engine bog when cold

[foxgap]

All,  this has been an ongoing problem, not serious, but a pain in the butt.  Engine is 2.2 in a 95 Legacy automatic. 190K on it.   When the engine is not total warmed up pulling out of a stop and traveling up a hill the engine has no grunt, won't kick down a gear for extra power and just feels dead. Warm it up and no problem at all, kicks down and off ya go. No CEL on anymore, I did have a misfire 3&4 but that has been fixed with new plugs, wires and coil pack. I also changed the fuel filter while I was in there. We checked the trans fluid and it is clear and was changed in 2017 with a new filter installed.

Any ideas? 

 

Thanks,  Mark

[1 Lucky Texan]

engine temp sensor?

 

knock sensor intermittent?

 

do you still get a CEL? what's the code?

[foxgap]

No CEL at all right now,  Wife says the car worked real good this morning after she warmed it up before heading to work.  I would think the knock would through a code as would the temp sensor. But, I have been wrong before.  Maybe we should hook up the scanner to it and see what happens when taking it for a ride when it is cold.

 

Sound good?

[GeneralDisorder]

Temp sensor won't throw a code unless it's open circuit. Knock sensor likewise. Temp sensor could be out of calibration and knock sensor could be over or under sensitive. Neither situation would throw a code. Computer can't tell a good signal from a bad signal - only knows something's wrong if there's NO signal. 

 

GD

[foxgap]

Thanks GD,  I did not know that.  Thanks for steering me in the right direction guys!   I will change one at a time and see what happens.  Will let you know how I make out. 

[GeneralDisorder]

A better idea would be to buy an inexpensive OBD-II scan tool (yes, your car is compliant), and check the live data for the temp sensor:

 

These work well:

 

https://www.amazon.com/Launch-FBA_Creader-4001-Scanner-Diagnostic/dp/B06WP4KY24/ref=sr_1_9?s=automotive&ie=UTF8&qid=1519317134&sr=1-9&keywords=launch+scan+tool

 

For the knock sensor you can't really do this. Inspect it - if it has cracks in the housing definitely replace it. They are inexpensive and don't last forever. 

 

GD

[foxgap]

Thanks GD.  Gonna have to look into one of those soon for here at the house.   My friend has one at his shop that we used to figure out the problem with the last CEL.  At 190K on the motor I think that replacing those two sensors may be good maintenance anyway. 

 

Mark 

[foxgap]

got good news and bad news.   We replaced the knock sensor and temp sensor and the CEL has not come back on.  Knock had 6 cracks in it.  Bad news is that the engine still feels dead when in gear, warming it up does help but not much.   Monday night we are going to loosen up the head pipes and check for a blocked converters.  

[uniberp]

got good news and bad news.   We replaced the knock sensor and temp sensor and the CEL has not come back on.  Knock had 6 cracks in it.  Bad news is that the engine still feels dead when in gear, warming it up does help but not much.   Monday night we are going to loosen up the head pipes and check for a blocked converters.  

 

A car that old might need a SECOND set of new plugs and wires.  IMExperience those make the biggest difference. Maybe a new gas  and air filter.