Slow to get going then drives great. Any ideas?

[EngineerGuY]

Recently had the breaks, calipers, rotors done and all are good, nothing sticking, car can roll. But it's VERY slow now off of the start, but once it gets going drives fantastic! It's almost like it's starting in 2nd or 3rd gear (automatic) but it's not, as the RPM's are normal. If I drop it into 1st it does the same thing. Fuel filter maybe? Vacuum seal? Transmission hoses were replaced, no leaks, full of fluid as well. Only issue is getting out of the gate so to speak from a stop. Very strange. Almost as if she is slipping but checked transmission, and it's all good. Recommendations to check?

[Jonathan]

I would suggest you make up one of those test light rigs to hook up to the transmission diagnostic plug so you know for sure what gear it is in. That sounds a lot like what happens when the auto trans computer governor system has failed and it's stuck in 3rd. Same thing happens if you pull the fuse out. Actually, maybe it's just the fuse. Check it, put a new one in and see what you get.

[EngineerGuY]

I would suggest you make up one of those test light rigs to hook up to the transmission diagnostic plug so you know for sure what gear it is in. That sounds a lot like what happens when the auto trans computer governor system has failed and it's stuck in 3rd. Same thing happens if you pull the fuse out. Actually, maybe it's just the fuse. Check it, put a new one in and see what you get.

so I was having this issue before my governor was replaced, and the new rebuilt one is in and same issue. I can check the fuse for sure!

[iflights]

You should be able to feel the trans shift from 1 to 2nd, and 2nd to 3rd. Do you feel that happening? I'm also assuming that this behavior was present before the brake job and transmission hose replacement? Did you check the final drive fluid? There are two fluids on the auto that need to be maintained.

[Jonathan]

One more thought is related to the fuel pump suction / pickup inside the tank. If the pump wasn't getting enough fuel right off the bat because something in the tank was pinched or blocked in some way, maybe that would be the cause of your loss of power to start? Is your driveway or street on an incline? Car going up the hill leaving the house or down the hill? Or just flat?

[Michael]

Make sure you are not pulling out in second gear. As Johnathan mentioned, test lights make diagnosis or at least ruling out a governor a breeze.

Early failure symptoms are as numerous as the stars, but one failure symptom is second gear in cold conditions, and once it's warm, it will go into first.

[David T]

Make sure you are not pulling out in second gear. As Johnathan mentioned, test lights make diagnosis or at least ruling out a governor a breeze.

Early failure symptoms are as numerous as the stars, but one failure symptom is second gear in cold conditions, and once it's warm, it will go into first.

Do you hear the Frequency Valve buzzing? If it is not buzzing the motor is running very lean and that would take away a lot of power. I would still make sure the transmission is shifting properly. Download the RPM vs Speedometer card and check it against your car. It is a quick way to know which gear you are in but the lights are better. As the car gains speed you should see the Tachometer jump, once into 2nd gear and again into 3rd.

[Helirich]

I don?t have an auto, but doesn?t the D have a manual override on the gearshift? If so, it takes seconds to rule out what gear it?s in. If you can?t feel it shift, you need to turn in your man card.

[Michael]

Do you hear the Frequency Valve buzzing? If it is not buzzing the motor is running very lean and that would take away a lot of power. I would still make sure the transmission is shifting properly. Download the RPM vs Speedometer card and check it against your car. It is a quick way to know which gear you are in but the lights are better. As the car gains speed you should see the Tachometer jump, once into 2nd gear and again into 3rd.

Why are you asking me?

[EngineerGuY]

UPDATE: I had my car at DMC Midwest for some upgrades (valley of death, hoses, ect) and they found the issue.... Shift Solenoids were bad causing it to lose power. Mike and his team were fantastic as always. It mimicked a bad governor but thankfully was fixed. Still down about 10-20% on power and it would seem the catalyst is clogged. Will be installing a new pipe to bypass catalyst all together. Anyone else tried this method with success to hopefully get that added power back?

[mike123]

From your original post... was it indeed the case that the car was essentially always in third gear?

[EngineerGuY]

From your original post... was it indeed the case that the car was essentially always in third gear?

Not Always, just recently when it started having the issue, but yes. That was the loss of power from the shift solenoids and being in 3rd gear. I got the car back yesterday and it's shifting great, though running a bit rough due to the Catalytic Converter being clogged and red hot! So I have the test pipe replacement that should fix the issue.

[David T]

Bad solenoids is very unusual. They are very easy to test at least. A long time ago someone had a problem shifting. It turned out to be a blob of RTV stuck in one of the solenoids. Once removed the car shifted great. It is not always a bad shift computer, aka governor. At least the fix was not too expensive this time.

[EngineerGuY]

Bad solenoids is very unusual. They are very easy to test at least. A long time ago someone had a problem shifting. It turned out to be a blob of RTV stuck in one of the solenoids. Once removed the car shifted great. It is not always a bad shift computer, aka governor. At least the fix was not too expensive this time.

Yes, the shifting issue is now fixed thankfully. It's down a little power now as my Catalyst is clogged, so having the test pipe from Delorean Go installed today and the CAT taken out.

[EngineerGuY]

UPDATE: Had the Catalatic Converter taken out and repalced with the "Test Pipe" which worked pretty well. The lack of power I had due to the Cat has now returned, possibly a little more and the sound from the exhaust is a little better also. Car is still idlilng a little rough but running well aside from that.