My girl and I are buying a 2002 P5. We test drove it yesterday, and I really like the handling and brakes. Very impressive for a stock car on crappy tires.

Power is kinda underwhelming. It doesn't really seem to build much past 4k, which I thought odd for a 16v motor. It's definitely driveable, but kind of anemic.

My question though is about the injectors. The engine is super quiet except for some light ticking, which I've determined is coming from the injectors. Is this normal? It's easily the loudest sound with the hood open.

My apologies if this has been asked before. I did a search, but didn't find anything.

 

Yeah, they sound like that. It's probably some valvetrain noise too. New plugs and air filter may pick the power up more than you think. These engines will perform but they like to really rev way up, and it takes a while to find the combinations of gear/RPM and throttle. You won't beat too many in a drag from a standing stop, but cruise it in traffic around 3500 rpms and you'll really get a good jump for quick lane changes etc. Get a good rolling start in first gear then and slam it down, you'll feel a good solid pull. Don't back off, wind it on up and don't worry about the redline too much, it'll take it. Keep mashing it down and rip it into second gear and keep going. It'll probably start running better because of it too. Cleans out the top end and blows out the exhaust. That makes it happy, and it will live longer too.

No I'm not crazy, I swear, just an old hotrodder from way back. I'm living on rice in my old age, now that the Chevelles and Camaros are mostly gone. No more hemi cudas to hunt.