Full Throttle And No Power?

[giantrobot9000]

I just did my PCV system, and the car isn't burning or leaking oil anymore, but it feels sluggish and just today I was driving about 35mph and floored it and the car did absolutely nothing. No acceleration, nothing. We noticed that my upper intercooler hose is really soft, and a tech said that it probably is collapsing on me at times. Would this do it, or maybe a vacuum hose screwed up somewhere?

The only other signs or issues would be the smell of fuel under hard acceleration. The tech suggested I change the cap and rotor (plugs are new), and wires, since they are old.

[jdlc]

I just did my PCV system, and the car isn't burning or leaking oil anymore, but it feels sluggish and just today I was driving about 35mph and floored it and the car did absolutely nothing. No acceleration, nothing. We noticed that my upper intercooler hose is really soft, and a tech said that it probably is collapsing on me at times. Would this do it, or maybe a vacuum hose screwed up somewhere?

The only other signs or issues would be the smell of fuel under hard acceleration. The tech suggested I change the cap and rotor (plugs are new), and wires, since they are old.

Wow, almost 300k miles, are your engine & tranny still original? (just my curiousity - I have the same car as you)

Are the intercooler hoses still original? Usually the issue is boost leak when old due to tearing. I have not heard of them 'collapsing' under boost because in theory, collapse should happen to vacuum hoses and not to intercooler hoses because intercooler gets pressurized. In any case, massive intercooler hose leak would trigger CEL and your car would run like crap (first hand experience of mine when one of my intercooler connection popped-off under boost). Small tears or leaks just caused failure to boost beyond 9-10 psi for me.

It would not hurt to replace the cap, rotor, and wires if they are old, but the fact that this happened after your PCV service, I would recheck all the connections of vacuums and intercooler hoses. Give special attention to that big one for the power steering assist in the intake manifold after the TB because when I removed that for my 94 855 @ 160k, I noticed the hose hardened already and is not flexible anymore to have a 'grab' to the big nipple where it is connected. Would also make sure the hard line is fitted properly, as well as the EGR. I'm assuming you replaced the EGR gasket, as well as all other gaskets as required for the job. Also assume you properly connected all vacuum lines. If you re-used the vacuum hoses and rubber connectors, there is a chance they got damaged during the removal, I would consider replacing all the vacuum hoses at this mileage, unless they are all fairly new.

[randomdude]

remember stage 0 is key on these cars. it will will cure almost everything but a popped turbo i think.

[Austin H]

CEL?

Intercooler hoses, vacuum hoses or Maf is probably one of your problems.

[randomdude]

i have one that collapses under boost, just flattens out!

[Ihatespeedbumps]

Stage 0 as said above is a good place to start. It could be quite a few things, first try to pull codes to see if there is something obvious. Inspect ALL of the I/C hoses closely, you may find your problem there.

[giantrobot9000]

No CEL, but it's funny you mention power steering, because I've been thinking my steering felt different, like much heavier and not smooth. It was too ironic that it happened after the PCV system re-do. I'll definitely check that vacuum line. That hard line under the fuel rail broke and was replaced with a flexible one. Maybe that is doing something weird...?

I replaced the TB hose when I bought the car because it was torn, but the others are original and need to be done, definitely. The top one is really getting soft.

Yeah, I'm at 300,500 miles on the original engine and tranny( and turbo I think !). The compression numbers were 155-170 across the board when I checked this summer.