What's wrong w/ my legacy?! HELP!

[Six10Styles]

First off, if this has already been discussed, sorry for being lazy...

Anyway, lately, my bd5 feels like it's on its way out the door. when i try to accelerate, it looks like an old lady is driving the car (takes forever to get up to the speed limit.) this isnt the case all the time, but definitely way too often. i'm scared to even pull out in traffic. also when i floor it, whether from a complete stop or while driving, it takes a couple sec. for the car to finally get going. I get a CEL every now and then, always when i dont have time to check it, and its gone by the time i do.

i'm the 2nd owner and replaced the plugs and wires about 2 months ago. (probably the first time they've been replaced since it was new) the car just turned 121K miles and i doubt the head gaskets have ever been replaced. It has an AT for now (sti 6 spd swap in the near future once i sell my caddy).

anyone have any ideas as to what could be causing this? I'm sure at least one of you guys have had to deal w/ this at some point... please help, i know my legacy's faster than this! :cry:

[MCarp22]

also when i floor it, whether from a complete stop or while driving, it takes a couple sec. for the car to finally get going.

Like you press the gas and the tach jumps up but nothing happens?

[backpack09]

What year?

If 95+ bring it to the zone and have them check the code. It stays in the computer even if the CEL light goes out.

[Wiscon_Mark]

If it's not a tranny issue, I would guess it's a fuel delivery problem. Headgaskets wouldn't do this sort of thing, and I sincerely doubt your car is on its way out.

[mr_choung]

another reason i could think of with poor acceleration is your FRONT o2 sensor.

choung

[Huffer]

Could be a bunch of things. When was the last time fluids were changed?

[Six10Styles]

fluids have been changed regularly, new transmission fluid about a week ago due to needing the driveshaft seal replaced, oil every 3k miles. coolant changed last summer. it's a 95, so i'll get the code checked hopefully this afternoon if i have time.


Six10Styles wrote:
also when i floor it, whether from a complete stop or while driving, it takes a couple sec. for the car to finally get going.

MCarp22 wrote:
Like you press the gas and the tach jumps up but nothing happens?
EXACTLY!

How much would it cost to replace the front o2 sensor? would i be better off replacing all o2 sensors?

Thanks for the help guys...

[Huffer]

How old is your catalytic convertor?

[Six10Styles]

still the original cat, been looking for a highflow cat, and bigger midpipe to fit my exhaust, which reminds me, how do you find the diameter of the piping on an exhaust? outside of the pipe, or the hole on the flange? b/c my exhaust piping is 3" if measured on the outside, but the hole in the flange is 2.5" i think...

[Svenerachi]

your pipe is 2inches stock

just go to a muffler shop and have them bend some pipes for you, alot cheaper than the stromrung catback exhaust for 500+ bucks

you don't want to go bigger than 2.25 without serious engine modification, you'll only lose power

[Huffer]

still the original cat, been looking for a highflow cat, and bigger midpipe to fit my exhaust, which reminds me, how do you find the diameter of the piping on an exhaust? outside of the pipe, or the hole on the flange? b/c my exhaust piping is 3" if measured on the outside, but the hole in the flange is 2.5" i think...

The hesitation on the acceleration could well be due to a clogged or broken (internally) catalytic converter.

Any exhaust shop should be able to fab up a 2.25" hiflow cat.

[Wiscon_Mark]

your pipe is 2inches stock

just go to a muffler shop and have them bend some pipes for you, alot cheaper than the stromrung catback exhaust for 500+ bucks

you don't want to go bigger than 2.25 without serious engine modification, you'll only lose power

It's 1 7/8ths actually.

You can go a little bigger, but you'll sacrifice low end power for high end power. My STi exhaust is actually 2 3/8ths and I didn't really notice much drop in torque.

[jlk2.5gt]

so do you have a check engine light on? how does it idle? does it only act up when at normal operating temp. ?

[jeremod]

fluids have been changed regularly, new transmission fluid about a week ago due to needing the driveshaft seal replaced, oil every 3k miles. coolant changed last summer. it's a 95, so i'll get the code checked hopefully this afternoon if i have time.


Six10Styles wrote:
also when i floor it, whether from a complete stop or while driving, it takes a couple sec. for the car to finally get going.

MCarp22 wrote:
Like you press the gas and the tach jumps up but nothing happens?
EXACTLY!

How much would it cost to replace the front o2 sensor? would i be better off replacing all o2 sensors?

Thanks for the help guys...

If the engine is revving but the car won't go it sounds like you trans. fluid is low or other trans. related problems. Auto transmissions are hydraulically driven so having really low fluid means the car won't go.

If this is the case check the level of your transmission fluid following the directions in your owners manual.(make sure you do it the right way or you won't get an accurate reading)

Makes sense too if you just had the fluid replaced they may have under filled it.