Recently my car has been performing poorly. Oil level is fine. Either vtec is weak or doesn't engage at all. Power is way down.

Here's the strange part. If I turn on the air conditioning the car seems to run much better. Throttle response and acceleration improve considerably.

Something is not right with this. Any suggestions out there? Come to think of it the best time my car ran this summer is when I had the a/c on!

Thanks,
John

 

The A/C pulls power on the car, so the butt-o-meter will tell you that the car isn't as strong with the A/C on. Your "best times" with the A/C on, well... when you hit WOT (wide open throttle) the A/C shuts off.

 

Normally I do experience a drop in power when the a/c is on (like any other car). I feel that my car is not running right to begin with...very sluggish...weak vtec. As soon as I put the a/c on, the car seems to run normally. I'm not saying the horsepower is better with the a/c on...the car just performs as it should.

Is it possible that the problem I'm experiencing does not occur with the a/c on?

Thanks,
John

 

It might be time to have your valve clearances adjusted. At 7500 miles, that improved my driveablility considerably.

 

Sounds like an electrical gremlin. Have you tapped your MAP sensor lately?

 

Thanks guys. Yes, I tried tapping on the map sensor... no change. I'll take it to my dealer.

John

 

John, what dealer do you go to?

My first guess on your car's trouble is perhaps a bad sensor, such that the computer has gone into a default mode. Unless there's a code reader out there for the computer, taking it to the dealer may be wise.

 

I have already replaced the map sensor. Exhaust tips are clean so I don't think the car is running rich. It feels as if the engine is not getting sufficient fuel. The rpm's climb slowly and it runs out of steam early.

I go to Troy Honda.

Thanks,
John