Abrupt on/off throttle response
 

Hi guys.

Got about 600 miles on my 2002.5 P5 (5 speed) now, and have noticed one thing while driving that I am wondering about. When I am going say 30 MPH in 3rd and release the gas, then reapply the gas lightly, the car kinda jerks as it transitions from off throttle to on throttle. Anyone else have this on their car? I think I recall this from the test drive I ran on another car as well. Is this something that might lessen as more miles go on and things break in a bit more? Should I have the car looked at? It does it much less in the higher gears like 4th and 5th, but second and third do it quite a bit. Make driving in traffic a bit jerky, or makes me use the clutch more than I'd like.

Nate

I think that this is a fact of life with the throttle response on these cars... whilst it does not bother me enough to cause me concern it is something that I have noticed a little more as of late (I think that I just notice it more, it has always been there)... if only there was a "switch to heavy traffic throtle response" mode... ;)

It's a mad conflux of short gearing, a very lean-burn idle, and an aggressive throttle tip in setting.

here is a big topic on the subject. http://www.protegeclub.com/forum/sho...highlight=rock

There are some guys on the board who will claim you just don't know how to drive, but that simply isn't it. I've been driving standard for nearly 15 years and I jolt around a bit in slow driving still. 19k on the clock and I've found myslef slipping the clutch more to smooth out low speed stuff. Not a great solution, but it keeps my wife's head from snapping back and forth in traffic. :)

I have driven a lot of manual cars too,and whenever an engine has a little power and potential,you'll get this quick jerk reaction anytime you press the gas pedal at slow speed on low gears.I really dont give a crap about that since it proves the nervousness of the engine... I like that...:D

Thanks a bunch guys. It doesn't bother me much, but it is a tad more severe than my Miata. As long as it's normal, it's cool with me, I was just worried something was a bit "off" :)

Nate

ya that is normal...you have to work the clutch abit more with this car to keep it smooth

I only noticed it in 1st and a bit in 2nd when I was test driving. I thought it was a lot nicer than my sisters 95 probe(I learned to drive a manual in it). 2nd in her car is worse than 1st in the pro. And the pro's shifter was just so much smoother. Hopefully I'll be getting the pro tomarrow.

I noticed this as well, but all manual cars I've ever driven seem to do this. My 2002 Protege, my parent's '94 626, and even the 2.0L and 1.9L TDI VW Golfs/Jettas Ive driven seem to do it.

Actually...When I was test driving a Civic I didnt notice if this happens, but this was also the same Civic (2002 EX) that couldnt get up a steep hill at 40mph (i was considering getting out and pushing), or accellerate worth poo...(sorry to anyone who loves Civics)

Just so y'all know
 

I used to have that issue, ... it was actually worse on the car I had for my week testdrive.

In my opinion, the Kartboy Shifter Bushings helped out greatly. This has reduced the number of things I didn't like about the transmission, one of which was the abruptness experienced when going between throttle positions (I don't know that much about it mechanically, just what I experience as the driver).

So, ... Go get the kartboy shifter bushings. I think you'll enjoy them immensely.

waid intill you start doing performance mods, it gets worse!!

I find it worst when I'm in 2nd. Usually I leave it in 2nd when rolling in bumper to bumper traffic. But if I slow down enough...like engine running below 1600rpm in second then try to speed up again the jerk would be horrible.

Usually I slip the clutch a bit if I have to speed up in that rpm range. But anything above that will be fine.

One of the thing that seems to have reduced it for me was putting in the J-spec intake cam. After that I noticed throttle tip in was much improved. The car overall is MUCH smoother now that I have the exhaust work all done. The cams seem to help richen up tip in because I don't have the jerking problem I used to have with the car. Overall I'm much happier with it now.

Yeah, but that sounds like a pricey fix to me :)

traveler:
 

with the cam... do you notice a power differnce? Did your milage decrease drastically? how is the low rpm range? Any other issues before i take the intake exaust plunge?

Re: traveler:
 

I've had it on the dyno all through modifying it so far. The low end HP and torque are about stock or very slightly higher until 3500 RPM and then the HP and Torque pull away nicely. Max HP is up to 113.4 and the torque is up to 119. The first time I tested it I already had the intake cam in and it made 101 HP and 108.9 TQ. Stock should have been 96-98 but I never tested it before the intake cam. The first thing the car really needs is a good intake w/filter though. The stock box just won't work no matter what you do to it. As far as mileage, last time I checked I was at 29.5 but I've been playing with it pretty hard. I'll have to run around and keep my foot out of it to see what it gets now. I was up to 31 MPG before I put the header and the rear half of the exhaust on. Also the intake wasn't on then. I'll drive it around this weekend and see what kind of mileage it gets when I keep my foot out of it. It's been so much fun though, I hate to do that!