Picking up speed - Engine revs?

Tiny
HAYDEE2209
  • MEMBER
  • 2003 PONTIAC GRAND PRIX
I have a grand prix and its not picking up speed right away and when I go up hills the speed drops and the rpms go up. What could it be?
Monday, July 11th, 2011 AT 5:56 PM

42 Replies

Tiny
RASMATAZ
  • MECHANIC
  • 75,992 POSTS
This sounds like the throttle body needs to be cleaned or you have a vacuum leak these guides should help fix it.

https://www.2carpros.com/articles/throttle-actuator-service

and

https://www.2carpros.com/articles/how-to-use-an-engine-vacuum-gauge

Please run down these guides and report back.
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Monday, July 11th, 2011 AT 8:12 PM
Tiny
MARIOS
  • MEMBER
  • 2 POSTS
  • 2000 PONTIAC GRAND PRIX
  • V8
  • 4WD
  • AUTOMATIC
  • 82,000 MILES
No hoarsepower when I accelerate and rpms stay at 1500
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Thursday, July 16th, 2020 AT 6:33 PM (Merged)
Tiny
ZFEZZEY11
  • MEMBER
  • 2 POSTS
  • 2000 PONTIAC GRAND PRIX
  • 6 CYL
  • FWD
  • AUTOMATIC
  • 135,000 MILES
I have a 2000 pontiac grand prix. 3.8L V6 supercharged. When the car is idiling in park the engine will rev up on its own. I have no idea what would cause that. I was told the vacuum line could be a problem. There was a hole in the line but I spliced it and fixed the hole. It still continues to rev up though. Any ideas why? Thanks
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Thursday, July 16th, 2020 AT 6:33 PM (Merged)
Tiny
RASMATAZ
  • MECHANIC
  • 75,992 POSTS
Hi zfezzey11, Welcome to 2carpros and TY for the donation

Try cleaning out the idle air control valve and test the following sensors -TPS/MAP/ and MAF sensor with an approved cleaner.
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Thursday, July 16th, 2020 AT 6:33 PM (Merged)
Tiny
PROTECH1980
  • MEMBER
  • 901 POSTS
Could be plugged convertor, fuel pump, mass air flow sensor, check this link to assist you, so we can better assist you: https://www.2carpros.com/articles/engine-has-low-power-output
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Thursday, July 16th, 2020 AT 6:33 PM (Merged)
Tiny
GRANDPRIX-GT
  • MEMBER
  • 4 POSTS
  • 2000 PONTIAC GRAND PRIX
  • 6 CYL
  • FWD
  • AUTOMATIC
  • 145,000 MILES
My Grand Prix GT (3800 series) has started "surging" when I am on the highway. The car has 145,000 KM (not miles) on it. This "surging" ONLY happens on the highway. I will be driving along on the highway and the car will surge (almost like someone is stepping on the gas or like the car can't find the gear it wants to be in) and my RPM's will jump up and down (usually between 2000 & 2500 rpm). This has been happening for a couple of months now and yesterday my check engine light came on. Any thoughts as to what could be the problem?
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Thursday, July 16th, 2020 AT 6:33 PM (Merged)
Tiny
RASMATAZ
  • MECHANIC
  • 75,992 POSTS
Check and test the following below:

Oygen Sensor
Dirty fuel injectors (cleaning the injectors often fixes this).
Bad MAP (manifold absolute pressure) sensor
Bad TPS (throttle position) sensor
Bad or dirty MAF (mass airflow) sensor
Low fuel pressure (leaky fuel pressure regulator or weak fuel pump)
Vacuum leaks (intake manifold, vacuum hoses, throttle body, EGR valve)
Bad gasoline (fuel contaminated with water or too much alcohol)

Sometimes, what feels like a hesitation is actually ignition misfire rather than lean misfire. The causes of ignition misfire may include:

Dirty or worn spark plugs
Bad plug wires
Weak ignition coil
Wet plug wires
Cap and Rotor

Note:If it doesn't apply, disregard.
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Thursday, July 16th, 2020 AT 6:33 PM (Merged)
Tiny
NICKRENOUF
  • MEMBER
  • 1 POST
  • 2000 PONTIAC GRAND PRIX
2000 Grand Prix GT 3.8L 3800 series with 166, 000 km's; car works great.

The RPM will quickly osscillate by 200rpm up and down. This happens anywhere between 1500 and 2500 RPM from 30 to 100 km/h. Most often when goin uphill at lower speeds.

Thanks for anyhelp anyone can give
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Thursday, July 16th, 2020 AT 6:33 PM (Merged)
Tiny
BDOZER61
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Thursday, July 16th, 2020 AT 6:33 PM (Merged)
Tiny
BOSSHOG
  • MEMBER
  • 2 POSTS
  • PONTIAC GRAND PRIX
2000 Pontiac Grand Prix GT - 3.8L V6 - 125000km, when I am driving between 60 and 90km/hr and going up a hill the RPM's drop between 500-1000 when trying to keep my speed constant, if I step on the gas a little, it will accelerate it goes away. It has been getting worse over the last few months and happening on flat roads now. I have had it tuned recently and my garage cant figure it out. Any ideas on how to fix this would be greatly appreciated.
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Thursday, July 16th, 2020 AT 6:33 PM (Merged)
Tiny
BOSSHOG
  • MEMBER
  • 2 POSTS
Sorry, when I said the RPMs drop, it drops and jumps back up quickly over and over until the road flattens out or I step on the gas. Thanks
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Thursday, July 16th, 2020 AT 6:33 PM (Merged)
Tiny
TSHIHABI
  • MEMBER
  • 3 POSTS
Hi,
I hope you managed to find an answer for your problem, because I'm facing exactly the same problem. I have Audi TT Turbo, Model 2004. As you said, this problem keeps getting worse. I'm really worried by now and I hope it will not lead to a bigger problem.

Appreciate your help.

Tareq
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Thursday, July 16th, 2020 AT 6:33 PM (Merged)
Tiny
TSHIHABI
  • MEMBER
  • 3 POSTS
Any chance somebody helps me? I really need an answer. I'm about to change the turbo charger along with the complete exhaust system. But I'm not really sure if that will resolve the issue.

Thanks in advance.
Tareq
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Thursday, July 16th, 2020 AT 6:34 PM (Merged)
Tiny
JOHNJAY24
  • MEMBER
  • 2 POSTS
  • 1999 PONTIAC GRAND PRIX
  • 6 CYL
  • FWD
  • AUTOMATIC
  • 181,000 MILES
I got a 1999 pontiac grand prix se v6 3.1L wth 181k miles. Recently after a overheating problem the carb begn to have problems. At times when I start the car the RPM with just jump to about 1500 and stay there without me pressing the gas and will stay high whether in par, reverse, or drive. I turn the car off and on until it settles aruind 700-800 rpm and then it drives decently but at times will start increasing as Im driving.
Another problem, which is spontaineous but persistant, is if I give the car gas and hit over 2500 rpm it will begin to sputter and drive rough. I tune up te car regularly every 3-5k miles. I was thinking it may be te knock sensor but thought I'd ask the experts. Thanks, John.
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Thursday, July 16th, 2020 AT 6:34 PM (Merged)
Tiny
JACOBANDNICKOLAS
  • MECHANIC
  • 109,885 POSTS
John:
This could be caused by many things. Have you checked for vacuum leaks? Has the check engine light come on? Have you checked fuel pump pressure?
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Thursday, July 16th, 2020 AT 6:34 PM (Merged)
Tiny
JOHNJAY24
  • MEMBER
  • 2 POSTS
The check engine light is on but due to the fuel level indicator not working properly awhile back. At times when the engine is hesitating while driving the check engine light will blink on and off for a few seconds or until the hesiation goes away. I have not checked for vacumm leaks or fuel pump pressure but I can look into it. Thanks for the fast response, John.
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Thursday, July 16th, 2020 AT 6:34 PM (Merged)
Tiny
JACOBANDNICKOLAS
  • MECHANIC
  • 109,885 POSTS
John:
If the check engine light is coming on, have the computer scanned. You may need one that can scan the system while you drive so you can see exactly what is happening when the light flashes.

Let me know what you find.

Joe
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Thursday, July 16th, 2020 AT 6:34 PM (Merged)
Tiny
CARMEN77
  • MEMBER
  • 1 POST
  • 1998 PONTIAC GRAND PRIX
  • 6 CYL
  • FWD
  • AUTOMATIC
  • 16,000 MILES
I have a 1998 Pontiac GTP (Supercharged 3.8L). My car has been idling at 1500 RPM, usually, once it warms up a little, this will go away. Recently, however, it has gone up to 2000. If I put the car into drive at this high RPM's, it slams into gear very hard and sometimes the wheels skid and the car jumps. When driving down the road, I have to drive with the brakes on because the car will idle at 48 mph. I also have other problems like the car will cut out and then start back up when accelerating. I thought it was the fuel filter, but we fixed that and it is not. I have replace spark plugs, filters, checked vacuum connections. It is not throwing out a Check Engine light, so I can't connect it to a computer to find the answer. Thought you may have some idea. This is really getting serious.
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Thursday, July 16th, 2020 AT 6:34 PM (Merged)
Tiny
MMPRINCE4000
  • MECHANIC
  • 8,548 POSTS
A high idle would be a vacuum leak, this could be the intake manifold, injectors, brake booster as well as a vacuum hose.
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Thursday, July 16th, 2020 AT 6:34 PM (Merged)
Tiny
NOTACARPERSON41
  • MEMBER
  • 1 POST
  • 1998 PONTIAC GRAND PRIX
  • V8
  • FWD
  • AUTOMATIC
  • 200,000 MILES
My car makes revving noises whenever I change speeds and whenever I turn to the left especially. The car doesn't want to go up hills at all, and appears to fall back into neutral when I come to a stop (but not all the time), but if I wait a few seconds it will usually go back on it's own. It has also stalled out on me a couple of times at stop lights. Once I get the car to a constant speed and stay there it is fine, but it revs whenever I try to go faster. Any ideas?
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Thursday, July 16th, 2020 AT 6:34 PM (Merged)

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