pull much harder from 2500 to redline then the Swirl control valve would be the first thing I'd inspect...
Also of note: Cali-spec emissions uses 4 O2 sensors instead of 3, so I think that's how you can identify them.
Here's a diagram of the control solenoid box for VIAS and Swirl control:
and FYI, if it doesn't pull much harder from 2500 to redline then the Swirl control valve would be the first thing I'd inspect...
Also of note: Cali-spec emissions uses 4 O2 sensors instead of 3, so I think that's how you can identify them.
Here's a diagram of the control solenoid box for VIAS and Swirl control:
Member
Joined: Mar 2003
Posts: 71
I got a 2001 5-speed. I pull very hard from 2000 to redline. I would check the vacuum lines that connect to the vias solenoids. There was a tsb out for the lines kinking causein the valve not to open. Also on the 2000 the coils can always be questionable
Donating Maxima.org Member
Joined: Mar 2002
Posts: 586
Should there be much of a difference with a 2K automatic as far as pulling as hard like the 5 speed does?
Originally Posted by Ben
Yeah. I got 2k 5 spd and I feel a fresh punch of power at 3500 and it pulls hard to 5k.
Originally Posted by MaxJag
Should there be much of a difference with a 2K automatic as far as pulling as hard like the 5 speed does?
Donating Maxima.org Member
Joined: Mar 2002
Posts: 586
Damn! I should have gotten manual gearing. Anyone know where I
can get a 6 speed max?
can get a 6 speed max?
Originally Posted by sloppymax
an auto will put less power to the wheels due to higher powertrain loss and the gearing is different. everything else null, a 5 spd should feel like it is pulling harder than an auto because it is.