Well anybody who can offer some advice on this problem will be more worthy than the dealer. I have taken the car in 3 times now and they can't figure out what's wrong. First I'll give a description of everything that is occuring, albeit some of them may be unrelated, then I'll list the things that have been done.
The main problem is significant power loss that occurs usually 5-20 minutes after starting. The best analogy I can come up with is to that of a vaccuum cleaner becoming clogged. When the loss first occurs the engine sounds normal and then all of a sudden kicks up in sound and power drops just like vaccuum clog. From that point forward the vehicle's accelleration is abou 1/3-1/2 of normal, the engine sounds louder, as if it is always going up a hill. Also, I have noticed that the temperature gauge reads just within normal, right at the left hand side line, when previously before this problem it was nearly vertical, right in the middle. Furthermore, even before the loss starts when I am accellerating there is a jerking sensation as if I had a bad plug or wire, and also, when shifting into top gear during full accelleration a squeel occurs, which I can best attribute to a belt slipping.
Now, as I said, I have had the vehicle in 3 times and have had over $3500 worth of work done on it, and to no improvement. First I had new plugs installed, new fuel filter, a motorvac of my fuel and injectors, coolant flush, tranny flush, and a general tuneup. That did not correct the problem so I had it in specifically for the problem which they identified as the catalytic convertors being clogged, and which I am told was a common problem to occur in my climate zone, so both of those were replaced (which took them 8 days to do!), and so now after the third time, they apparently have driven the car more than 250km and cannot find anything wrong.
I asked them to check the following:
mufflers...thinking that maybe flakes came out of the cats and clogged in there
timing
plug wires
fuel pump, line, filters, or injectors
air temperature sensor (I have an aftermarket air intake)
So basically the dealership sucks, and so does my car right now, so hopefully someone can offer some advice!!!
Thanks! You guys rock!
-Joel
