No Power!

[NewNeptune]

I thought I read about someone else with this problem and I really hope it's not going that way (because his transmission finally gave out), but this happened twice today. First I tried to merge into traffic: I accelerated normally until I noticed I accidentally cut off another car (it came out of nowhere, I swear!) so I floored it. It felt like I was just leisurely accelerating. I kept it floored and it decided to upshift at 4500 RPMs instead of going all the way to 6k like it usually does. A bit down the road, I let off the gas, slowed down and floored it and all my power was back. I didn't think much of it until later that same trip...I was going down the neighborhood street at 25 MPH when a dog ran out in front of me. I slammed on the brakes and stopped just in time. When I tried to go, the RPMs sluggishly came up to 2500 RPMs but it was like I was just coasting. No power whatsoever. So a few feet down the road I tried it again. No problem, took off like normal. I tried it one more time, but couldn't reproduce it.I have no lights on and I'm hesitant to take it into the dealer, since my experience with dealers and transmissions that don't set codes are...drumroll...cannot reproduce. If it doesn't do it with any frequency or regularity, is there really any point in taking it to a dealer? Are there any TSBs for something like this?

[lovemyraffe]

Hmm...it does sound like your pressure control solenoids. It is a problem that the Rola's, Trix's and Vibes will have. http://forums.genvibe.com/zerothread?id=31318

[Petrucci914]

I'm trying to understand what you're talking about but I think I've had the same issue. It's a low emission vehicle, a small transmission, and plenty of electronic crap controlling it. Therefore it's not going to be as responsive all the time and will try to do what you want, but it's no manual. If you don't hear anything weird, if you don't have really odd shifting, and you don't have any codes I don't think you need to worry. I can only get to redline my car occasionally too, but then again I don't really beat on it since I don't trust the transmission.

[NewNeptune]

Well, every other time I have floored it, it revved smoothly and quickly to red line. But not this time. And the second instance today was really disconcerting, because it had absolutely no power.I should check the transmission fluid, but other than that, you're probably right, I can't do anything unless there are any codes. It's depressing since it is happening at only 22k miles.

[lovemyraffe]

It's still under warranty

[NewNeptune]

Quote, originally posted by lovemyraffe »It's still under warrantyYep. I just hate to take it in if I can't duplicate it. They'll think I'm some sort of car-hypochondriac or something.

[Lancer]

The ecu controls when your car shifts. It's not perfect. Quote, originally posted by Petrucci914 »I'm trying to understand what you're talking about but I think I've had the same issue. It's a low emission vehicle, a small transmission, and plenty of electronic crap controlling it. Therefore it's not going to be as responsive all the time and will try to do what you want, but it's no manual. If you don't hear anything weird, if you don't have really odd shifting, and you don't have any codes I don't think you need to worry. I can only get to redline my car occasionally too, but then again I don't really beat on it since I don't trust the transmission. I totally agree! Mines been rebuilt and 'modified' , and it still acts stupid sometimes. I have the opposite problem though, mine likes to go past redline and bounce off the rev limiter a few times before shifting. My tranny guy said that it's nothing he can do. It's all the ecu. Only a reflash would fix it, if you can find someone that's willing to do it. I wouldn't worry about it. Unfortunatly it sounds normal.

[Petrucci914]

A rebuild is still on my agenda. What did you all have replaced/upgraded? I was looking at ordering a Torque Converter and Valve Body but I don't know if a bunch of other things are in need of replacement or not.

[Lancer]

Not exactly sure what was all replaced. Some big gears and the tc was rebuilt with a 2800rpm stall, adjustable valve body (shift kit). And the cltch plates or someting were glazed so they were replaced with a higher stage. Still, so far it's been worth the $3grand it cost.I left it up to the tranny guy to biuld it to hold 300hp. He said it's good for up to 500hp. Like it'll ever be that powerful. You know how many stickers that is!!

[lovemyraffe]

Dude that's like 17 bazilliongadrillion stickers squared.

[Petrucci914]

Only 5 if they're 'Type-R.'

[MRCN RCE]

ok i'm gonna let you guys in on a secret.... most people just get the type-r stickers, and they do add hp, but that's all they add. this is a mistake most people make. if you wanna increase your tq, you need to get the v-tech stickers. each one of those is guaranteed to give a 100-375ft lb increase, depending on the color of the sticker. now i've heard that there's a super exclusive color changing mood ring type sticker that says "type-r tech". it's ONLY sold in japan, but it will get your hp AND tq into the quadruple digits. i heard that you have to pay a customs agent a pretty penny just to get him/her to "overlook" it so you can bring one back. but my father's brother's nephew's cousin's former roommate went over there and asked questions about where to get em, and he never came home... about the power loss issue... i'd take it in to the dealer and see what happens

[NewNeptune]

Thanks for the input. I'll just watch it and hopefully it never does something like that again.

[ajflan]

Yeah I've heard about those stickers as well. What I would give to get my hands on something that powerful.

[ColonelPanic]

That wasn't one of my threads, was it? I remember mine ran like absolute dump, had to keep it floored to go anywhere. Suspecting that a plugged cat was the issue since after I had those replaced it got some pep back. Had the fart smell too so it was replaced per the TSB.But having to flog it all that time to get it to move probably didn't help whatever was also going on with the transmission since it died right after that.

[NewNeptune]

Ah yes, it was you! I really hope my Vibe doesn't end up going that way. I had a Honda CR-V once that did something similar. Floor it to merge with traffic and there was no power. I had to completely let off the gas and reapply to accelerate. It did it once around 90k miles and then never again before we sold it at 120k. I'll be happy if this is one of those instances. I thought these were high-revving engines built for flogging?

[engineertwin2]

Having no power is a problem for a lot of base Vibe's with automatic...Oh you meant less power than normal...J/k...but it could be any number of things. If it were a catalytic converter issue, I'd expect you to have the problem more consistently. Likely, it's transmission or ECU related.If you want, I can try to catch up with you sometime since we are both here in the Valley of the Sun and use the AutoTap to check both of the O2 sensor signals to make sure it's mapping right.If this Pontiac didn't have the Toyota OBD scheme, I could check for tranny codes that wouldn't trigger the MIL (or CEL)...but alas...

[wyatt89]

when you floor it does the engine sound like its bogging? this is why people should get manuals on small engined cars...

[Petrucci914]

Mine does that sometimes.

[NewNeptune]

Quote, originally posted by wyatt89 »when you floor it does the engine sound like its bogging? this is why people should get manuals on small engined cars...No, not at all. It was almost like I had only depressed the gas about 1/4-1/2 way, even though I had it to the floor. Then there was the time in the neighborhood, that felt like it was in neutral. It hasn't done it since, so I'm hoping it is just a squirrelly ECU. I do know what bogging feels like though, my Malibu Maxx did that. It felt like the engine was trying to accelerate but the transmission wouldn't downshift. This wasn't like that at all.