First off i've got a 1998 3.2tl from canada.

My car has been acting a bit odd lately. I know nothing about transmissions so i hope somebody can lead me in the right direction here. Whenever i'm driving in 4th gear D4 at around 60mph and give the car a little more gas, it seems to lack the power and kind of lunges back and forth real subtly. I notice it everytime. It seems like the car isn't getting enough power or something. Now if i push the gas a fraction farther, the car speeds up, the sluggishness isn't there, and all is good. It only seems to do it around 60-65 and never at 70 or higher and only in D4. My check engine light came on last week and i took it to a friend who put it on the computer. It was an O2 sensor, bank 1 sensor 2. We cleaned out the air filter (which i need to replace), reset the check engine light, and it hasn't come on since. Could this be the culprit to what i'm experiencing? Any other thoughts?



Miles

 

Maybe fuel filter but i am not sure. How many miles on the car and when was tranny fluid changed?

 

It may be that the O2 sensor is still no good, but just hasn't tripped the light yet. I believe it needs to fail a test twice, in a sense, before it triggers the light again. I could be wrong though.

 

yup its most lilkely the sensor, this happened on my moms tl and she kept driving around untill i drove it and noticed.

 

Thanks guys. Luckily that sensor is right there with easy access to it. I'll pick one up and try replacing it. I also thought maybe the fuel filter, since i'll be in there anyway i might as well change it and follow the great writeup by Pyro. Bleh, might as well change tranny fluid too. It hasn't been done since I got the car, it has 99500 miles on it. I've only put 6k on it.

 

So if it's from Canada it should say about 160 000km on the odo right?

Could it also be that if you don't give it enough gas, it stays in overdrive? I notice when I give mine a little gas it doesnt do much, but if I give it a little more in D4 (or D3), it jumps 500RPM and then I have some power.

 

TPS sensor possibly - does it happen only at certain throttle angles?

 

The odo is in miles, the dash has been replaced. It doesn't do what you are describing youngTL. If i give it a little gas, it speeds up. If i give it a little more, it speeds up a little more. This problem only happes at speeds between 60 and 65. Above or below that it never does it.

Five_Pride - Yes i'd say it only does it at one certain throttle angle. I was driving to work today testing it again and thinking it could be a position sensor.

 

Dont forget the torque converter locks up.. meaning better gas mileage.. and if you push the gas enough.. it'll unlock, the RPM's go up slightly and you have your performance back.

 

Ken could you elaborate for me? Not sure how the torque converter works. Is this something you are saying might need replacing?

 

It doesnt need replacing from what i can tell.

Basically think of a bagel... cut in half. Both sides are slippery and are pushed together. Thats somewhat how an automatic transmission works. Its a bit inefficient but its smooth and simple. Basically the torque converter (the two bagel halfs) will lock together with no slipping at a steady speed (usually above 55 or 60 mph in 4th gear)



http://auto.howstuffworks.com/torque-converter1.htm