01 Elantra only goes 5MPH!!!!
tedhontz
07-30-2009, 11:35 PM
Ok I need some help here. First I did take the time to go through all 27 pages of thread headlines and maybe a couple of them apply. Well here is my problem. I have a 2001 Elantra with a manual tranny. It was wrecked hard in the drivers side front corner years ago. I put an ebay air intake filter system on it. Then about 6 months later the car started to get loud on me and started to lose its power. Sounded to me like the noise was from the air intake filter system so I bought all the factory parts and installed them. Car is still noisy and then yesterday I went to drive it and it drove to the gas station fine. I put gas in it and then it started losing power quickly. I pulled it over and it died. It starts every time just fine and will idle but in 1st gear with my pedal to the floor I can't get the car to go over 1500rpm or over 5mph! It also sounds like a diesel tractor engine, like it has a hole in the front part of the exhaust but I don't see that..... I've read on here that this car has a recalled exhaust manifold but could that even be my problem causing my car to be so loud and only go 5mph? I replaced the strainer in the gas tank today. I was told this car doesn't have a fuel filter but some on here say it does? No auto parts store has that in their system. It comes up as "non serviceable". There are NO engine codes on which isn't helping me. Car starts first time and idles so quietly you can't tell it's running. But when you hit the gas in neutral it makes a loud exhaust sound and then rumbles up on the RPMs until it kicks down to a max of 1500 rpms with my foot to the floor! Oh yeah, the car has only 58,000 miles on it but it's been through a wreck in the past and it sits around quite a bit too... I also let it run for hours and no catalytic converters glowed red at night so i'm thinking the cats are good. Spark plugs look good as well. Any help is GREATLY appreciated!!
PlanetDude
08-03-2009, 05:47 PM
Without seeing, driving, etc... I`m gonna be shooting in the dark here. But, maybe I can give you a starting point.
I`m thinking either 1)bad fuel, 2)plugged exhaust, or 3) bad tank vent.
The bad fuel theory comes from the idea that you drove it fine to the gas station, and then had all the trouble after fueling. That`s the only variable. As far as your post indicates, that`s the only change to the car, was adding fuel.
Plugged exhaust is my odds-on idea. It sounds like a restriction, which is why the 1500 rpm limit. Obviously, if your engine can`t breathe (plugged exhaust) it would choke. That`s easy to test - disconnect the exhaust and rev it. Maybe don`t do that late at night, or don`t do it at home if your neighbours hate you. I`m not gonna be responsible for starting a neighbourhood war. :)
(On a side note - just because the cat isn`t red, doesn`t eliminate it from being at fault - just my 2cents.)
Tank vent - it`s a stretch, but if you don`t punch an air/vent hole in a can of juice, it doesn`t come out evenly. Without a tank vent, would fuel flow the same? I`ve seen it be the case, but it was on an older vehicle.
Like I said, I`m shooting in the dark here, but if I can give you even a starting point, and you can post back with additional info, maybe me or someone on here will click in to what it might be.
Regards,
Ryan
I`m thinking either 1)bad fuel, 2)plugged exhaust, or 3) bad tank vent.
The bad fuel theory comes from the idea that you drove it fine to the gas station, and then had all the trouble after fueling. That`s the only variable. As far as your post indicates, that`s the only change to the car, was adding fuel.
Plugged exhaust is my odds-on idea. It sounds like a restriction, which is why the 1500 rpm limit. Obviously, if your engine can`t breathe (plugged exhaust) it would choke. That`s easy to test - disconnect the exhaust and rev it. Maybe don`t do that late at night, or don`t do it at home if your neighbours hate you. I`m not gonna be responsible for starting a neighbourhood war. :)
(On a side note - just because the cat isn`t red, doesn`t eliminate it from being at fault - just my 2cents.)
Tank vent - it`s a stretch, but if you don`t punch an air/vent hole in a can of juice, it doesn`t come out evenly. Without a tank vent, would fuel flow the same? I`ve seen it be the case, but it was on an older vehicle.
Like I said, I`m shooting in the dark here, but if I can give you even a starting point, and you can post back with additional info, maybe me or someone on here will click in to what it might be.
Regards,
Ryan
tedhontz
08-11-2009, 04:29 PM
Thanks. I've been on vacation in Florida but when I get back later this week I'll work on trying out your ideas! Thanks again.... I'll post a reply soon.
Without seeing, driving, etc... I`m gonna be shooting in the dark here. But, maybe I can give you a starting point.
I`m thinking either 1)bad fuel, 2)plugged exhaust, or 3) bad tank vent.
The bad fuel theory comes from the idea that you drove it fine to the gas station, and then had all the trouble after fueling. That`s the only variable. As far as your post indicates, that`s the only change to the car, was adding fuel.
Plugged exhaust is my odds-on idea. It sounds like a restriction, which is why the 1500 rpm limit. Obviously, if your engine can`t breathe (plugged exhaust) it would choke. That`s easy to test - disconnect the exhaust and rev it. Maybe don`t do that late at night, or don`t do it at home if your neighbours hate you. I`m not gonna be responsible for starting a neighbourhood war. :)
(On a side note - just because the cat isn`t red, doesn`t eliminate it from being at fault - just my 2cents.)
Tank vent - it`s a stretch, but if you don`t punch an air/vent hole in a can of juice, it doesn`t come out evenly. Without a tank vent, would fuel flow the same? I`ve seen it be the case, but it was on an older vehicle.
Like I said, I`m shooting in the dark here, but if I can give you even a starting point, and you can post back with additional info, maybe me or someone on here will click in to what it might be.
Regards,
Ryan
Without seeing, driving, etc... I`m gonna be shooting in the dark here. But, maybe I can give you a starting point.
I`m thinking either 1)bad fuel, 2)plugged exhaust, or 3) bad tank vent.
The bad fuel theory comes from the idea that you drove it fine to the gas station, and then had all the trouble after fueling. That`s the only variable. As far as your post indicates, that`s the only change to the car, was adding fuel.
Plugged exhaust is my odds-on idea. It sounds like a restriction, which is why the 1500 rpm limit. Obviously, if your engine can`t breathe (plugged exhaust) it would choke. That`s easy to test - disconnect the exhaust and rev it. Maybe don`t do that late at night, or don`t do it at home if your neighbours hate you. I`m not gonna be responsible for starting a neighbourhood war. :)
(On a side note - just because the cat isn`t red, doesn`t eliminate it from being at fault - just my 2cents.)
Tank vent - it`s a stretch, but if you don`t punch an air/vent hole in a can of juice, it doesn`t come out evenly. Without a tank vent, would fuel flow the same? I`ve seen it be the case, but it was on an older vehicle.
Like I said, I`m shooting in the dark here, but if I can give you even a starting point, and you can post back with additional info, maybe me or someone on here will click in to what it might be.
Regards,
Ryan
tedhontz
08-14-2009, 09:46 PM
Ok, my friend disconnected the exhaust from the engine and while yes it was extremely loud he gave it a test drive and it had full power! He put the exhaust back on and it couldn't go over 5mph again! So.... he then took apart the exhaust where the flex piece is on the exhaust and the car had good power. So this tells me that the problem is a bad rear catalytic converter? Does everyone agree on this? And if so, what does everyone recommend. I'm thinking it is going to be terribly expensive to get a new cat for it and while it only has 58K miles it's over 5 years old so its not under warranty. My friend says he can take that cat out and bust out the inside. This still leaves the car with the front cat intact (the one behind the radiator). What does everyone think about this?
PlanetDude
08-14-2009, 11:02 PM
Ah-hah! I thought it might be a restriction. :)
Ok, remedy.... I did some research and it does indeed look like a front and rear cat.
Before you go punching out stuff, price a replacement. I`ve heard of cheap universal replacements (AP exhaust shows a listing) and whatnot, but my thinking is punching out a cat would destroy the functionality, leading to failure of smog/emission testing. Don`t know your state/provincial status on testing.
I`m sure some parts store can get you a replacement, and not just the dealer.
At least you know what it is, and you`re not throwing parts blindly at it. Good luck, and let us know if and how you get it fixed!
Ryan
Ok, remedy.... I did some research and it does indeed look like a front and rear cat.
Before you go punching out stuff, price a replacement. I`ve heard of cheap universal replacements (AP exhaust shows a listing) and whatnot, but my thinking is punching out a cat would destroy the functionality, leading to failure of smog/emission testing. Don`t know your state/provincial status on testing.
I`m sure some parts store can get you a replacement, and not just the dealer.
At least you know what it is, and you`re not throwing parts blindly at it. Good luck, and let us know if and how you get it fixed!
Ryan
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