Need Help...suddenly issues with acceleration 2000 GT

[Heyyoashley]

I have a 2000 Sunfire GT (2.4) (convertible) it has about 172k miles on it, but had a different engine with only about 65k miles put in a few years ago. I have had a lot of issues with this car, but it is my 2nd car just like this because I love the way it drives, the way it looks, and how comfortable it is. I have owned this one since 2008.

I have already fixed a lot of stuff but I just ran into a few new problems. It started a few days ago. I first noticed it when pulling out of my street and on to the highway, it was having major issues accelerating. The engine was also louder than normal. It seemed really difficult to get up to 30/40 mph. At this time, I had the AC on with the "recirculate" setting, which is what I usually use. Over the last few days I have noticed that it acts the worst when the AC is on and using this setting. When the AC is on but on a different setting, it still acts up but not as bad. When the AC is off it is still sluggish but much less noticeable.

I checked codes... it is showing nothing. We switched out the MAP sensor and it's hose yesterday... the hose was cracked/falling apart. I changed out the air filter as well. That seemed to help, but after driving a lot today it is back to doing the same thing. It seems to be worst when it is mid day heat- around 100+ out, and when I have been driving a lot.

I have had the oil changed routinely, just had it done a few days ago. Prior to having it changed we checked it and there was no coolant in the oil, it looked fine. It does have a very slow oil leak but very, very rarely have to add oil. The water pump and head gasket were replaced 2 years ago. I had the radiator and all the hoses replaced last fall. Just had the power steering pump replaced a few months ago.

I added some fuel injector cleaner and filled up my gas tank a few days ago, that did not help either.

I have also noticed that the AC is making some weird noises, and something sounds like it is starting and stopping, like turning on and cutting off every 10 seconds or so under the hood when the AC is on higher settings. Not sure if this is normal, but I don't remember hearing it before.

Does anyone have any ideas? I have already talked to the shop I use but he is too busy to see me until 2 days from now, and I have so much to do this week I am going to have to either drive the car, figure out what it is so I can fix it (if it is something I can do), or take it to another shop (which I would prefer not to do because I trust this shop.)

I am certainly no car expert, but I have friends that can help me with most things, or at least can check specific things if you guys have any ideas.

Thanks!!

 

[melsg5]

have you checked some basic things like the air filter? how long since you changed the fuel filter? can you do a fuel pressure test?

 

[Heyyoashley]

Just changed the air filter in the past week. Not sure on the fuel filter. I can get a shop to do a fuel pressure test but I can't do it myself. Could an issue with the fuel filter etc make such a difference all the sudden? Could having the AC on or off effect that kind of problem?

 

[melsg5]

if your engine is starving for fuel and then you put an additional load on it like the A/C it will run worse. You also may have a secondary problem causing the noise you referred to.

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[tony0598]

Maybe u can can try cleaning the heck out of ur throttle body and make sure tht the flap shuts all the the way wen u dont push down on the accelerator, also the thing turning on and off could be either ur ac compressor or tht ur low on freon or have a freon leak, I would check the ac hoses for cracks or green stains from the freon.

 

[Heyyoashley]

Thanks for the replies and help

I went to the shop today and had him check it over. He changed the fuel filter and said that was probably it.

It wasn't. I do notice some performance improvement, but that filter probably needed to be changed, so i am sure it helped in some way. It's still doing the same thing as far as poor acceleration goes.

I'm going to drive it tomorrow and see how it does, as it seems to get worse when I drive it a lot, especially in town with starts and stops. I will have to take it back to the shop Friday and have him check some more stuff!

 

[Heyyoashley]

Ugh. This is driving me CRAZY!!!

Left this morning for the 35 mile drive to my Mother's house, had to turn around after a few minutes because the car was driving SO bad. I took it back to the shop and dropped it off.

He checked codes again... nothing. He checked the car over, even drove it for 30 minutes while running some errands at lunch and still could not find anything causing the issues!

Here is what it is doing now:

When accelerating from being stopped, car makes a loud whining noise from 1500 - 3000 rpm. It does this nearly every time. Car accelerates very slowly at that time. Engine is overall "louder". Car has NO power. Seems like something is "pulling" back on it, like something is pulling the car the opposite direction and making it hard to accelerate. I have to press the gas petal HARD. I just got back from driving to the store, 8 miles each direction, and my leg is actually tired from driving! That is crazy! It has always been a fast to accelerate car, fun and easy to drive... now it feels like I am driving some sort of piece of crap.

If I had the money I would just park this thing and get something else, that is how frustrated I am with it!!

A few other things:
I noticed a few weeks ago that there is a crack in the coolant reservoir, at the top. It isn't losing coolant though. I check it nearly every day and none has needed to be added.
I also need motor mounts, they are not horrible but need to be replaced soon. I don't want to put the money into that if this is something major though.
My AC is not cold anymore

I think that's about it.
I need some guidance here, before I just drive the thing into a lake.

 

[Zimgxp]

My guess would be the ac compressor dragging it down. Sounds like the bearing is going out. Does it accelerate normal with the ac off? does the noise go away when the ac is off.

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