Weird Problem with performance... VT Commodore 3.8L Eco

[redback122]

Weird Problem with performance... VT Commodore 3.8L Eco


Hello guys, I have this very weird problem which has been troubling me alot, When you give it some, (flat footed) it picks up, but still seems to be alot more slower then other vt's I have been in, Like its lagging, it did hesitate ironically, and took at least half a second to kick in, which in my opinion is pretty lame, Until I got a second hand MAF (Mass Air Flow) Sensor and it seemed to fix my issue of the lag and hesitation as stated, then I thought well, Yeah its heaps smoother, quicker, but still is lacking power... Got new sparks, seems its still lacking compared to even standard ecotechs, I was pretty pissed off getting into me mates car and it would clearly easily pass my car with flying colours, ah guys I don't know what the problem is, ive taken it to a transmission place, seems fine, got a pod filter for it, still aint there, My mate said to me it could be my injectors so i brought some injector cleaner for it to see if that will help, I will let you know if that has helped a bit, im just over trying to find this problem, I don't have to much money to spend on cars at the moment, but ive been trying to work out this problem for 1.5 years

Scantool codes came up with:
Vacuum air intake manifold leak < im guessing thats the problem? I dunno... I understand the car uses air and fuel ratios to adjust performance... maybe it is (hope so haha)
also...
Cam Postion Sensor

Apart from that, I even pulled my exhaust off to see if I have a blocked catalytic convertor seems to be fine, but I just guttered most of that out too hahaha for more performance, still is very slow. . . unimpressed...

any ideas would be very helpful to help me with this problem, Thank you for taking the time to read my topic guys/girlz

[lufkin]

and heres the start of the school holidays

[MikeCuzzy]

Weird Problem with performance... VT Commodore 3.8L Eco

You answered your own question. Your car is equipped with the least powerful engine available in the series, and is a family car weighing more than 1600kg's, it will never be a performance car without you spending massive amounts of money.

[DLFHUB666]

Why dont you start by fixing the problems you have been told about 1st, then re post.

[FstStig]

but I just guttered most of that out too hahaha for more performance, still is very slow. . . unimpressed...

U serzious brah?

LOL Hope the EPA have fun with you.

[SilverVH]

You answered your own question. Your car is equipped with the least powerful engine available in the series, and is a family car weighing more than 1600kg's, it will never be a performance car even with you spending massive amounts of money.

Fixed it for you.

[s_ikari2015]

... Like its lagging, it did hesitate ironically...

How does a car hesitate ironically? Could the irony be that it realises it's an Ecotec and thought it would be witty to emphasise its lack of "oompf"?

Anyway, the vacuum air intake manifold leak would be the No.1 on my list to fix. Take the plastic engine cover off and take a look at all the little bitty rubber hoses at the back of the throttle body. There's usually one that tends to pop off all the time because it isn't actually fastened on. This is a vacuum pipe. Has a big effect on throttle response.

Second, as you're already defecting your car you might as well look at eBay and get one of those resistors to replace the air temperature sensor that's attached to the air filter box. And hey, get a "tuned" memcal while you're at it. Overall cheap and will give you some feeling of improved performance.

[Kernal]

Guys, back up for a second. You're missing the most important part; he put a pod filter on it and it doesnt seem any quicker. This is a major issue.

This is the third time im going to say this this week. The only way you're going to get it moving is FI.

[GTS69]

dude ditch the pod filter go to a K&N pannel filter fix the issues that are coming up on the error codes and do a major service including the fuel filter and as has been said remember its never going to be super fast but the stuff i said should have you back to square one at least

[GTS69]

do a search for posible fixes to them error codes

[ucwepn]

pod slows it down badly, better off doing 2 hole mod on the airbox.

[s_ikari2015]

Yeah, as the others said (eventually) service the car.

Change oil, filter, coolant, clean the air filter or replace it, inspect/clean/replace spark plugs, possibly even replace leads.

I'm guessing it's an auto too, so buy an auto filter kit and change the filter and fluid. It's easy to do, jack the car up on stands, get under it, remove all the bolts holding the gearbox inspection plate on... pry it off and get out of the way of the fluid. Made a world of difference to my old VT.

You could even consider giving it a quick flush with a transmission flush although it shouldn't need it, unless the expelled oil is really dark and fouled. The kit comes with new filter and gasket.

All up should cost around $150 plus a bit of your time.

[redback122]

I will do the oil change and see if it helps, I don't need to get a new air filter since I just brought and put the POD on like a month ago, Ive re did the spark plugs, and leads...... changed the coolant... so all what I can do at the moment is change the oil, Could it possibly be my sensors, and thanks guys for trying to help me. s_ikari2015's with the vacuum air intake manifold leak would be the No.1 I will listen to you on that and get that done or looked at soon

[redback122]

Ive been told it might be the sensors like the o2 sensors and stuff might be out ...

[DLFHUB666]

like i siad already, do the stuff you know about 1st then come back if you still have problems. it could be all of your sensors for all we know or it might be none. so just do what you know about 1st or your just wasting our time an your own.

[vx_commodore]

Nothing wrong with the ecotec!
Realisticly it get's you from A to B wich that's all most people need.
My car has an ecotec and i love my car! Maby a tad more power and im happy!!
Some people like 4cyl, Some 6 , Some 8. Who cares!...

I guess the question here is, My ecotec is not preforming as it should/used to.
So i would suggest as other's have already stated, Fix what you already know whats is wrong, Vacuum leak, cam sensor.
They can have a pretty big affect on how your engine preform's so give that a go first.

On top of that, If you havent already, Give your plenum & throttle body a real good clean, That Just makes everything flow a bit better
Also, If you can, Get new oxy sensors, If you have never changed them or know when they were last changed, They have been known to fail without setting a code,They can also have an affect on preformance.
A good injector clean can help as you have done.

And i also suggest, Remove the POD filter, They are no good and completly unnecessary, All they do is suck up hot air wich can again affect preformance, The old Ryco paper filter in the factory air box is really all u will need, Many will argue the fact but as far as i have seen the factory filter will do just fine untill you start with serious mods.
But yeh just start off with what you know and go from there, And im sure once you fix your cam sensor and vacuum leak your car will be back to its normal self again!
Good luck!

[lout]

you do know that a cold air intake will improve performance?
you have taken yours off so there is one step backwards
hope you never idle your car in the garage or you and your family will get cancer and who knows what else now you have dis-abled your catalytic converter
fix the faults you know about, both of those will cause performance issues,
then disconnect battery for 5 minutes and let the CPU retune itself

[lufkin]

then disconnect battery for 5 minutes and let the CPU retune itself

this worked on the old buick days, wont do anything on his car

[lout]

will reset long and short term fuel trims after fixing vacumn leak

[capitalgainz]

wow, this is just a story about a heap of know it all muppets whinging...
as holdens come off a production line, everything is the same, blah bah blah but nothing really is, some cars exact model are slower then others, i had a stock as a rock vn commodore that flogged 5ltrs, bmws and all other vns.
its possibe, you could have a leak somewhere, whether its a currant leak or a fluid leak, or it could have its guts flogged out of it and everything is thrashed