slow acceleration

[ajg2345]

i have a 1999 Subaru legacy Brighton 2.5L ever since i got the car over a year ago and it has this problem sometimes not every time when i step on the gas to go it just takes forever to accelerate and then it kicks in and jerks the car really hard and sometimes it gives this high pitched squeak, i have changed the spark plugs and wires, air filters, and transmission filter, put the seafoam cleaner in then changed out the fuel filter after about 2 weeks of driving. i've put in the lucas transmission fix in and nothing has made it better. the check engine light is NOT on so i can't check codes. i don't know if this has anything to do with it but my car also smokes really bad, I think that is caused by a really slow leak. i really love this car but it gets really frustrating sometimes especially when i keep taking the car in for checkups and they can't find anything wrong. Any suggestions would be greatly appreciated

[anothernord]

Oooh. The smoke could either be from oil leaking, or from running incredibly rich, which would be cause be a bad front O2 sensor. But first, get some MAF cleaner and spray it all over the MAF element. Then, reset your ECU and go from there.

[ajg2345]

when it comes to cars i'm about as dumb as they come - i think i know what i'm doing when it fact i'm really an idiot - is changing the o2 sensor something that i could do or do i need to take it in? also what is the easiest way to reset the ECU. [lease don't get mad at me asking really dumb questions i've screwed up my other cars by not asking and thinking i'm good.... when it fact i should just stick with fixing computers not cars

[02_Legacy]

If the O2 sensor was bad it would throw a code. And make sure when you turn on the car the check engine light comes on for a few seconds so you know the light isn't burned out.
And to reset the ECU just take the negative cable off the battery for at least 10 mins.

[Huffer]

Sounds like you have a bad cylinder and a tired transmission that requires the bands inside the trans to be adjusted.

How many miles on the old girl?

[ajg2345]

i forgot to mention this but it's an automatic and it only has 160,000 miles on it i'm the 3rd owner owner #1 took care of the car owner #2 didn't take care of the car