I own a 2000 SE with about 60,000 miles on it (bought it used a few months ago). Since ive had it ive noticed that if for some reason i really have to step on it, it accelerates fine up till about 4000 or so RPM and then the acceleration dies. the engine will not rev much higher, and the car doesnt accelerate at all. i figured that it could be the transmission sliiping (stock 4 speed auto), but when this happens, i can pretty much floor it and it wont redline. also, when this happens, the car is already in gear. As i said, it accelerates fine through the gear up to 4000 rpm. if u have any suggestions, please let me know, because this is killing my cars performance. Thanks!

 

there is a lot of problems that it could be you might have a bad fuel pump or your fuel filter could be dust you could also have a bad injector also how as the maintanence before you bought it? good luck

 

It's most likely the MAF. Dying at 4000RPM is the most common symptom to diagnose a faulty MAF (Mass Air-flow Sensor).

 

thanks arnold i have always interpretated that the symptom wwas betewwn 1500 and 2500

 

Nooo. If you're losing power after 1500-2500 your car is in limp-mode and is in need of some serious maintenence.

 

i have had that same problem where it seems the car just has about 50 horsepower after about 4000 rpm.....initially i thought it was the spark plugs because it happened right after but ended up being my O2 sensor....

 

Variable intake problem perhaps?

 

do you have any check engine lights on?

 

Wouldn't a faulty VI just cause really slow shifting and not completely obliterate all performance past 4000RPM? This guy's saying he's got no go after 4000RPM. I always thought a problem with the variable intake would continue to increase the car's momentum past 4000RPM, but it would just do it slower than normal.

Edit: Yeah, GreekMax on the other hand may have a problem with his VIM.

 

this is definately MAF. this is the exact problem i had. looked at entire fuel system and spark plugs, coils etc. finally went to stealer and it was MAF. $300 w/ ecu reprogram

 

i would say def check your O2 sensors and your MAF....

 

i though you wouldnt be able to rev past 2500rpm with a bad maf

 

MAF failure: 1500-2500 RPM (want to fin out? disconnect your maf)
Uncommon to see a car with a bad MAF that can rev to 4k, but not impossible.
Recommend you check for a misadjusted throttle cable or bent throttle valve (if the engine will not rev past 4k in neutral), bad ignition coils (on a 2k? imagine that) or MAF as above. VIAS is long shot odds but the car should still accelerate and rev even with a bad VIAS.

 

The VI has nothing to do with shifting at all. It's not shifting slow, it's revving slow. Think if the runners never moved properly. It would block airflow, totally change the power curve to the bottom end of the spectrum, and make it feel like a pig at higher RPM. You could swap the MAF with another known good one and see if that changes anything, but if it doesn't, check your VI manifold...

 

Bad MAF almost w/o doubt........

 

Yeah, I actually didn't mean to mention shifting. I wanted to say acceleration, not shifting. I later said that the car is going but gaining momentum slower than normal.

 

thanks everyone, ill have the MAF, variable intake, and O2 sensors checked out. I appreciate your help