slow acceleration

[lilnicky]

I have a 1998 GSX, dont know much about it because I just got it off a dealer. So as far as I know nothing but exhaust has been done to it. The car is an automatic. Ok so anyway heres my question... The car has very poor accerlation. I tried to race another gsx that was automatic with no work done to it and he took me by a good 5 cars right off the line. The only thing I have noticed that was weird about this car is that when ur at a light or anywhere and u got ur foot on the brake in drive and take your foot off the brake the car will not move. And if it does move it moves very slowly almost like its in neutral. Same thing when you put the car in reverese.. most cars when you go in reverese the car will start to go backwards at a pretty good speed. This car will just every so slightly move backward. I have had it checked to see if a brake was stuck or something the guy said no and I also had the tranny checked. The guy told me its probably cause the car idle's at 500-600 rpms. But I just cant see that as a good enough reason... just feels like something is sticking and not letting the car move. Anyone else have this problem? Or can this be my reason for the horrible accerlation? I hope I gave everyone enough info to try and help. Thanks guys

 

[PaleDSM]

Time for basic DSM maintenance.

-Plugs. NGK BPR6ES gapped at .028-.030

-wires. NGKs, Magnecores, MSDs...your choice. I prefer NGKs after trying the others.

-Boost leak test. You can make an intake leak tester following the directions on www.vfaq.com . Boost leaks will wreak havoc on performance. Over work the turbo, make the car run rich, and sometime cause knock because of the hot intake charge.

-compression test. Get a feel for the general condition of the car.

 

[lilnicky]

oright so i got the compression test done... 180 at plug except for one which was 185. I also had a boost leak coming out of the bov. The cars running alot faster but still slow of the line and when it shifts it isnt really pulling... so I dont feel pushed against my seat. Thanks for the help any other ideas or does it not shifting hard between gears seem about normal for an automatic?

 

[CRiXman]

Hi,

Listen, I am pretty much a newbie but, my first impression from your initial thread gave me the impression that something might be wrong with your clutch. (I am almost sure)Try work with your problem from that angle... maybe the problem lies in a worn out clutch. Keep me upadated and goodluck!


Chami

P.S. I know how to check a clutch on a manual transmision. As follows: 1. Start your car 2. Put the 1st gear 3. With your foot still on the clutch put your right foot on the brake, so the car cannot move. 4. With your left foot still on the clutch let go very slowly. Result: If your car stalls your clutch is OK. but if your foot is completely of the clutch and the engine is still running the clutch is dead. Similary there might be an easy way of checking the clutch on an automatic, but I do not know of any. Maybe you should post a thread on testing a clutch on an automatic. Hope this helped man...

 

[lilnicky]

hey thanks alot for the help. Hopefully thats all it is and I can get this car running right so I can start doing some work to it.

 

[Jake_16_1999]

Hi,

Listen, I am pretty much a newbie but, my first impression from your initial thread gave me the impression that something might be wrong with your clutch. (I am almost sure)Try work with your problem from that angle... maybe the problem lies in a worn out clutch. Keep me upadated and goodluck!


Chami

P.S. I know how to check a clutch on a manual transmision. As follows: 1. Start your car 2. Put the 1st gear 3. With your foot still on the clutch put your right foot on the brake, so the car cannot move. 4. With your left foot still on the clutch let go very slowly. Result: If your car stalls your clutch is OK. but if your foot is completely of the clutch and the engine is still running the clutch is dead. Similary there might be an easy way of checking the clutch on an automatic, but I do not know of any. Maybe you should post a thread on testing a clutch on an automatic. Hope this helped man...

The car is an auto, meaning no clutch.

As ar as the slowness is it doggish through the whole rpm range or just at a certain point?

Jake

 

[CRiXman]

The car is an auto, meaning no clutch.

As ar as the slowness is it doggish through the whole rpm range or just at a certain point?

Jake

Maybe.... I don't know much but there sure is a system that functions similar to a MT car clucth in an AT car. All I am saying is that 'that' specific mechanism (energy from motor to the gearbox) is malfunctioning. This is my logical attack at the problem.

C.

 

[lilnicky]

The car is an auto, meaning no clutch.

As ar as the slowness is it doggish through the whole rpm range or just at a certain point?

Jake

Just at that givin point.... pretty much the slowness is just gettin the car into gear. Where when most people take their foot off the brake on an automatic and the car encagess into first gear and starts to with no gas.. i have to give my car gas before it will move and thats where it hesitates. Once it gets to about 3 or 4 grand the turbo kicks in and its pretty much fine.

 

[psychlow]

Plugs and wires would be a good start, but I'm thinking that might not be your main problem.

If it were my car, I'd take off the upper timing belt cover and verify that cam timing is correct. I'd also do an extensive boost leak test to make sure that you don't have any more vacuum/boost leaks, which will cause exactly the symptoms you describe.

 

[Jake_16_1999]

I can't say for sure what the problem is as I have no experinece with AT, but it seems to me that it may in fact be something like the torque convertor.