I've noticed just recently that when I start driving, I am unable to gain power and accelerate. I drive a '97 LX, so I don't have a tach, but it seems and sounds as if I cannot reach the high revs. At first i thought my car was improperly warmed up in the morning, but i have taken more time now to warm up my car, yet the problem still persists.

Just last night, I have noticed that a burning smell has developed and I have narrowed it to the driver side of the engine. I have checked some of the stuff (to the best of my knowledge and ability) and referred to the Haynes manual regarding power loss in the engine, but my knowledge is limited.

I assessed the situation to be a problem with the fuel filter or something to do with the fuel management system, but since i don't know too much, I am most likely wrong.

So any help would be greatly appreciated, TIA.

 

did you change oil recently? If you did, you might've possibly dripped some oil on the exhaust or what not and it's burning

OR

you're leaking oil somewhere and the burning smell is coming from that ..

as for power loss, how much more power can you possibly loose in a 97 LX? Name some of the things your car has gone through recently and if nothing has been done to it (meaning small detail stuff), then the situation will have to be further diagnosed via individual parts inspection.

 

do u have an intake?
if not check out the filter/airbox
maybe crap is getting through?

 

I had the exact same problem, but it turned out I had spilled antifreeze on numerous parts in my engine bay. It was smoking, and I could smell something burning and I figured out what it was.
I left my car running for a long time, drove around for a bit and then popped my hood. I could see exactly where the smoke was coming from so I looked, touched, and smelled, and sure enough it was excess antifreeze. I covered all electrical components and just watered down the whole engine pay, and haven't had a problem since.
Hope this helps.

 

I talked to a friend and he said from my description that it could possibly be the transmission fluid...

I had it flushed and replaced two weeks ago... so i'm taking it back to the shop tomorrow to get it looked at..

And yes I have an intake, but i already looked to see if something was disconnected and everything seemed fine.

Had an oil change the time the tranny fluid was replaced so oil spilling onto the exhaust could definitely be a reason too..

I'm getting it looked at tomorrow..

But thanks for your help so far..

Any further diagnosis please leave here.

 

well the smell may be normal... but TWO weeks after an oil change... suspicious. So it could be a leak as well somewhere. Watch your parking spot for leaks.

As for the power loss - you have an auto? Check the intake for blockage. It's not going to be a fuel problem... I would have to say restricted intake or maladjusted timing.

 

Oh, and check for things in your exhaust... sometimes animals can make a home in your warm exhaust and then die in there, leaving a restriction in your exhaust.

 

I have discovered the problem.. actually had nothing to do with the intake or the exhaust..

It was actually the clutch... it needed to be replaced...which explains the different feels in gears 3-4-5. Now for the burning smell? I'm not sure what was burning..

 

your clutch was burning

you should learn to drive a manual car properly - a failed clutch in 6 years is by no means normal. (or maybe you bought the car used???)

I've owned cars with over 300,000 kms on them with the original clutch still.

 

Yea the car was purchased used in '98 or '99.. but it was CHEAP at the time..so yea..

Maybe I shouldn't have tried to teach some of my friends to drive.... well I stopped that a while ago.. i'll just blame it on them haha...

Thanks for your help Bruno