Engine sluggish after being in traffic.


Loaf

Loaf

98 EK9
Joined
Feb 12, 2008
Messages
248
My ek9 goes fine when cold and on long journeys but if im driving round town in traffic (traffic lights, lots of stopping and going) the car then starts to be very sluggish/seems to struggle to accelerate/doesn't feel nice and free and seems louder.

I changed the plugs, fuel filter, oil and oil filter but its still the same.

No check engine light

Anyone know what it could be?
 
Hmmm, what sort of induction are you running mate ?? - If its an in engine bay induction you may be suffering from heat soak - this is where the temp of the induted air is too hot to be combusted properly as the hot air is less dense. It may also be your cylinder head heating up the intake manifold.

Cheers, Andy
 
Its not like the car is just a bit slower.

Its like its fueling wrong, it hesitates and jumps, it feels like its over fueling or under fueling.
 
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yeah, i havent ever noticed my car running badly when sitting in long traffic... Open air induction could easily cause this....

Heat soak would result in in the feeling of over fueling as there will be less denser air. So the opposite from running lean........
 
But it drives like crap, i think its a bigger problem that a bit of heatsoak.

Feels like a tps sensor or something but it only happens after traffic etc.
 
Right, i've put the standard airbox on so i'll see how it goes tonight.
 
It ONLY does it after traffic, I can blast through vtec for ages and it runs 100% but then if I come to a set of traffic lights it runs like crap after.

Its not the caliper, if it was the car wouldn't freewheel easily.
 
Would it be really bad for me to unplug the o2 sensor for a day to see if thats the problem?

Leek9's o2 sensor was unknowingly unplugged for months with no obvious drivability issues bar the check engine light being on.

If it is the o2 sensor this would narrow it down??? What do you's think?
 
This problem is making me hate the car, I cant drive it in town.

I was in traffic again today and it started it again, did it halfway home and then I got to a long hill so I freewheeled it down at 100kph and by the bottom of the hill the car drove fine all the way home.

Just to note the temp hand on the car stays around half usually way but when I freewheel it goes down to below quarter and then the car is fine.
 
that sucks dude! why dont you bring it to mechanic? Im pretty sure they can fix the problem or pin point the problem.
 
maybe your car is sucking in moist air, is it winter in Ireland ATM?.. probably because ur car is stationed and heat and cold air builds up moister in the engine bay and when u accelerate it sucks in all that humid air.

I'm just throwing some of the causes/possibilities.

another one have u checked ur radiator?... check for leaks.. maybe its over heating? even though the sensors say its half way u said it drops down to quarter and runs fine then..
 
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I think your thermostat could be stuck open, because of the drop in temp you explaned!

£25 from honda & that should sort the temp prob out & maybe solve you power issue too! I would defo change it though!!!!
You dont relies how much temp affects you fuelling.

O yeah i would not unplug your O2 mate, if there was an issue there you would get an engine check light!

Well that's what i think but i could be wrong!
 
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