[saltorio]

I noticed over this past week that on more than a few occasions, my car has had really sluggish acceleration off the start. I've been at lights and hit tha gas, and my car accelerates VERY slowly. I can usually get it to kick back in to normal by letting off the gas for a second and then applying it again, in which case I notice the car shift gears, and everything is then fine.

I'm wondering if anyone else is having such an issue, and if it's normal? I wouldn't say I drive my car particularly aggressively? It has been quite hot here (compareably) over this past week, so that may have something to do with it. I've only got 2200km on it (Dec/03 build date).

Any help is greatly appreciated.

 

[SBTanMan]

Take off the emergency brake? jk, I haven't noticed this myself, and I have the same engine/tranny combo. I don't know what the weather would really do to cause this, but a lot of people live in Texas and California (like me) so maybe somebody else has encountered this.

 

[howdy]

Nope, sorry, haven't noticed any sluggishness.

Have you changed fuel brands or octane levels? Or are you running the A/C versus before you noticed the sluggish response?

 

[holeydonut]

Do you experience the sluggishness only when you first start the car, or does it just happen randomlly during your drive?

 

[edgaress]

I noticed over this past week that on more than a few occasions, my car has had really sluggish acceleration off the start. I've been at lights and hit tha gas, and my car accelerates VERY slowly.
Any help is greatly appreciated.

With identical car (except color) and build date and 3000 miles, no problem whatsoever. Hate to bring it up but there have been a few fuel pump-related problems (do search) with the 3. If it persists, this should be first consideration.

 

[RonH]

Temperature can play a big part in performance. If the MAF and IAT get hot air, it'll retard the timing to stop spark knock, which can eventually harm the engine. Retarded timing, slower performance. That's why a computer controled car runs better when it is cold, or the engine is cold.

We really notice that down here in sunny, hot Florida.

 

[saltorio]

I haven't changed fuel brands at all (I always fill up at the Esso on the corner). Next fill-up, I'll go to a different brand.

I had the AC on for part of the day yesterday, but I've noticed this happens with the AC on and off.

It definitely isn't limited to start-up, as yesterday I did alot of driving around, and it happened at all different times.

 

[edgaress]

Can't imagine heat being a problem yet in arctic Ottawa - and I will be very surprised if changing gas brands helps. If it didn't do it originally when you first got the car - look at the bright side - something has gone amiss and should be identifiable.

Insist on the mechanic going for a test drive with you.

 

[holeydonut]

Yeah, you should have a mechanic ride with you to get a better feeling for the problem.

With fuel pumps, it's usually either all or nothing... EFI systems require a lot more fuel pressure, so if a fuel pump isn't working right, you should be stalling instead of just stumbling.

I once had a problem in Maxima where the car got off to a very poor accelleration where it just kind of stumbled. This happend about 2 months after I changed the fuel pump, and I was afraid I has messed something up. Fortunately, a friend suggested that I try a different ignition coil; which ended up being the culprit.

Hopefully, the Mazda folks will have a good sense of what to look for to repair your car's problem.

 

[fire76]

I've noticed it a few times. Maybe the gearing is taller in the auto tranny. But I really think it's the variable engine timing. It seems like if I gun it from the light it's pretty peppy. But going around a corner in second gear, it seems to really lose it's pep. But I've been driving 5 speeds for a while, and maybe got spoiled by shifting when and where I want it to. I know the tranny has the wannabe "tiptronic" shifter, but the huge delay in shifting renders it worthless to me.

 

[StratoBlue3s5]

I have a 3S HB with the AT built in 10/03. Lately, I've noticed a big difference in acceleration between having the a/c on or off. With the a/c off, it accelerates like normal (pretty good). With the a/c on though, I definitely notice poor performance. Mostly during initial launch from stop. I have to press the gas a lot harder to accelerate. I also feel that if I need to accelerate from a cruising speed of around 45mph, it takes a lot more effort than if the a/c were off. I just started noticing this about 2 weeks ago, at first I had no clue why until the weather cooled off and i turned the a/c off.

I understand that engine performance will decrease with the a/c on, but it seems like too much compared to my previous cars.

 

[airchinapilot]

I noticed the same thing last night with my air conditioning on. Sluggish.

 

[Guest]

remember this is a 4 cylinder.. you will feel the power decrease alot with the a/c on... I had a civic before and when I turned on the a/c it was barely driveable... I got into a mustang turned on the air and you barely feel it.

 

[BuckeyeVelocityRed3]

Or could you have possibly gotten some bad fuel? We have issues with that around here - old stations with water leaking into the underground fuel tanks. I've had it happen more than once to me. So if buying gas at a different station (next tank) doesn't solve it I would take it in, but a fresh tank might help.

 

[digi0123]

How about we cross threads and I ask this. Would that grounding thingy ma bobber help out any? I have the AT and I dont' notice a problem, but the 2nd gear cornering even in the "manual" mode it's a little evil. I have a version which I can shift into 1st, but that's not something I'd want to do but I have done it a couple of times....poor honda couldn't keep up.

 

[herrherrlich]

I've felt something similar to what you're describing. The closest comparison I can draw is when VTEC kicks in @ certain rpm. My 2.3 seems like a dog for a few rpm then off the gas like 15% then back on it's a whole new car. Bizarre feeling.

 

[RX7FC3S]

You could try resetting your ECU. It could be that you don't often drive very quickly and that the ECU has memorized your shift points.

 

[mfreaky411]

I've noticed that my boggs down when trying to take off hard from first with the A/C off and won't spin the tires. However, when the A/C is on it has no problems spinning the tires and does not bog down.

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Mazda 3, 5 dr, 2.3L AT, Black

 

[ryanazarko]

this is what i would do. disconnect the battery before you go to bed, plug it in in the morning when you get up. drive to walmart or where-ever and buy some funky fuel additives, then fill up with 91 octane gas. now on your way to mazda see if it does it again, if it does drop it off and explain the problem and suggest that maybe its the fuel pump or the ignition coils or something.

 

[TL1526]

My car does the same thing and I think that this car has to breathe better. I am going to upgrade my intatke and my exhaust to give this car some more horsepower, this will give the car quicker response off the line.