alright, i'm guessing it's been posted, but, since i can't search for it... i'll have to post it.

Part 1.
I have a 2000 SE, automatic. when i'm accelerating, half throttle doesn't feel that strong. in order to get the auto to get down, i have to really floor it.

Part 2.
It just doesn't seem as strong as my old 2000 GXE... granted, my GXE was a 5spd, but, it doesn't even feel as fast as a 2001 GXE auto i drove. it could be gas related (i'm still driving with a tank of 87 octane)... but, i doubt 91 octane is going to make it feel that much better. It feels like a high 15sec, low 16sec car...

 

as long as you are not hearing pinging...it shouldnt be the gas. maybe the auto gxe you drove probably have a 15" wheel and now you have an SE with 17" rim.


it could be other things like dirty throttle body or air filter, plugs with wrong heat range, dirty injectors, bad fuel filter, etc.


btw, welcome back

 

Is it pretty cold outside or when you first drive it in the morning?
mine acts like then but it normally goes away after ive been driving for a little while. but I also susspect 1 or more ignition coils bad/going bad---but it doesent always do it--so i dont know.

But I know what your talking about---- its either real slow accelarating or you have to push the pedal down so much it downshifts to much higher rpm? right?

Id get some bg44k injector cleaner to be sure everything is cleaned out and get rid of the 87octane.

 

That's just the way the auto is. I have an 02 SE auto, and i feel the same. The car will not downshift at half throttle. But try this....before you give it any gas, take it out of O/D, make sure the car is clearly in 3rd, THEN give it half throttle. You should feel it pull very strong.

OverDrive/4th gear is a very tall gear. You'll never feel it pull "hard" in 4th.

Actually, i am making an assumtion here that you are talking about freeway speeds.

As for the street driving, the cars are geared to shift earlier that most of us would if we had a stick. Very steady speed increase but shifts at about 3000 rpm at half throttle.

I think you car is acting zactly like it's deisigned to.

 

look around for threads about bad ignition coils....


o and welcome back

 

Another thing to consider:
Cars with softer supsension feel faster because of the greater weight shift. The SE has a slightly more firm suspension than a GLE/GXE.

 

hmmm... i'll have to do a direct comparison between a 01 GXE auto vs mine. either, race the two and see how bad i get beat (i do have the heavier car).

I'll dump some injection cleaner, 91 octane gas, and see if I can get the TSB for the auto done (even if it doesn't need it).

 

Oh yeah, another point:
The engine has a knock sensor. If it detects pinging, it moves the timing back. That would explain quite a bit.
Gas does make a difference. I can feel a difference in brands of 93 octane. So I'm sure 87 sucks.

 

I don't know about that, my car on AGX/Sprints FEELS faster than with stock suspension because you can feel the road. But i can see what you mean about the firm suspension deal. Depends on what you equate with 'feeling faster' either the weight transfer to the rear or like me, the road feel. Pull codes to see if there's anything wrong.

LEMAR