Loss of acceleration

DILLAGAF69

MEMBER
2004 DODGE NEON
2.0L
4 CYL
2WD
MANUAL
120,000 MILES

My car doesn't have the get up and go anymore. It starts out fine in first gear the rpm's go over 3,000 and I shift and it wont let me get up to 50 by the time I hit fourth gear. When I put my foot to the floor it does not do anything. Sometimes it will jerk like it wants to get power. What do I do?

5 Replies

SCGRANTURISMO

MECHANIC
4,897 POSTS

Hello,

Is your vehicle's Malfunction Indicator Lamp [MIL] or "check engine" lamp illuminated. If so, can you please pull the Direct Trouble Code [DTC] for me. Here is a link below if you are unsure how to do that:

https://www.2carpros.com/articles/checking-a-service-engine-soon-or-check-engine-light-on-or-flashing

Please get back to us with what you find out. We can go from there.

Thanks,
Alex
2CarPros

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Friday, November 15th, 2019 AT 9:47 AM

DILLAGAF69

MEMBER
3 POSTS

No, there isn't a code. The check engine light is not even on. That's the thing.

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Friday, November 15th, 2019 AT 7:48 PM

SCGRANTURISMO

MECHANIC
4,897 POSTS

Hello again,

Okay, that's good. So this could be a problem with your vehicle's throttle body needing to be cleaned. As the throttle body moves and ingests air, the air has pollutants in it that over time leave a black tar like substance called coke on the inside of the throttle body that interferes with the Throttle Position Sensor[TPS] signal to the Power-train Control Module[PCM] and when the PCM gets confused it will go into "limp" mode to keep from damaging the engine, while letting you take it in to get serviced. Here is a link below explaining this better:

https://www.2carpros.com/articles/throttle-actuator-service

If everything checks out a okay with the throttle body then go to this link below.

https://www.2carpros.com/articles/engine-has-low-power-output

Please go through these guides and get back to us with what you are able to find out.

Thanks,
Alex
2CarPros

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Friday, November 15th, 2019 AT 10:53 PM

DILLAGAF69

MEMBER
3 POSTS

My car was a little loud but once the power loss it muffled like it I have single exhaust turned into a dual at the and there is only a converter in there. But it's not real loud and now that I have barely power it muffled like there's a normal exhaust in the throttle body is fine.

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Saturday, November 16th, 2019 AT 6:50 AM

SCGRANTURISMO

MECHANIC
4,897 POSTS

Hello,

Okay, so this might be a plugged catalytic converter. Sometimes the honeycomb part a catalytic converter when damaged can fall off and restrict the flow of exhaust through the catalytic converter and choke the engine. Here is a link explaining what is going on, how to test it and how to fix it below:

https://www.2carpros.com/articles/how-to-test-a-catalytic-converter
https://www.2carpros.com/articles/catalytic-converter-replacement

Please go through these guides and get back to us with how everything turns out.

Thanks,
Alex
2CarPros