5th gear, going 65mph, reving @ 3000rpm, what's the problem?

[Harder Faster]

I just recently bought a 97 Eclipse RS about 2 weeks ago. It's a nice car and runs great. But when i'm on the freeway in 5th gear going 65mph, it revs @ 3000rpm. When i excellerate the rpm starts to climb. I popped the hood and found the aftermarket intake wasn't bolted down and was missing a hose clamp so air was entering where the pipe and rubber sleeve should have been clamped. I took care of that and 2 days later, the "check engine light" came on. The car still revs @ 3000rpm when i'm on the freeway in 5th gear going 65mph. I took it back to the dealer to see what was wrong. The guy told me that it had a vacuum leak in the rubber hose that's connected to this plastic tube that runs right behind the throttle body. Does that make sense, that this is the problem causing it to rev so high??? Because the car idles fine when just sitting and drives normal in the other gears. They've had my car for 4 days because they have to wait for the part. I told the guy to just tape the hose that's cracked to see if that's even the problem because it's just a waste of time for me to have to wait 4 days and have that not be the problem. What could the problem be?

[19eclipse97]

well sounds like that could be the problem, but you should of told the dealer you would take the car back with you and would bring it back when the part was in and you could in the mean time have tried taping it to see if it made any difference, dealers will sell you parts you dont even need just to make the $$$$. by they way how much did they charge you just to do a diagnostic?

[Harder Faster]

I don't have to pay anything. It's just weird that a vacuum leak would only affect the car while in 5th gear going 65mph. Wouldn't the car be idling rough it that were the problem?

By the way, my car is still under warranty.

[kjewer1]

With a 5 speed, rpm at a given speed will always be the same, no matter what you do. Unless teh clutch slips My car (AWD) is even higher. Depends on gearing.

[yamaha_2000r6]

The vacuum leak has nothing to do with your engine speed at 65. The only factor is gearing and that is about what my 95 rs runs at 65. With a motor such as a 2.0 it has to have a few revs to get in the torque range.

[Harder Faster]

So you're saying that it's normal with a motor such as a 2.0 to be reving @ 3000rpm driving 65mph in 5th gear?

It feels like i'm driving in 4th gear. If this is normal, it feels like the car's got alot of torque. I need to know if this is normal because I don't want anything happening to the engine. Having it reving @ 3000rpm while cruising doing 65mph, not hauling ass. I'm scared to drive a long trip cause i keep thinking that my engine's going overheat or something.


Maybe it's because i'm use to driving a 1994 Ford Escort which only had 88hp.

Please let me know if this is normal or should I really be concerned.

[1992eclipseGS]

88hp?? LOL.. my stock neon had more than that.. but yea fuck dealerships... they'll fucking rip u a new asshole.. i took my Car to the dealership thinking they know best (boy was i wrong).. and they started comming up wit some shit about my engine and they had to do a diagnostics test.. i was like okay do what u gotta do.. that shit cost $85.00 and come to find out it was just my battery.. and they charge me like 50 some dallors just put a new battery in.. not to mention the cost of the battery from them was a rip off..

[EclipseRST]

yes it is normal... between 65-70mph on a stock n/t gearbox your motor should be spinning around 28-3200 rpms. dont worry about it your not gunna blow the motor, and it shouldnt over heat unless something in the cooling system is bad!

[Pun]

my 98 revs bout the same, it does stay hot though, anybody else engine real hot, is THAT normal?

[Harder Faster]

Awesome! Thanks for confirming that this is normal.

Now I can stop worrying and enjoy my car!!!

[EclipseRST]

no... not normal to run hot, my car stays right around 180-190. about 10-15 degrees warmer if its idleing... i dont know exactly what that is on the stock gauge cause i dont use that anymore, POS in my opinion! anyways make sure your fan is coming on and make sure you have enough coolant in your radiator, if thats not it... try testing the thermostat

[1992eclipseGS]

Originally Posted by Pun

my 98 revs bout the same, it does stay hot though, anybody else engine real hot, is THAT normal?

my engine and header gets real hot.. and fast.. i don't know if its because i have 2 cracks in my header.. but it heats up quick.. and only one of my fans seem to work

[imtheoneandonlyD]

unless you have to AC on, only one fan will be on. So try running with the ac on and see if the other fan comes on.

[1992eclipseGS]

Originally Posted by imtheoneandonlyD

unless you have to AC on, only one fan will be on. So try running with the ac on and see if the other fan comes on.

When I turn on the AC it seems like only warm.. or moderate cool airs blows out.. i don't really need an AC right now so i'm not really concerned about it..but now that u mention it.. what could be causing the AC NOT to blow cool air??

[my97blackgst]

I can also confirm that it is normal for it to be running at 3,000rpm at 65mph. I had a eclipse RS. Now I have a GST and it is 3,000rpm at 69mph.

Cheers
Ben