MassGuy

My car has just developed a problem. It doesnt last but it not any less disturbing.

I started it tonight and I could not get any power. I would attempt to accelerate and it would pop and the revs stay down. After some time toying with the gas and letting it run like crap it smoothens out.

Where should I start to look?

Thanks in advance.

911URGE

DME Relay.

Sounds similar to what I went thru. Engine would lose power for 1-3 sec then be fine or it would sputter and nearly stall then be fine. Swapped relay and it never returned.

Rocket Rob

+1 on the DME relay. If that checks out, then I would confirm that your distributor belt is intact. See if the engine will run on each of the coils separately. If the distributor belt is broken then the motor will not run on one of the coils.

For your sake, I hope its just the relay.

MassGuy

The engine does run on either coil.

Richard Curtis

If the DME relay doesn't fix it, try cleaning the ground connection between battery negative post and unibody.

Tom W

I had a similar sounding problem that was due to a dying oxygen sensor. Replaced the sensor and the car ran fine.

964_944

For all of those who may experience this problem in the future. I ended up buying MassGuys car this summer. As it turned out, there was a vacuum leak on the ISV Muffler. The clamp was loose and un-metered air was being sucked in, causing hesitation, loss of power, CEL and stalling.

Colin 90 C2

great find. GL with car.

altarchsa

Read up on the "Limp Home Mode" in Streather's book.

Mine acted like that when the oxygen sensor and/or fuel pump began to fail. Replaced both, so I'm not sure which, or if both, were the culprit(s). I think there are several problems that sensors will pick up that throw the car into this mode. It's very disturbing if you don't know what's happening. Feels like the entire engine has gone out of whack!

altarchsa

BTW, you can simply disconnect the O2 sensor in the front left side of the engine compartment to test whether it's a failing sensor.

964_944

Believe me. It happened on the second day of ownership. I was . . . well you can guess what I almost did in my pants. But I was super-relieved when I discovered the simple fix!!! Funny how the problem never manifested itself on test drives and PPI. Been running like a champ ever since.

ian89C4

+1 on the O2 sensor if it is not the DME. My car would actually stall out when I went to blip the throttle. Very scary when you see all of the indicator lights turn on your dash for a the engine stalling (The engine sized on my 97 Boxster due to the intermediate shaft shearing in half 7, and the last thing I remember was the sounds of grinding metal and all of the indicator lights flashing at me, so.....) .
Anyways, I replaced the O2 sensor and she has not even hinted at stalling again, runs great.