Why is there hesitation between the time i press on the gas and when the car accelerates?

[JEDI]

my current car (mazda3i 150hp) and my past car (Chevy Prizm) has this hesitation thing.

I gun the gas, but it takes like 1/2 a second for the car to accelerate.

what's up with that? how to fix?

And what 4 cylinder cars dont have that problem?

edit:
Both were automatics. A/c is not on

 

[EngenZerO]

is it an automatic?

 

[Ika]

My '96 corolla doesn't have that problem. what years were/are your cars?

 

[theNEOone]

well, you can be sure that it's not turbo lag....maybe it's just some electronic control to provide smoother driving response.


=|

 

[Doboji]

sounds like an automatic

 

[thirdeye]

Probably the Drive-by-wire system. In some cars tt's a little less responsive than the old throttle cable method of controlling the trottle.

 

[I Saw OJ]

Originally posted by: thirdeye
Probably the Drive-by-wire system. In some cars tt's a little less responsive than the old throttle cable method of controlling the trottle.

And if the car is having to downshift when you stomp the gas...well they dont call em a slush-box for nothin'.

 

[40Hands]

My car used to have this issue and it turned out to be the transmission. Make sure you have enough fluid. Hopefully thats the problem.

 

[Descartes]

Isn't it a form of variable valve timing like Honda's Vtec?

 

[TraumaRN]

I used to have that problem in my old POS 95 Taurus....nice half second delay before the tach jumped, i used to hate it on the highway it made passing such a b*tch!!

It's all better with my newer 02 Taurus sport ed....I've never had it lag on me yet when I stomp the gas tho and the whole 24 valve DOHC and an extra 60 HP compared to my old one help too.

Oh and check your trannie too, sometimes not enough fluid can cause a problem like that

 

[Descartes]

Originally posted by: BroeBo
My car used to have this issue and it turned out to be the transmission. Make sure you have enough fluid. Hopefully thats the problem.

That was your transmission "slipping." That's very different from what he's describing most likely.

 

[vegetation]

Could be:

Throttle by wire. Some cars are reported to have sluggish throttle response with this type of system.

Air conditioning. Air conds on 4 cylinders usually rob a significant proportion of available power down low. ECU is supposed to disengage the compressor under heavy throttle but this isn't necessarily instananeous.

Autobox. ECU is not connected to your brain, and though your arm/hand is, that isn't connected to your gearbox.

 

[theeedude]

It's the goddamn drive by wire throttle in the Mazda3. Even with manual transmission, it's there. Talk about a "solution" that is worse than whatever the "problem" with cable throttle was.

 

[KentState]

Originally posted by: senseamp
It's the goddamn drive by wire throttle in the Mazda3. Even with manual transmission, it's there. Talk about a "solution" that is worse than whatever the "problem" with cable throttle was.

That's exactly what it is. This is a pretty common complaint of the Mazda3 on their major forums.

 

[JEDI]

Originally posted by: senseamp
It's the goddamn drive by wire throttle in the Mazda3. Even with manual transmission, it's there. Talk about a "solution" that is worse than whatever the "problem" with cable throttle was.

yeah, my old '93 sentra w/100hp was cable. i adjusted it. instant response when i floored it. i miss that (and the $250/6month insurance).

what is drive by wire?

 

[Unheard]

If you have one you may want to check your TPS sensor. I know there is a mod for my trucks TPS sensor where you drill out the mounting hardware and replace with washers so you can adjust its center posistion, thus telling the computer when the throttle is being pushed earlier than it was before. It made a difference when I did it.

 

[TraumaRN]

Originally posted by: JEDI

Originally posted by: senseamp
It's the goddamn drive by wire throttle in the Mazda3. Even with manual transmission, it's there. Talk about a "solution" that is worse than whatever the "problem" with cable throttle was.

yeah, my old '93 sentra w/100hp was cable. i adjusted it. instant response when i floored it. i miss that (and the $250/6month insurance).

what is drive by wire?

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Drive_by_wire

 

[OS]

the chevy prizm has a traditional cable throttle.

my 03 i4 accord has good throttle response.

 

[mugs]

Does it have traction control? My wife's Passat did that with traction control turned on. ANNOYING as hell.

 

[Shawn]

All automatics I have driven have been like that., including my sister's Civic, and my mom's old V6 Mazda6.

 

[Coolone]

My '03 Mazda Protege doesnt do that

 

[zerocool1]

not sure but it could be your gas

 

[randomlinh]

Originally posted by: KentState

Originally posted by: senseamp
It's the goddamn drive by wire throttle in the Mazda3. Even with manual transmission, it's there. Talk about a "solution" that is worse than whatever the "problem" with cable throttle was.

That's exactly what it is. This is a pretty common complaint of the Mazda3 on their major forums.

cha-ching.

I grounded the throttle body and have a slightly better response... What sucks... the aussies get a real cable for this car

 

[JEDI]

Originally posted by: randomlinh

Originally posted by: KentState

Originally posted by: senseamp
It's the goddamn drive by wire throttle in the Mazda3. Even with manual transmission, it's there. Talk about a "solution" that is worse than whatever the "problem" with cable throttle was.

That's exactly what it is. This is a pretty common complaint of the Mazda3 on their major forums.

cha-ching.

I grounded the throttle body and have a slightly better response... What sucks... the aussies get a real cable for this car

grounded the throttle body? link to how to do that?!

 

[soydios]

My '94 Jeep uses a throttle cable. You floor it, it tries to accelerate without changing gears for a fifth of a second, then it adds about a thousand RPM while the transmission downshifts, then it really grabs and goes (total time: about 3/5 of a second).

The delay is a result of the electronics. Either it's waiting for the transmission to downshift, modifying the valve timing/lift for more power, or just being stubborn.