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Sluggish acceleration SOLVED
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DMcGregs
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Joined: April 18, 2021
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PostPosted: Fri Oct 15, 2021 7:50 am    Post subject: Sluggish acceleration SOLVED Reply with quote
1988 vanagon won’t get up over 3000 rpm. Going up hills extremely labouring. Fuel filter pump and pressure all good. Any suggestions on where to start? Thanks!
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4Gears4Tires
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PostPosted: Fri Oct 15, 2021 7:51 am    Post subject: Re: Sluggish acceleration Reply with quote
Unplug your O2 sensor. Does it change anything?
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DMcGregs
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PostPosted: Fri Oct 15, 2021 9:33 am    Post subject: Re: Sluggish acceleration Reply with quote
4Gears4Tires wrote:
Unplug your O2 sensor. Does it change anything?


No change
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Yellow Rabbit
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PostPosted: Fri Oct 15, 2021 9:35 am    Post subject: Re: Sluggish acceleration Reply with quote
Guesses…Vacuum leak, dirty air filter, clogged cat?
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dobryan
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PostPosted: Fri Oct 15, 2021 9:39 am    Post subject: Re: Sluggish acceleration Reply with quote
When the cat clogged on mine a while back it became a gutless machine. I could barely get to 20mph. Did not want to rev.

Perfect plug shape though.

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Dave O
'87 Westy w/ 2002 Subaru EJ25 and Peloquin TBD

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DMcGregs
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PostPosted: Sun Oct 17, 2021 6:27 am    Post subject: Re: Sluggish acceleration Reply with quote
dobryan wrote:
When the cat clogged on mine a while back it became a gutless machine. I could barely get to 20mph. Did not want to rev.

Perfect plug shape though.

Image may have been reduced in size. Click image to view fullscreen.


This was the issue! Running great now, thanks!
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0to60in6min
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PostPosted: Sun Oct 17, 2021 9:45 am    Post subject: Re: Sluggish acceleration SOLVED Reply with quote
Is there a way to check for clogged cat converter besides listening to rattling noises and sluggish performance?

thanks
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djkeev
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PostPosted: Sun Oct 17, 2021 9:52 am    Post subject: Re: Sluggish acceleration SOLVED Reply with quote
Hit it with a rubber mallet and listen for a rattling noise.

Dave
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Wildthings
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PostPosted: Sun Oct 17, 2021 11:30 am    Post subject: Re: Sluggish acceleration SOLVED Reply with quote
The high back pressure of a failed cat just makes the exhaust sound different. The normal throb turns into more of a hiss.
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dobryan
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PostPosted: Sun Oct 17, 2021 12:47 pm    Post subject: Re: Sluggish acceleration SOLVED Reply with quote
Glad you found the issue!
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Dave O
'87 Westy w/ 2002 Subaru EJ25 and Peloquin TBD

"To travel hopefully is a better thing than to arrive." Robert Louis Stevenson

MD>Canada>AK>WA>OR>CA>AZ>UT>WY>SD
https://www.thesamba.com/vw/forum/viewtopic.php?t=620646

Building a bus for travel in Europe (euroBus)
https://www.thesamba.com/vw/forum/viewtopic.php?t=695371

The Western Syncro build
https://www.thesamba.com/vw/forum/viewtopic.php?t=746794
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Ahwahnee
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PostPosted: Sun Oct 17, 2021 9:01 pm    Post subject: Re: Sluggish acceleration SOLVED Reply with quote
Wildthings wrote:
The high back pressure of a failed cat just makes the exhaust sound different. The normal throb turns into more of a hiss.


You can also measure the back pressure if a clogged cat is suspected. I used a typical pressure gauge threaded into the O2 fitting. Searched online for opinions on what the back pressure should be.
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