poor acceleration

[homegrown]

I have a 95 wagon with about 96k. It has developed a very lazy acceleration curve which only picks up around 3000 to 3500 rpm. If you get on the gas the engine rpms will go up but the car does not accelerate, then it feels like the slack will be taken out of the system and the rpm's will drop as the car catches up and then accelerates. I have new plugs (boush plantinums) and a new fuel filter. Any ideas on what is causing this would be appreciated.

[Gus]

Have you tried resetting the ECM? That's the first thing I would try.

Dave

[Legacy777]

Try resetting the ECU......also......get rid of the bosch platinums. Put in NGK's Either just the normal coppers or platinums, if you want platinums.

[ciper]

Sounds to me like a transmission problem, if the engine rpms rise up then it slowly catches up.

I can replicated something to that effect by always starting in second gear.

edit: dang, I cant barely understand what I wrote!

I meant to say that If I start in second gear my car will act the same way, rpms will climb to 3k and the car takes off slowly.

[DLC]

Sounds more like tranny issues than anything.

Did the Bosch Plats help, hinder or not affect the problem at all?

Check the ATF, smell it and see if it's burnt.

Dave

[homegrown]

It is a 5 speed. The plugs and filter did not help nor hinder the situation. The starting in second gear statement is a good description but it will do while cruising also not only at take off.

[ciper]

Well then this may be a very easy fix, my second guess since you have a manual transmission is that your clutch is due for replacement. With 96k have you replaced the clutch yet?

[homegrown]

No new clutch to my knowledge. We bought the car with 70k. About what range do they usually need replaced? Has anybody replaced their clutch and if so what is a good replacement, how long does it take, is it a real pain and are there any special tools required? Is there a sure fire way i can tell it's the clutch without replacing it? Thanks for all the input.

[rallysam]

I agree - clutch. Luckily, you should be able to diagnose this before you have to dish out for parts. It should feel exactly as if you are driving around with the clutch pedal partly down. Hey, you can even do that if you want to compare how it behaves (bad vs. worse).

You may be able to quick-fix things by adjusting the clutch cables (10 minutes under the hood). If your clutch is really worn out, though, then adjusting the cables will only conceal the prob - then who knows what happens when it gets worse.

Sam
90 Legacy L Wagon AWD 5mt

[entirelyturbo]

Your clutch is most likely hydraulic though if its a 96. If it's cable, and the clutch is really shot, then the cable adjustment will only last for a few extra miles... I drove mine to a parts store about 6 miles away with little problem, and the car became inoperable on the way back.

It was exactly 110,000 miles on the dot, and I don't think it was coincidence ...

The car would hardly shift gears, even with double-clutching, and any judicious throttle application would cause the clutch to slip in any gear other than 1st, and when I got it to the mechanic, the pedal stayed on the floor...

I know this is an old topic, but I thought my input would be of at least some value...

[vypa]

id have to say clutch too... mines in the shop gettin the clutch replaced right now.... and it was def. gone... with the cable clutch tighten all the way it would actually slip in first gear if the pedal was more than 3/4 gone... wasnt really safely driveable... but had to deal with it for a few days.......