Advice - Car feels like it lost power

[06civic]

For the last two mornings when I drive my 370z it feels like a 3 cylinder car. Driving around the car lacks power and struggles to build up speed. It basically feels like I am driving around in 6th gear.

After I restart it a couple of times it goes back to normal but its starting to worry me..
Does anyone have any idea what is going on? Its hard to deal with dealerships if I cant replicate the problem.

Thanks

[BavarianBeast]

Perhaps it's carbon build up? Maybe have to walnut blast?

Sounds like limp mode, does a CEL come on?

[XylathaneGTR]

Yeah, sounds like carbon deposit build up, a common issue with direct injection engines of pretty much every make.
I think you're noticing the problem more in the mornings because the problem is worse during 'cold-starts' and the impact of the deposits is less noticeable once the engine reaches operating temperature.

[Sugarphreak]

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[DeleriousZ]

Definitely look for a CEL. Kind of sounds like there's a sensor on its way out that's causing poor running conditions intermittently.

[sr20s14zenki]

Apparently the VQ engine does tend to leak at the plug tubes...maybe see if your coil packs are soaked at the boots?

[Kloubek]

Originally posted by DeleriousZ
Definitely look for a CEL. Kind of sounds like there's a sensor on its way out that's causing poor running conditions intermittently.

+1 on the cel. OP - is it not throwing any codes at all? Scan it anyway... it might have a pending code and it's just waiting for data. That might lead you in the right direction.

[06civic]

Originally posted by BavarianBeast
Perhaps it's carbon build up? Maybe have to walnut blast?

Sounds like limp mode, does a CEL come on?

No lights come on at all...

Originally posted by Sugarphreak
Any white smoke? does it feel like it is missing and running rough?

Check to see if one of your spark plug wires has come loose either from the plug or the distributor. Also check to see if all of your injector wires are connected securely.

Next thing to check is your ignition timing, if it is delayed too much it will exhibit this kind of behavior... the engine will actually run smooth if this is the issue, but it will run hotter than normal and have hugely reduced power.

If everything looks good, pull your plugs and see if one of them looks fouled up or abnormal from the others. Then try running the engine with one of the plug wires detached, one at a time for each plug. If there is no noticeable difference in the engine for one of them, you might have an injector that has shit the bed.

Last things to check are if you've lost compression in one of your cylinders

NO smoke at at all, and engine still runs smooth. Dont really notice until I try to speed up

I am not very mechanic savy. Spark plugs i can probably figure out. Is it easy to check compression and injection timing?

Thanks for the help.

[Sugarphreak]

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[Tik-Tok]

Did you recently fuel up, right before this started happening? Did you accidentally put regular octane in? It's possibly some bad gas, and your computer is compensating for knock.

[spikerS]

or could be carbon. can't hurt to run a carbon cleaner into the intake, unless it is really high milage.

[06civic]

Originally posted by Sugarphreak
Ignition timing... although I think that might be fully electronic on the 370z. Loss of compression would also make it run rough and smoke a bit, so it likely isn't that either.

If it is running smooth with no smoke I am thinking it might be what sr20s14zenki was saying about the coil packs... if it is affecting your spark then you would loose power.

Could also be your fuel pump or a clogged up fuel filter. Anytime I've had an issue with fuel pumps or filters they never just kill the car, they usually either cause the engine to cut out periodically, or they get weak and it feels like a huge loss of power when trying to accelerate.

hmmm starting to sound complicated... i guess i have to pay a visit to the dealership..

Originally posted by Tik-Tok
Did you recently fuel up, right before this started happening? Did you accidentally put regular octane in? It's possibly some bad gas, and your computer is compensating for knock.

Nope, on half a tank now. I am pretty good with only putting in premium..

Originally posted by spikerS
or could be carbon. can't hurt to run a carbon cleaner into the intake, unless it is really high milage.

the car is couple years old with about 30,000~Km on it.
I dont think its that high of milage..

[spikerS]

then yeah, goto CT and grab a bottle of injector cleaner or whatever, and spray it into the intake when the car is running normally to make sure nothing is getting clogged or stopping valves from seating properly.

[BavarianBeast]

Oh wow. 30,000km and having this issue?

Probably not carbon, could be, but unlikely.

Take it to the dealer and demand an answer, probably not going to get anywhere here.

[Kloubek]

A lot of talk of carbon, but that wouldn't explain why it is fine after he turns it off. To me, that sounds like some sort of sensor issue; something that resets after turning the car off. Putting in regular wouldn't retard the timing so much it cuts the power in half either. (But then, the OP already cleared up that it isn't a fuel issue)

But again, OP - have the car scanned even if there is no CEL yet. If it has a "pending" code, then that might show you where an issue lies.

[mr2mike]

Car is 100% pulling timing. So now to figure out why.

I'll be honest, if you have a tuned, turbo, performance car, it can be sensitive to Octane. I recall getting "Premium" gas once and it was for sure old. Not happy but nothing you can do but drive it reasonably and wait till you can refill.

Pending this, I'd link it to dirty plugs or not getting proper spark. Then look to getting the MAP sensor cleaned.

Replacing sparkplugs or inspecting them to see what's going on is worth it too. This shows you how to get at them.
http://www.the370z.com/diy-section-d...ure-heavy.html

No need to run carb cleaner. I'm sure you don't granny drive this car. And carbon build ups at that low kms is not going to impact it.

Coil packs should last longer than what you have. Exhaust the other options before going this route as new plugs are a lot cheaper than new coil packs.

You could find the resistance rating on the coil packs, while in there doing the spark plugs, test the coil packs to ensure they meet OEM specs.

VQ motors can have oil leaking into plug boots. Easy enough to change the valve cover gaskets.

I really don't see this is an expensive issue like a blown motor or whatever you're dreaming it is. But then again this is just my eMechanic diagnostic.

[revelations]

Definitely an electrical issue of some kind.

a) low mileage
b) sudden onset
c) can temporarily rectify issue with an electrical system restart (car on/off)

OP have you tried "the google" ?

Always, always consult a car-specific forum first.

http://www.the370z.com/engine-drivet...ower-loss.html

[ShermanEF9]

if its that new take it back. surely you have warranty?

[st184]

Change your plugs. Just grab some copper plugs and gap them properly and see if that helps at all. Cheap, easy to do and it probably needs to be done anyways.

[n1zm0]

Seafoam it!

Originally posted by 06civic
Driving around the car lacks power and struggles to build up speed. It basically feels like I am driving around in 6th gear.

But really @ 30k kms that's odd, if you give the throttle a few blips is it 'healthy'?

Besides all other things mentioned, depending on your driving style and how much you've beat on it, if it's a manual maybe the clutch is slipping already? again idk your driving style. I remember when my S13 had its clutch going, the engine would be very spirited and happy, but I would be going nowhere.