Car doesn't seem to be pulling as strong as it should sometimes. Wtf?

[AWD87]

This is really weird. I'm having this weird issue with the car not pulling correctly as it should, sometimes. Somtimes when I hit WOT it doesn't even seem as if the car is turbocharged, that's how weak it's pulling. I'm not sure what the problem could be. If it was a boostleak I'd expect to get power loss all the time and not just sometimes. Perhaps the intercoolers are getting heatsoaked? I don't know

The car is a 2001, 6-speed, stock

[VonPooper]

8lbs of boost can have that effect i suppoooosseeeeeeeee

[Frauzel]

This is really weird. I'm having this weird issue with the car not pulling correctly as it should, sometimes. Somtimes when I hit WOT it doesn't even seem as if the car is turbocharged, that's how weak it's pulling. I'm not sure what the problem could be. If it was a boostleak I'd expect to get power loss all the time and not just sometimes. Perhaps the intercoolers are getting heatsoaked? I don't know

The car is a 2001, 6-speed, stock

Hey man, I noticed the same thing with mine. I've only had the car for almost 2 weeks. I have a GIAC chip and 3" exhaust, however I notice the same thing as well. I'm not sure it is just me getting used to my new found power or if the car is just not working as well ass it should?

Every once in a while though it seems like everything is back to normal though... not sure what could be wrong.. just that i'd like an answer for this too.

[JMTx86]

heat soak.

[csre9]

Buy a boost gauge.

[AWD87]

how do I go about fixing heatsoak? Stock, the intercoolers shouldn't be heatsoaking. Should they?

[RebelS4]

having the same problem, usually in 2nd-3rd power just cuts at 3500-4k rpm. could it be sensor?its an on off thing sometimes it pulls strong all the way through the gears.

[1997gtx]

It could be any number of things. You need to scan the car. Perhaps a bad EGT or N75 ... Heatsoak shouldn't be occurring on a stock car.
--Adam

[AWD87]

having the same problem, usually in 2nd-3rd power just cuts at 3500-4k rpm. could it be sensor?its an on off thing sometimes it pulls strong all the way through the gears.

yup, same here

[Reich]

heat soak.

Also believe in heat soak on this

[AWD87]

It could be any number of things. You need to scan the car. Perhaps a bad EGT or N75 ... Heatsoak shouldn't be occurring on a stock car.
--Adam

wouldn't a check engine light pop up if that was the case though?

[JackalS4]

It could be any number of things. You need to scan the car. Perhaps a bad EGT or N75 ... Heatsoak shouldn't be occurring on a stock car.
--Adam

Exactly.

I have the same symptoms and found an EGT code, which causes limp mode resulting in lower boost, conserative timing/fuel adjustments and presumably the "on/off" power feeling.

Never displayed an engine code, not over 6 months.

Can't wait to get it in the car...

[AWD87]

so the code will display even if there's no CEL? Should I take the car to Autozone and get it checked? I didn't know codes display even when there's no visual check engine light on.

[JackalS4]

so the code will display even if there's no CEL? Should I take the car to Autozone and get it checked?

Yeah, it would appear that some codes are silent! Get it scanned...hopefully it's just an EGT!

[chris23]

Heat soak. Heat/cold make a HUGE difference w/ these cars. The stock i.c.'s can't take repeated runs very well, they have plastic end caps which don't do too well when it gets hot. You will notice a difference in 80-90 deg. temps. This is why some folks use water/meth kits, in order to cool the intake temps which equals more dense air.

[Jung]

heatsoak does occur. in 90 degree temps where I live, before I got the FMIC, if i ran the car for more than 30-40 minutes, it was night and day in performance, and my car was healthy.
There is also a crazy difference after replacing EGTs/02s, turbo spool is remarkably quicker with good sensors.

Check MAF also.

[AWD87]

I have reason to believe that in fact it might be heatsoak after all. The slugish performance occurs after about 30 mins of driving around. When I drive the car for about 15 minutes it always seems to pull as it should but when I drive it for a longer period of time it seems to lose power. The summers over here are pretty hot and we've had about 93 degree weather the last two weeks.
I'll still take it to Autozone though to see if there are any hidden codes.

[Jung]

a boost gauge should be your first thing to add on. it's defnitely a life line when it comes to telling if your car is fucked up

[Blue_S4]

uhh, make sure your AC is off...that drains on the engine big time.

[AAAA]

I have reason to believe that in fact it might be heatsoak after all. The slugish performance occurs after about 30 mins of driving around. When I drive the car for about 15 minutes it always seems to pull as it should but when I drive it for a longer period of time it seems to lose power. The summers over here are pretty hot and we've had about 93 degree weather the last two weeks.
I'll still take it to Autozone though to see if there are any hidden codes.

but this is 30min or so of straight WOT driving, not driving around for 30min and getting on it here and there. and this shouldn't make you feel like its not even a turbocharged car. if its that big a difference its not heatsoak. your car just feels a little sluggish with heatsoak, but not to where it feels N/A

[AWD87]

I might've been overexadurating a little. It doesn't really feel that slow but there's an obvious difference in power.

[AudiSportB5S4]

as Jung said.... cutting of power between 3500-4k sounds a lot like a MAF. However if it was a MAF it would throw a code. Could also be a rip in the stock DVs if you just upgraded to GIAC recently. Could also be a hairline tear in a throttle body boot as well

[highPSI-S4]

I 'm not sure what it could be, but again you have a stock car, ican't remember what a stock car feels like. Get it scanned as stated and get a boost gauge ASAP. without these 2 bits of info, your poking in the dark.

[AudiSportB5S4]

yeah I'm not sure why S4s didnt just COME stock with a boost gauge.... I had to send mine out for replacement to AWE when the new style came out and I felt stupid driving my car without one. I actually only drove it once that week LOL.

[AAAA]

fuckin cobalts come with a boost gauge. i completely agree ^^.