my corolla is loosing its grunt :(

[Armstrong]

Guys,

Before anyone says anything YES!! i understand the car has done alot of km's and its old and this is most definatly a clear explanation to all of this.

I have noticed that my car is loosing its power. I have tried to check this theory by making sure on the roads i use on a daily basis.

I also noticed that when u push hard enough to get to the desired speed i hear a rattling sound near the transmission(this is an automatic). I dont know if this is to do with any of the things in my glovebox, center console and change in my ash tray. But i am going to empty everything out of the car on the weekend to make sure that this is not the case.

I have come across a repair kit for this engine on ebay...but mind you it isnt cheap.

Any ideas on parts that would be wearing out that could be affecting the performance on the engine that is worth getting checked out?

plan is to keep the rolla roll'n to still have fun driving it, and possibly hand this car over to my brother for free

Edited December 3, 2010 by Armstrong

[Odin]

This is exactly what happened to me, although it might not be the SAME problem. It started out with really having to push it to make 70km going up a hill... then I was pushing it to make 40km going up a slight incline and eventually I could hardly make 60km on a flat road! It was a leak in the fuel line / fuel injector, so maybe you have a similar problem. I was also told that your fuel filter can have a similar effect on power, so maybe look into those two possibilities?

Still working on fixing my problem, but I hope it goes well for you and you pin down the problem soon!

[Hiro]

Guys,

Before anyone says anything YES!! i understand the car has done alot of km's and its old and this is most definatly a clear explanation to all of this.

I have noticed that my car is loosing its power. I have tried to check this theory by making sure on the roads i use on a daily basis.

I also noticed that when u push hard enough to get to the desired speed i hear a rattling sound near the transmission(this is an automatic). I dont know if this is to do with any of the things in my glovebox, center console and change in my ash tray. But i am going to empty everything out of the car on the weekend to make sure that this is not the case.

I have come across a repair kit for this engine on ebay...but mind you it isnt cheap.

Any ideas on parts that would be wearing out that could be affecting the performance on the engine that is worth getting checked out?

plan is to keep the rolla roll'n to still have fun driving it, and possibly hand this car over to my brother for free

Has it been serviced regularly? Recently? I'd be willing to bet it's either fuel/spark related (old plugs or injectors needing a clean) or the transmission is in dire need of a service/overhaul.

When you say "old and high ks", remember it is a Corolla - they will run until the end of time if you look after them. My '97 AE102 is coming up on 340,000km and it still has stock clutch and brake rotors, and the head has _never_ been removed, so all internals are still exactly the same as when they came from the factory, and it still runs as well as the day I started driving it. Things like suspension bushes etc do tend to wear out, and the 7A is renowned for oil consumption as it gets old (either valve stem seals or oil control rings), but thats not enough to kill the car by a long shot.

[Armstrong]

This is exactly what happened to me, although it might not be the SAME problem. It started out with really having to push it to make 70km going up a hill... then I was pushing it to make 40km going up a slight incline and eventually I could hardly make 60km on a flat road! It was a leak in the fuel line / fuel injector, so maybe you have a similar problem. I was also told that your fuel filter can have a similar effect on power, so maybe look into those two possibilities?

Still working on fixing my problem, but I hope it goes well for you and you pin down the problem soon!

It just got me thinking about it when my car struggled to merger on a freeway following a friend in their camry to get into the city. I had the accellorator flat to the floor and it was just driving like a normal cruise....it had no guts left in the little engine which made me feel worried. These cars dont have much kw's but alot of torque which it didnt prove at day.

Edited December 13, 2010 by Armstrong

[Hiro]

This is exactly what happened to me, although it might not be the SAME problem. It started out with really having to push it to make 70km going up a hill... then I was pushing it to make 40km going up a slight incline and eventually I could hardly make 60km on a flat road! It was a leak in the fuel line / fuel injector, so maybe you have a similar problem. I was also told that your fuel filter can have a similar effect on power, so maybe look into those two possibilities?

Still working on fixing my problem, but I hope it goes well for you and you pin down the problem soon!

well i really push it flat foot from a rolling 5km it changes gears just under 60...but i noticed that some times its taken till 65-70km/h to get into the 2nd gear. It just got me thinking about it when my car struggled to merger on a freeway following a friend in their camry to get into the city. I had the accellorator flat to the floor and it was just driving like a normal cruise....it had no guts left in the little engine which made me feel worried. These cars dont have much kw's but alot of torque which it didnt prove at day.

Definitely check the basics first - oil + filter, spark plugs, air filter, fuel filter, timing etc. If it's not there, then I'd be taking it to a mechanic, tranny services by the home enthusiast are really limited to changing the fluid and flushing the filter and it sounds like it'd need more than that (then again, I'm by no way an auto transmission expert, I have never owned one and avoid driving them as much as possible)

[Lawz]

What Hiro said :)

Have you had your transmission serviced properly? As in fluid flushed, fresh oil and new casket? Apparently it should be done every 25,000Km I was told... bit excessive I think. It's not too expensive either.

But if you do go to a transmission specialist, make sure they tell you what they are actually going to do or ask them how they are going to do it. They should put a new casket in and fresh oil, inspect, etc. Some places are so dodge and rip off when they say they serviced it they mean they topped up the oil and nothing else.

[Ascendant Rice]

nathan its a sign you must buy an aurion

[Armstrong]

nathan its a sign you must buy an aurion

This morning i was offered to buy someones accord euro but it wont be available to purchase until mid next year. So if the price is better than what i can get for the aurion i might buy it. Its still an upgrade at the end of the day.

[Branno]

If it's losing it's power, just turbocharge it, that should fix your problems ;)

[barraspalding]

powerband has worn out... throw a new one in

[IMB055]

powerband has worn out... throw a new one in

LOL...and here I was thinking that the way to solve a loss in power was to apply stickers!

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On a serious note, I support the other suggestions aside from powerband, perhaps consider the possibility that you have collapsed baffles in exhaust/cat converter? Any difference in exhaust sound?

Edited December 7, 2010 by IMB055

[Armstrong]

I broke the muffler about 3 weeks ago and got it replaced so its all good now. I did in fact break the baffles or what ever their called in the muffler.

didn't get much time to clean out the car over the weekend to investigate the rattling sound before it changes gears. but after doing the following things over the weekend it has made a very noticeable difference in response.

*changed the oil- it was dirty

*changed the coolant

*replaced the fuel with unleaded 98

*cleaned out K&N panel filter (been lazy and haven't done it for a few months)

Next thing i wanna try is something like Nulon Octane Booster & Cleaner or STP Octane Booster just to try my luck

then after that follow though with the rest of the suggestions everyone has made with the mechanic the next service.

thanks guys

Edited December 7, 2010 by Armstrong

[Armstrong]

Just an update on where i am at with this. Went out and purchased the following below to test out:

1.STP® Super Concentrated Fuel Injector Cleaner

http://www.stp.com/products/fuel-additives/super-concentrated-fuel-injector-cleaner/

2.STP® Complete fuel system cleaner

http://www.stp.com/products/fuel-additives/complete-fuel-system-cleaner/

3.STP® Octane Booster

http://www.stp.com/products/fuel-additives/octane-booster/

I cant mix any of the projects, so i will have to wait till the next refill of petrol to use the next product.

Currently using the STP® Super Concentrated Fuel Injector Cleaner which has kinda made a bit or a difference, but nothing noticably different.

Will let you know if the other products assist with making a difference.

Edited December 13, 2010 by Armstrong