Lack of power

[Jbeni96]

I have a 2005 S2000, which I purchased used. I've had the car for approximately 3 weeks and everything has been great.

Today I found myself at a busy intersection so I was creeping slowly at 5MPH accross. I realized there was a car coming, so I stepped on the gas to speed up, but the car took a few seconds to respond. Is this normal?

I would appreciate any comments about this issue. Thanks.

José

[Java Junky]

Fortunately Jb, we got this VTEC thing goin' on at the upper end of our RPM range. Unfortunately . . everywhere else on the tach we're the skinny guy gettin' sand kicked in our face.
If you have the misfortune to be luggin' it when you decide to step on the gas . . well, as you found out . . it's a humbling experience.
If you drive it like most of the other torque-happy vehicles that're out there, you're gonna find yourself in this unenviable position often.
If you're goin' to require any real acceleration, Stewie needs to be kept pretty much in the upper half of the tach.
It ain't jus' you.
Be well.
Java

[Jbeni96]

Java,

Thank you so much for the answer. The car performs great at high RPM, but I thought that there was something wrong at low RPM. Thanks for the input.

José

[gomarlins3]

Nothing wrong other than a lack of torque, especially below 6,000 RPM's.

[Java Junky]

Jb, Stewie's engine is basically a glorified motorcycle engine, pretty similar to the current sportbike units.
On a sportbike, with it's minimal weight, they can concentrate on high RPM power n' sacrifice some of it down low, I suspect, 'cause there's so little mass to get movin' that even with light low-end power they scoot right smartly.
I'm guessin' that that might've been the thought behind Stewie's design too.
They may've been goin' old-school sportscar-think with Stewie, 'cause its obvious that they weren't in a muscle-car frame'a mind with it.
N' for all the bitchin' n' moanin' that most of us do about the lack'a low-end power . . . we're all still here, ain't we?
(And now for the disclaimer: all of the above is strictly personal opinion n' the author reserves the right to duck-n'-cover should the responses be too hot-n'-heavy)
Be well.
Java

[MIAMI S-2000]

This is pretty much the same thing that happens to me on the low end of the rpm's, I have been trying a different approach, rev up to 2000 as you let the clutch out, like I said before, I am used to driving stick shift Accords for over 20 years and the Stewie takes a lot to get used to

[s2000isu]

Our cars "lack of power" before vtec really isnt all that bad....... I raced my friends conquest tsi. I was shifting at 6k every gear and I stayed at his side. I dont think thats bad at all. My one car is a 1.6 liter with a turbo with to big of a exhaust housing so I guess im just used to not having any power at all in the first half of the rpm range.

[john]

Get yourself a Comptech air intake, they really improve throttle response and give a few ft/lb's torque @ lower end.

[JAC]

I haven't found any hesitation in my newly purchased stock 03. I did race a Honda cbr 600rr from a standing start and stayed right with him and never got out of 5th. What I have discovered is that I can't stretch it past 7000rpm in first is that common?

[Java Junky]

Reality check JAC: a 600 Honda? Trust me on this: maybe you were racin', the rider was not.
A short trip off our block n' into some of the other neighborhood basketball courts guys. Stewie's relatively quick. Bikes, even the 600s can shame without even tryin'.
You're talkin' crotch rockets that can consistently punch, what? 12 n' 11 second tickets at the local 1/4? We don't even wanna get into what the best is that Stewie can pull over that same timed n' measured distance.
Don't get me wrong, a bad rider n' a good driver could make considerable difference, but then if we further level the playin' field by tapin' the rider's fingers of his right hand together, tyin' his left hand behind his back n' blindfoldin' 'im . . well, I hope you can see what I'm gettin' at. It ain't a race.
Anymore than it was between you n' the 600.
Trust me on this.
Be well.
Java

[JAC]

Originally Posted by Java Junky

Reality check JAC: a 600 Honda? Trust me on this: maybe you were racin', the rider was not.
A short trip off our block n' into some of the other neighborhood basketball courts guys. Stewie's relatively quick. Bikes, even the 600s can shame without even tryin'.
You're talkin' crotch rockets that can consistently punch, what? 12 n' 11 second tickets at the local 1/4? We don't even wanna get into what the best is that Stewie can pull over that same timed n' measured distance.
Don't get me wrong, a bad rider n' a good driver could make considerable difference, but then if we further level the playin' field by tapin' the rider's fingers of his right hand together, tyin' his left hand behind his back n' blindfoldin' 'im . . well, I hope you can see what I'm gettin' at. It ain't a race.
Anymore than it was between you n' the 600.
Trust me on this.
Be well.
Java

I wouldn't of went for it if I thought I didn't have a chance. I was on his tail and he was looking in his mirrors like the devil was after him. When we stopped at the next light I asked him if that was it and he told me yes. He was visibly shaken. The light went green and he conceded for a minute and then took off again. I was right on him and could of attempted to pass (thats were 6th gear would have come in) but I backed off because I thought he might crash. I,ve been riding for years and owned various bikes I presently have a Duacti 998 so trust me I know what a bike can do. There are blow your doors off bikes and riders. Thats wasn't one of them.

[Java Junky]

A Duck eh? Nice.
Yeah. You're right. That wasn't one of 'em.
But, d'j'ever notice that newby bikers over-extend (on any of these new time-warp sportbikes, even the less cautious of the experienced riders can over-extend) n' sometimes fall down? 'Not somethin' you wanna be aroun' when Stewie's in the throes of VTEC.
Be well.
Java

[Genesis]

Part of it is what the others have said and part is probably due to heat bog...In the past month since the temps have climbed into the 90's my cars performance has noticeably decreased...So much so, that at first I thought it needed to head to the dealer...It's been stumbling badly just off idle...I spoke to a local buddy and his S is doing the same......Maybe a CAI would help...

[JAC]

Originally Posted by Genesis

Part of it is what the others have said and part is probably due to heat bog...In the past month since the temps have climbed into the 90's my cars performance has noticeably decreased...So much so, that at first I thought it needed to head to the dealer...It's been stumbling badly just off idle...I spoke to a local buddy and his S is doing the same......Maybe a CAI would help...

Can you extend it past 7000rpm in first? Mine cuts right out

[s2000isu]

It should go past 7000. If you stayed even with the bike the rider was horrible or you were wrong and it was a 250. I raced a old ninja 750 it was a 70 something in my other car and I beat him but it wasnt by alot. My other cars a hell of alot faster then the s2000.

[Genesis]

Originally Posted by JAC

Can you extend it past 7000rpm in first? Mine cuts right out

Yeah, no problem in the upper band...It's basically just on launch...Once it's moving it's fine above 3k rpms...The other day it bogged so bad I thought it was going to stall...

[Java Junky]

Dunno isu, unless your other car is a true 1/4 mile car r' a Formula 1 car, I think the ol' Quacker wasn't tryin' either.
The bikes're jus' a whole 'nutha ball'a wax guys. On a bad day there's jus' no contest with their 4 wheeled cousins.
Ya godda realize that bikes, even ridden by good riders, do not race everything that pulls up alongside 'em. After a while even the most aggressive bikers become bored with it.
Be well.
Java

[Java Junky]

As it happens on the way home I got passed by some young thang (n' some others too. Ain't always the fastest mover) in a clapped-out ol' Reliant of all things. As I was on my bike n' doin', well, let's jus' say it wasn't the posted limit, n' she made a point of passin' me . . somewhere out there there's probably a site "ClappedOutOl'Reliant.com" that's currently bein' posted about how she "raced" a bike n' beat 'im.
I've found that when I'm cruisin' in Stewie, certain of the youngsters in mommy's whatever jus' godda show me how much faster they are.
Samey-same when I'm on the bike. There's always somebody, who, up until I showed up on his screen, was jus' keepin' up with traffic. Once a bike gets into the mix, it's godda be passed.
Now, the ultimate situation that I've run into is the bike n' my leathers (I don't always wear leathers anymore) With the colorful leathers you can watch 'em in your mirrors jockeyin' n' fightin' for the chance to pass you.
I'm sure that there's some psycho-babble explanation for it. But it's real n' when you're drivin' Stewie you've godda be aware that these accidents-waitin'-ta-happen like to run up out'a your blind, usually really close n' in
a major hurry.
Like pilots, ya godda watch yer six.
Be well folks. My pillow beckons.
Java

[s2000isu]

Java I think you missed the part where I said it was a 70 something lol. The bike was only a 12 second bike. His claim was the bike was running like crap I dunno if that was true but with my old turbo setup my car shoulda been doing low 12's maybe 11's if I could ever get traction.

[Vezna31]

Originally Posted by JAC

Can you extend it past 7000rpm in first? Mine cuts right out

The only time I've seen a car cut out early is because it isn't completely warmed up. If you don't have 3 bars on the temp gauge and try to use vtec, it will cut out. Other than that, you should be able to take it to redline in every gear. If you are unable, there must be a problem.

[Java Junky]

Vez is speakin' pearls guys.
Be well.
Java