I think my car is having a problem and i need you guy's help. It seems as if my rpms rise higher than the power that's supposed to be put out. I mean, i'll give it a little gas and it will rise to about 2000 rpm, but it seems like there's not enough power getting to the wheels. For me to get any real power, i have to rev to about 3500 rpms and this is killing my gas mileage. The engine runs just a tad rough, a slight vibration in the pedal. Does the winter cold make you guy's max's perform like this? Right now im only getting about 220 miles per tank and i use Premium Chevron gas all the time. I got an 00 se auto total stock with 61,255 miles on it. I recently replaced all the ignition coils, and spark plugs and air filter. It just seems like the car lost it's luster. Im a freshman college student and cant afford to be paying for all this stuff to keep the car running right. Any suggestions? Please help. Is the dealer fuel injection/throttle body cleaning worth anything? I just don't wanna waste my money and it doesn't bring my performance back.
Thanks for all replies

 

Any Help??

 

Try some fuel injection cleaner in the fuel tank, like BG44K. Roughly $20/bottle if you buy it online with shipping.
Failing that, it could be the MAF sensor. MAFs aren't normally suspected in 2000 models, but a few people have replaced them with benefits (UMD_MaxSE if I recall replaced his and noticed some improvements)

 

Or, alternately, have the Fuel Filter replaced.
In fact, I'd do that first.
I used BG44K before changing my fuel filter and noticed some... weird problems. A few episodes of severe pinging especially. After changing the fuel filter, all the "luster" came back, and MUCH MUCH MUCH MORE. I'd say changing the fuel filter made a much bigger difference than changing out all the ignition coils & spark plugs, although the coils & plugs did some good work (feels more torquey all across the board now... easier to accelerate in everyday traffic)

 

FYI on the fuel filter-

It can be a DIY job, but PLEASE PLEASE OH PLEASE BE CAREFUL with the plastic fuel pump assembly...

The filter + new O-ring is around $22 shipped from DAVEB, but my tab ended up rising by another $150 after I BROKE a small plastic fuel line piece inside the fuel sending unit housing. That was NOT FUN.

 

So you're revving and not going anywhere? How's your tranny doing?

 

The tranny is ok, or at least i think. I got the slipping tsb done, also got a new drop resistor put in. Could this be a problem?

 

How much will it cost for the dealer to replace the fuel filter?? Will they do it since it is a supposedly "lifetime" part??

 

Does it strain when its revving? Is the engine note (not exhaust note) raspy when its reved?

 

Yes it is slightly, like it's running rough or something

 

was your car more powerful/responsive before you replaced the coil/plugs?

who replaced plugs and coils?

 

My car was less powerful before i replaced the coils/plugs. My high end seems to be fine, it's just the low end that seems to be lacking.

 

so it was fine before and it happened right after replacing the plugs and coils. Did you make sure you get the plugs with the same heat range as the ones you had? did you gap the plugs to the correct gap?