Poor Performance/ killer Gas Consumption

[dykepepsi]

Hello, I wonder if someone one here has some suggestions to help me out, I don’t trust mechanics and I do most of the work on my car.

Three months ago I bought a 96 Eclipse GS DOHC 2.0 non turbo for $1500; I thought it was a great deal because the interior was in GREAT! Shape although the driver side had been hit and the red door had been replaced with a black one, not to mention that, that side of the car still had visible frame damage, the engine looked as it had never ever been serviced and the owner didn’t even know what a spark plug looked like. All in all the test drive was incredible under the circumstances.

The first thing I did was a complete tune up, replacing the PVC valve, spark plugs (Bosch Platinum 4’s) and performance wires, air filter ,flushed the engine, Oil change, checked all hoses, checked and replaced all other fluids added Engine Restore and fuel injector additives. (had issues finding fuel filter, so skipped it for the time being) It ran great for a while.

My car is now running poorly for the past month or so, not to mention its guzzling gas like nothing else! it has no pick-up or power, When I’m stopped at a light and accelerate, it lags and sounds as if its going to burst a spark plug or something lol..and I swear I literally see the fuel gauge go down. I replaced the fuel filter two weeks ago, the old one was sooooo clogged that I thought; “that was the problem for the bad performance” but the problem persists

Today I turn the car on after a 30 mile trip and it beeps 12 times. Does anyone know if the car was throwing out a code of some kind? And perhaps give me some suggestions as to how to improve on my car’s performance/ power?

Thank you all so much.

[Killa]

Hi welcome to forum, did you do the engine compression test ? The fuel filter is under the battery, or under right rear passenger side.

[blk_srt]

Have you replaced the O2 sensor? That could be your problem.

[dykepepsi]

Update: I went out to the car to check the trouble codes using the ignition switch ON OFF ON OFF and finally ON within 5 seconds and this is what I got; 1-2-5-5 neither one of these number codes are in the book not 12 nor 55 ….the check engine light paused 3 seconds between each number, this code method only has two digits, I’m assuming that two two-digit numbers were given, I repeated this process 4 times and had the same result.

[dykepepsi]

Originally Posted by pr_ricer

Have you replaced the O2 sensor? That could be your problem.

Nope, I havent replaced the O2 sensor, I didnt think to do so until I received a CEL on the matter..... however, I am now trying to figure out what the codes I received are and if one of them has anything to do with my O2 sensor...read the reply update on my post, Thanks.

[dykepepsi]

Originally Posted by Killer7

Hi welcome to forum, did you do the engine compression test ? The fuel filter is under the battery, or under right rear passenger side.

Nope, I have not done an Engine Compression test but I will study the procedure and attempt it.

[defiancy]

Originally Posted by dykepepsi

Nope, I have not done an Engine Compression test but I will study the procedure and attempt it.

Autozone and like stores allow you to rent out tools from them. You can always see if they have a compression tester that you could use. It's a very simple proceedure. And infact they might be able to assist you at the actual store.

[dykepepsi]

Originally Posted by defiancy

Autozone and like stores allow you to rent out tools from them. You can always see if they have a compression tester that you could use. It's a very simple proceedure. And infact they might be able to assist you at the actual store.

Great, I've borrowed tools from them before; I’ll call and ask, Thanks

[blk_srt]

Originally Posted by dykepepsi

Nope, I havent replaced the O2 sensor, I didnt think to do so until I received a CEL on the matter..... however, I am now trying to figure out what the codes I received are and if one of them has anything to do with my O2 sensor...read the reply update on my post, Thanks.

O2 sensors dont throw codes most of the time

[Killa]

Originally Posted by pr_ricer

O2 sensors dont throw codes most of the time

yup, I think they throw code after they fell off. My friend honda did that, over 250k miles, same o2, until it fell off.

[blk_srt]

Well yeah, it will throw a code if it breaks or falls out but if you wait untill then to change it you have other problems

[l_eclipse_l]

I second the o2 sensor diagnosis. It will make your car run sluggish and basicly give you the worst gas mileage possible. Replace that with one from Auto Zone (they are cheapest there from what I've experienced) and see where that gets you.

[dykepepsi]

Originally Posted by l_eclipse_l

I second the o2 sensor diagnosis. It will make your car run sluggish and basicly give you the worst gas mileage possible. Replace that with one from Auto Zone (they are cheapest there from what I've experienced) and see where that gets you.

Thanks, I will definately try that. I was already reading about the replacement of the O2 sensor.

[Thor06]

Do you NT guys have an upstream and a downstream o2 sensor? Just my own curiousity...

And dykepepsi, what the hell are those things in your avatar?

[l_eclipse_l]

Originally Posted by Thor06

Do you NT guys have an upstream and a downstream o2 sensor? Just my own curiousity...

Yes