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Car "feels" slow sometimes...why?

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Old Nov 9, 2004 | 01:46 PM
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Default Car "feels" slow sometimes...why?

I bought my Vette in July and absolutely love it. This car hauls total a@@-especially for an automatic. The last couple of weeks though, it seems sometimes that it doesn't shift down enough (into lower gear) when I stomp it, but sometimes it does. This is whether I have it in OD or 3rd. It almost always doesn't it if I'm going down a hill slightly (opposite for going uphill). Sometimes it still does, but it seemed like it always did before. I only have 18,000 miles...it's time for an oil change...maybe new air filter...doesn't this seem like something to do with the transmission though?

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Old Nov 9, 2004 | 02:07 PM
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I've had the same problem. I'm bumping my gears up to 3.42s.
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Old Nov 9, 2004 | 02:50 PM
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gotta catch those RPM's just right to get the speed and cooler days help produce more HP.
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Old Nov 9, 2004 | 04:13 PM
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Originally Posted by barkingowl
I've had the same problem. I'm bumping my gears up to 3.42s.

That will do the job.... I've a MN6 but back when I had my 99 GT with auto I went from 3.27 to 4.10.... it put a on my face
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Old Nov 9, 2004 | 04:17 PM
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Check your "accordian" air intake coupler. It sometimes gets dsiconnected from the snorkel and you get an air leak after the MAF and the car runs poorly.

I had that on my 01 A4 and it drove like a truck until I figured out why it went from GO to S-L-O-W overnight. BTW, I have 2.73:1 gears and that is fast enough for my feeble driving skills.

EG
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Old Nov 9, 2004 | 05:41 PM
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Originally Posted by doo600
gotta catch those RPM's just right to get the speed and cooler days help produce more HP.

Too warm down in them parts. Up here in Seattle, the beast is getting stronger. I'm worried about detonation as the temps drop below 50.
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Old Nov 9, 2004 | 05:51 PM
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Originally Posted by 01redfreak
I bought my Vette in July and absolutely love it. This car hauls total a@@-especially for an automatic. The last couple of weeks though, it seems sometimes that it doesn't shift down enough (into lower gear) when I stomp it, but sometimes it does. This is whether I have it in OD or 3rd. It almost always doesn't it if I'm going down a hill slightly (opposite for going uphill). Sometimes it still does, but it seemed like it always did before. I only have 18,000 miles...it's time for an oil change...maybe new air filter...doesn't this seem like something to do with the transmission though?

After checking the obvious items mentioned here, it's possible you are just noticing the limitations in the A4. I started to think mine was ******* too after a few months but looking back it was fine, just used to the feel. Changing the shift points/pressure with a handheld unit took care of that
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Old Nov 10, 2004 | 01:35 AM
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I noticed this with my MN6 .. i then started driving with T/C off and it's gone. I prefer the feeling of driving mine without the T/C or A/H interferring with my driving abilities.

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Old Nov 10, 2004 | 01:52 AM
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I do not have an automotive engineer's explanation, but I call it being caught between gears, as if the car(excuse me, the computer algorithims) doesn't know exactly what you want, so it will not do it quickly and maybe unbalance the car.

I expect it has a lot to do with catching the downshift at the optimum RPMs and throttle position, but of course I cannot be sure from where I sit..

Last edited by SilverMN6; Nov 10, 2004 at 01:57 AM.
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Old Nov 10, 2004 | 04:06 AM
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I think our problem may be one in the same. On very rare occasions, I'll go to WOT at around 35 mph and expect it to downshift but it doesn't. This usually occurs when I'm easing from a stoplight after it turns green. Its usually in second gear at 1/3 throttle position and then I go to WOT but it doesn't shift. I had LS1-Edit done with the usual alterations but it still does it. I just figured it was the way the transmission's programmed. Again, its so rare I just usually yell "CRAP!", speed up a little, then WOT again, this time with a successful downshift.
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Old Nov 10, 2004 | 01:32 PM
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Originally Posted by SilverMN6
I do not have an automotive engineer's explanation, but I call it being caught between gears, as if the car(excuse me, the computer algorithims) doesn't know exactly what you want, so it will not do it quickly and maybe unbalance the car.

I expect it has a lot to do with catching the downshift at the optimum RPMs and throttle position, but of course I cannot be sure from where I sit..
This is what I thought at first, but then it seemed to do it almost every time at different RPM's on some days...call me stupid, but what is the "accordian" air intake coupler?
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Old Nov 10, 2004 | 01:59 PM
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Open hood
Look at intake
Follow it from air filter to throttle body
right before the TB is the big accordian connector
(unless you or the prev owner have replaced it with a smooth one)
it comes loose pretty easily
slip it back on or make sure its tight
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Old Nov 10, 2004 | 02:01 PM
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Originally Posted by 01redfreak
call me stupid, but what is the "accordian" air intake coupler?
It is not a stupid question. It's the rubber coupler between your air filter down in the front of your engine bay and throttle body attached to your engine.

It's black and it looks like an accordian - hence the name. It is VERY poorly connected to the plastic tube that goes from your TB (throttle bdy) to your air filter and it often comes loose - thereby causing your engine to run very poorly.

My idle on my A4 started to sound like I installed a high lift cam after a "spirited" run and it took me a few hours to figure out that it's the accordian coupler that was loose on the bottom of the plastic tube that connects my air filter to my TB.

EG
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Old Nov 10, 2004 | 02:02 PM
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Originally Posted by 01redfreak
what is the "accordian" air intake coupler?
Picture is worth a thousand words...




Sorry about the horrible arrow, see how this piece looks like an accordion hence the name.
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