Air Filter causing hesitation at acceleration?

[nessamarie]

I have a 2000 Sephia LS and lately, when I try to accelerate, it just seems really sluggish and doesn't want to accelerate. I have to shift out of first gear, into neutral, and back into first for the car to move anywhere! We changed the spark plugs, and attempted to change the fuel filter (though we couldn't find it and the chilton's manual I bought for it didn't say where it was!). Someone told me it's probably the Oxygen sensors, but then I was told it is probably just the air filter. If someone could help me out and give me some hints as to how to change the air filter and/or the fuel filter, I'd really appreciate it since the $50 chilton's book I bought doesn't tell me anything!

[MeettheCreeper]

Originally Posted by nessamarie

I have a 2000 Sephia LS and lately, when I try to accelerate, it just seems really sluggish and doesn't want to accelerate. I have to shift out of first gear, into neutral, and back into first for the car to move anywhere! We changed the spark plugs, and attempted to change the fuel filter (though we couldn't find it and the chilton's manual I bought for it didn't say where it was!). Someone told me it's probably the Oxygen sensors, but then I was told it is probably just the air filter. If someone could help me out and give me some hints as to how to change the air filter and/or the fuel filter, I'd really appreciate it since the $50 chilton's book I bought doesn't tell me anything!

The fuel filter is under the car passenger side in the rear. Right of the fuel tank. Follow your exhaust from the muffler to the pipe, the filter is to the right of it near the charcoal canister.

Changing it is another story. There are 3 lines going to the fuel filter with a squeeze type line that can be very difficult to remove if it has never been changed.

I doubt it is your oxygen sensor, but without more information it would be difficult to diagnosis. It is a possiblity that the warm up cat converter is plugged.

There are a host of other problems that it may be but as i said without further info it would be difficult to diagnosis.

If you have the skills you can drop the warm up cat from the exhaust manifold and drive the vehicle. IT WILL BE VERY LOUD. This will eliminate the back psi if the cat is plugged. Or if you can get access to a back psi gauge, you can remove the O2 sensor and install it.

I do not recommend undertaking this task unless you have the skills and tools to do so.