96 gle - power loss problem

Ok, here's the situation: 96 GLE - bought the car in NJ in March, 2000 (with 34k miles). Moved to Florida in May 2001. Over the last year living here, my car has "appeared" to lose power drastically, even with the AC off (she now has 107k miles) The reason I say "appeared" is because i may have just gotten used to it, and only THINK it's a power loss, but either way, the problem is during acceleration. There is another revving sound over and above the usual motor noise when accelerating from 1st to 2nd gear (she's AUTO). I'm not sure how else to explain the sound, except that the motor feels, and sounds, like it's straining. If I have been idling at a light for a few mins, and then go, it is the most obvious. After driving around a little while, it diminishes. It will do this more often when the AC is ON, but it still happens enough when the AC is OFF. Of course it's worse when it's hotter outside during the day, and happens less at night, or when it's cooler. When i hear this noise, the rpm's will go as high as 5 or 6,000, and the car has no go, and when it jumps into the next gear, it does exactly that... shifts HARD...

If anyone has experienced this, and found out what the solution is, please let me know. I've just replaced the alternator, and the battery with an Optima RedTop. Any suggestions/observations are requested...

Clean your throttle body man. Here is the site where you can get the directions
http://www.motorvate.ca/mvp.php/517
If that wont help. Get a fuel injector cleaner. Check for exhaust leaks. Is your engine light on? If so, check for codes, might be faulty knock sensor.

thanks... i've done all that already except for the TB, so I'll check that out. I've done everything you can think of to this car, it's immaculate inside and out, and there's just some minor maintenance that is scheduled for the car in the next month or so. But I've done both an oil and fuel system cleaning, as well as removing the carbon from the entire system (i did the oil sys cleaning ONCE, and only because of sludge buildup - car was a lease turnover :( so you know how THAT goes). No leaks anywhere in this car, not even coolant... LOL

(pssst - btw, it's "chica" to u) hehe