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2002 SLE no power under acceleration and bucking

Posted: Fri Sep 16, 2011 6:17 pm
by EXLINE
Like the title says the car has no power when accelerating it takes forever to get 40. It will miss and carry on and will not go over 3000 rpm no matter if you floor it or whatever. I am not getting a SES light so i thought that was kind of weird. I am thinking its not either getting fuel or cant breath. Maybe a clogged cat, i do hear it rattle and carry on. I just bought this car not to long ago and it has all service records with it. i didnt notice if it had a pump, cat, or filter replaced. it had new plugs and wires not to long ago but wouldnt it throw a code if i was not getting spark? anyways its a 02 with 130k all options. i got it for 2800 found it on craigslist thought it was a good deal.

Re: 2002 SLE no power under acceleration and bucking

Posted: Fri Sep 16, 2011 7:15 pm
by 00Beast
It might not throw a code. If you bang on the cat, does it rattle?

Re: 2002 SLE no power under acceleration and bucking

Posted: Fri Sep 16, 2011 7:33 pm
by EXLINE
yeah rattles bad. it rattles even when i get up to about 2800 rpm it rattles and carry on. i was just outside messing with it and help it WOT and it would only go to 2800 rpm and you can hear how its bogged down and i got a SES light to flash and got a p0300. soon as i get out of the gas it went out though..

Re: 2002 SLE no power under acceleration and bucking

Posted: Fri Sep 16, 2011 7:43 pm
by 00Beast
Stop driving it and get the cat replaced ASAP then. You could do some major damage to your engine if you continue to drive it with a plugged cat.

Re: 2002 SLE no power under acceleration and bucking

Posted: Fri Sep 16, 2011 7:56 pm
by EXLINE
a muffler shop quoted me 180 installed for a direct fit

Re: 2002 SLE no power under acceleration and bucking

Posted: Fri Sep 16, 2011 8:24 pm
by 00Beast
That sounds reasonable. Just make sure the brand of cat is reputable, and it's going to pass emissions if you need to do so.

Re: 2002 SLE no power under acceleration and bucking

Posted: Fri Sep 16, 2011 9:40 pm
by EXLINE
man i just hope that is what it is before i go dump 200 bux on it

Re: 2002 SLE no power under acceleration and bucking

Posted: Fri Sep 16, 2011 9:50 pm
by 00Beast
If you're somewhat mechanically inclined you could remove the downpipe from the rear manifold and wire it up and go for a run around the block.

Re: 2002 SLE no power under acceleration and bucking

Posted: Sun Sep 18, 2011 5:57 pm
by EXLINE
i also noticed my car misses out too. would that also cause it to miss?

Re: 2002 SLE no power under acceleration and bucking

Posted: Sun Sep 18, 2011 7:24 pm
by 00Beast
Definitely.

Re: 2002 SLE no power under acceleration and bucking

Posted: Sun Sep 18, 2011 8:00 pm
by EXLINE
okay, well i am going to go get it taken care of tomorrow. by the way thanks for the help and great site! Should i stay away from those muffler shops? will a universal work or do i need a direct fit and will those muffler shops do a direct fit?

Re: 2002 SLE no power under acceleration and bucking

Posted: Sun Sep 18, 2011 8:02 pm
by 00Beast
I prefer local muffler shops to chains, generally more willing to work with you and deal.

A "direct fit" is gonna have a higher likelihood of not throwing a CEL light and passing emissions, if IN needs them.

Re: 2002 SLE no power under acceleration and bucking

Posted: Sun Sep 18, 2011 8:07 pm
by EXLINE
no state tests here. i will make sure that the place does a direct fit i really dont want a SES light. minekie(sp?) told me that they would do it for $225 and was like watch those muffler shops they will do a uni and it will throw a light but like i said couple shops said $180 and i asked if it was a direct fit. He answered with a quick "yup" so who knows.

Re: 2002 SLE no power under acceleration and bucking

Posted: Fri Sep 23, 2011 3:49 pm
by leatherneck
Using a Universal Cat will not throw a SES Light. unless it is a substandard replacement... The O2 sensors are what throws the light not the cat itself.

However I do prefer a direct fit for the fact you dont have to replace every pipe and that in fact it does "fit" with less chance of a leak...

Re: 2002 SLE no power under acceleration and bucking

Posted: Fri Sep 23, 2011 4:29 pm
by 00Beast
Using a high-flow cat can, though, since they're not as efficient as the PCM is designed to monitor, and the PCM will think the cat's not performing right.

Re: 2002 SLE no power under acceleration and bucking

Posted: Fri Sep 23, 2011 5:48 pm
by EXLINE
well i went with a walker direct fit had the rear of it welded on. Works Great no SES light and fixed everything