My BD is a little laggy

[krot84]

Hey again
Foreword
My car is mechanically stock. A while ago i replaced my knock sensor to a new genuine one.
Besides that everything is untouched, no "check engine" light since then, the temp needle is idle in the middle.

Now, the problem is that sometimes when i drive, even now in the winter, when i push the throttle the revs increase but i feel like something is blocking the engine from transmitting power to the wheels and car starts to accelerate very slowly.
On other occasions when i push the throttle i feel a prompt response from the engine and the car flies. :razz:
I can't point exactly when happens what, however what i found out is when i take a long drives out of the city the car has good response but when i drive a lot in the city with the traffic lights the car is laggy.
By the way the same is in the summer when it's 104 degrees.

[Reason]

Israel huh well a n/a 1.8L in 104 degree weather doesn't make me think of power. Sounds like you have heat issues. Not that there's a mechanical issue. Stop and go traffic in high heat is brutal on your car. If you drive on the out skirts at higher speeds the radiator is cooling better and more heat is extracted from the engine bay. You should try to buy or make a cold air intake, wrap your header, and get water wetter from redline. There may be a few more tricks to help combat the heat that someone else can comment on.

[krot84]

Reason,
out skirts ?? wrap your header ?? what does it mean ?
But still the thermometer gauge is in the middle so my car shouldn't be overheating isn't it ?
Could be something wrong with some of the sensors? I had in mind that the coolant sensor may be faking.

[Reason]

Out skirts= outside of the city. Wrapped you exhaust manifold or header with exhaust wrap. It's an insulating wrap, it will keep under Hood temps down. I think you are just sucking up a lot of hot air and cars don't like that much. And no you aren't over heating, that sounds fine.

[krot84]

Thanks.
I'll have to start thinking of a new air intake system, preferred cold. :)

[Okin DaVanh]

Reason,
out skirts ?? wrap your header ?? what does it mean ?
But still the thermometer gauge is in the middle so my car shouldn't be overheating isn't it ?
Could be something wrong with some of the sensors? I had in mind that the coolant sensor may be faking.
Outskirts= Out side of your city. Example= Your highway/ long roadways.
Wrap your header= Heat wrap for your manifold. It contains the heat within your exhaust manifold.
And my car only goes to 1/4 and stays there. Might want to check your radiator for a hotspot also. To do this, run your car to where the temp is normal to you (to the halfway mark) then turn it off. Being cautious of your fan, place your hand over your radiator/fins and check for spots of excessive heat. In some cases, this is how to determine a clog. Also look for broken or loose fins.
Also, check your coolant with a tester to make sure it's up to par. Thermostats that stick and low coolant can also produce the same signs.
Waterpumps slightly leak through a weep hole and some begin to hum when they're going bad. Just keep that in mind too.
Check these, and let us know what you find out.

[krot84]

The radiator and the hoses are new. As for the coolant is pretty regular.
1/4 ?? are you sure that's the way it should be on stock legacies ?
maybe because your car is a GT it cools much better for it's second radiator ?

[Okin DaVanh]

The radiator and the hoses are new. As for the coolant is pretty regular.
1/4 ?? are you sure that's the way it should be on stock legacies ?
maybe because your car is a GT it cools much better for it's second radiator ?

What 2nd radiator? My car is a 96 and an automatic at that. :lol: When I bought it, the previous owner did the headgaskets and the entire cooling system (thermostat, waterpump etc...) Check the system for air pockets. Try "burping" (relieving the coolant system of air) yet?
I'm starting to lean towards your waterpump for some reason.

[krot84]

By second radiator i meant that you have turbo if i'm not mistaken.
Now, if i something was wrong with the water pump wouldn't have the engine overheated by now ?

[prodriver1]

their are 2 "radiators" in non turbo cars, the one in front is for your AC. the "intercooler", which is what you meant, is for the turbo and mounted on top of the motor in a subaru (and some others).

[krot84]

If you wanna be precise there are 3 radiators, Cooling, AC, and heater. :)
But you're right i meant the that he also has an intercooler.

[Reason]

These cars temp should sit slightly below half, never hear 1/4 with out there being issues.

And these cars don't come boosted in the states.

There's a "radiator" for the AC and one for the engine.

[krot84]

Exactly as it's in my car, a couple of millimeters below the middle.
Now we're back to where we started this thread..

[Okin DaVanh]

There's a "radiator" for the AC and one for the engine.
:lol: This is going to be fun... No, there's a condenser for the A/C and a radiator for the motor, an intercooler for the turbo... you get the point. :smt030

If you're in front of your car looking through the bumper, you're looking at the condenser. Open the hood, look down attached to the fans :grin: is the radiator.

[Reason]

There's a "radiator" for the AC and one for the engine.
:lol: This is going to be fun... No, there's a condenser for the A/C and a radiator for the motor, an intercooler for the turbo... you get the point. :smt030

If you're in front of your car looking through the bumper, you're looking at the condenser. Open the hood, look down attached to the fans :grin: is the radiator.

Yes I know this, hence the " ", but we are lost in translation here, plus two different markets of cars.

[Okin DaVanh]

I know.... That's the "fun" part! Like who's on 1st?? :lol: All this confusion I think threw this off a bit too.
I still curious to know if the OP checked any of this.

[krot84]

well guys.. :roll: :roll:

[Reason]

Israel huh well a n/a 1.8L in 104 degree weather doesn't make me think of power. Sounds like you have heat issues. Not that there's a mechanical issue. Stop and go traffic in high heat is brutal on your car. If you drive on the out skirts at higher speeds the radiator is cooling better and more heat is extracted from the engine bay. You should try to buy or make a cold air intake, wrap your header, and get water wetter from redline. There may be a few more tricks to help combat the heat that someone else can comment on.


This is your problem, sucking up hot air and a 1.8l n/a.

[chuckthefuk]

Is your car automatic or manual?

[krot84]

Is your car automatic or manual?
it's manual

[chuckthefuk]

OK so that eliminates TCU issues.

Reduce Heat:
1) Use a radiator with a larger care. EJ20/22/25 all have thicker cores then the EJ16/18 (You may need compatible rad hoses)
2) Upgrade your front bumper to a higher model version that has more air flow. Or cut out openings / remove fogs.
3) Upgrade your grille so it has larger openings.
4) Hood scoop or Reverse vent.
5) Change your thermostat to a unit that opens sooner

Reduce Air Temp
1) Cold Air Intake / extended the intake into the fender
2) Phenolic Spacers / Thermal Spacers (intake manifold flange, throttle body flange)

And all the suggestions from the previous posts..

[krot84]

OK so that eliminates TCU issues.

Reduce Heat:
1) Use a radiator with a larger care. EJ20/22/25 all have thicker cores then the EJ16/18 (You may need compatible rad hoses)
2) Upgrade your front bumper to a higher model version that has more air flow. Or cut out openings / remove fogs.
3) Upgrade your grille so it has larger openings.
4) Hood scoop or Reverse vent.
5) Change your thermostat to a unit that opens sooner

Reduce Air Temp
1) Cold Air Intake / extended the intake into the fender
2) Phenolic Spacers / Thermal Spacers (intake manifold flange, throttle body flange)

And all the suggestions from the previous posts..

Thanks!! :razz:
I've already started doing some of that. Hopefully i'll cover most of the suggestions above. :smt026