Acceleration Issues

Midnightkid · Jul 19, 2009, 04:14 AM

Alrighty, this has been bugging me since I took my road trip from Vegas to Phoenix and back about 3-4 months ago. My car accelerates just fine and all from 0-79. However, at around 80-90 MPH, the car just gives me a big "F' You" and decides to accelerate like a moped (literally, it struggles just to stay at 100 MPH). I'm gonna do some compression tests on my day off to see if I have any blown seals, but I want to know if there could be any problems that can cause my car to piss me off so bad.

Car is a 2003 ES Automatic with 52,000 miles. Mods that matter (In terms of possible problem causes) are:

Weapon R intake, Oil Catch
NGK Plugs and wires
RRM Throttle body, intake manifold, header, piggy Back (installed but later uninstalled)
Custom 2.25 exhaust from the cat (stock) back.

Before all this happened, my car would easily accelerate to 120 MPH, at a rate enough for me to pace a non-intercooled Turbo'd Lancer. I live in Las Vegas (High altitude, Low humidity, 110 degrees is the norm).

Please keep all smart mouth comments to yourselves.

Midnightkid · Jul 19, 2009, 11:39 PM

Bump for all you awesome Lancer peeps who might've experienced this dilemma before XD

javip1986 · Jul 19, 2009, 11:42 PM

Let's see what happens after that comp. test.

Lumpydonut · Jul 19, 2009, 11:53 PM

dude my lancer tops at 115, and takes about a mile to get there so if you got problems I definitely do lol

03lances · Jul 20, 2009, 02:14 AM

Wierd I have a 03 ES Manual and in 5th gear at 90 it actually starts to wake up and I am bone stock. Something doesnt seem right but dont know between the 2 trannys

Sn0w Man · Aug 10, 2009, 03:25 PM

hmmmmm. mines like the opposite, like wen i take a turn n press on the gas it runs sluggish and the exhaust sounds like a squealing or boiling sound, not sure what it is, but wen i get into 2nd -4th gear it hauls jus fine, esp when im over 40mph, i gotta 02 oz

senate6268 · Aug 10, 2009, 05:26 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Sn0w Man

hmmmmm. mines like the opposite, like wen i take a turn n press on the gas it runs sluggish and the exhaust sounds like a squealing or boiling sound, not sure what it is, but wen i get into 2nd -4th gear it hauls jus fine, esp when im over 40mph, i gotta 02 oz

Sounds like you might have a bad alternator belt or P/S and A/C belt. Either that or you have a bad power steering pump if it's squealing on turns.

Sn0w Man · Aug 10, 2009, 05:40 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by senate6268

Sounds like you might have a bad alternator belt or P/S and A/C belt. Either that or you have a bad power steering pump if it's squealing on turns.

my bad i said it wrong, it doesnt squeal on turns, it turns fine no sounds, jus after the turn when Im strightened out and step on the gas, the exhaust does the squealin boiling sound. i know i do need a new timing belt, maybe it could be that, but why would it or how would it affect the sound commin from the exhaust? cus when its not makin that sound the exhaust is loud, but when it is makin the squealin/boilin sound, the exhaust is not as loud as it should.

Sn0w Man · Aug 10, 2009, 09:45 PM

anyone else experience what im goin through or what the orrig poster is goin through?

senate6268 · Aug 10, 2009, 09:55 PM

Do a compression check on your engine. The upper ring land on the Lancer piston is prone to failure. You may have low compression in a cylinder or two.

Sn0w Man · Aug 10, 2009, 10:01 PM

ill talk to my boy in da morn, he works at a kwik kar, but hes my mechanic, guy did my suspension for 300(jus labor)!!!! a garage down the road wanted like 1300(jus labor) lol

Sn0w Man · Aug 10, 2009, 10:05 PM

is there a way i can test it myself? or do i need special compression tools?