2000 V6 Solara Acceleration Problem
Posted: Fri Jul 01, 2011 9:09 amI was a good little n00b and searched the forums first, but couldn't quite find a problem that matched up with what I'm experiencing. This seems like the place to go for Solara tips/tricks/advice, so here it goes:
I have a 2000 Toyota Solara, V6. About 130k on the car. Plugs (no wires) were done a little over a year ago, change my oil regularly, timing belt has not been done (to my knowledge.. bought the car just after 100k on the odometer). No other sensors or anything have gone bad while I've had the car; there was a check engine light that came on and went off on its own for an irregular misfire. That was about 2.5 years ago, hasn't happened since.
Basically, while I'm accelerating heavy (pulling into traffic, merging, etc.), the car just doesn't seem as quick as it used to be, especially in 2nd gear. The other thing is that there are surges in the acceleration, irregularities. Around 4000rpm the acceleration will blip quicker, then go back to where it was, then blip quicker again, the go down, and by then it's time to shift into third. I don't notice it as much in 3rd gear, but it's there. Again, this only happens when I'm trying to get up and go. There's been a decreasing in my mileage of about 3-4 mph as well. Not sure if this is significant or not.
I'm pretty sure my compressor needs to be replaced, but it does this regardless of when the AC is on or off. From what I've heard, the fuel filter shouldn't be the issue because the filters are designed to quite literally last forever in Toyotas (if that's wrong, please tell me).
Any ideas? I appreciate anything you've got. THANKS!
I have a 2000 Toyota Solara, V6. About 130k on the car. Plugs (no wires) were done a little over a year ago, change my oil regularly, timing belt has not been done (to my knowledge.. bought the car just after 100k on the odometer). No other sensors or anything have gone bad while I've had the car; there was a check engine light that came on and went off on its own for an irregular misfire. That was about 2.5 years ago, hasn't happened since.
Basically, while I'm accelerating heavy (pulling into traffic, merging, etc.), the car just doesn't seem as quick as it used to be, especially in 2nd gear. The other thing is that there are surges in the acceleration, irregularities. Around 4000rpm the acceleration will blip quicker, then go back to where it was, then blip quicker again, the go down, and by then it's time to shift into third. I don't notice it as much in 3rd gear, but it's there. Again, this only happens when I'm trying to get up and go. There's been a decreasing in my mileage of about 3-4 mph as well. Not sure if this is significant or not.
I'm pretty sure my compressor needs to be replaced, but it does this regardless of when the AC is on or off. From what I've heard, the fuel filter shouldn't be the issue because the filters are designed to quite literally last forever in Toyotas (if that's wrong, please tell me).
Any ideas? I appreciate anything you've got. THANKS!
to Solaraguy.