Omg Dyno Help!!!!!!!!

[Street-racer]

I dynoed my car, something wrong either a fuel pump or something but the car dynoed at 121 hp's. How do I convince pontiac to fix this thing, because local dealer tries to feed me bs about how every car is made different and not necessarily come with a 180 hp engine.

[RocketFast321]

should it be putting out like 135hp. I know engine to power train should not be that great of a lost.

[rixGAphx]

What year and engine?

Dyno's tell a real-world story of how much power goes to the pavement.
So do dragstrip times, if you work the right formulas.

Your posted times are right in line with other GA's (depending on engine, tranny, tires, vehicle weight, etc.), so you shouldn't expect much more.

Pontiac (and all other mfrs.) advertise the HP that the engine itself produces at the crankshaft.
On a good cool moist day, in a laboratory pressurized to sea level, with no engine accessories; often not even a fan belt or water pump (cooling is done by a stand-alone system that pumps water thru the test engine).
They test dozens of brand new engines, properly broken-in, filled with SAE 0 weight oil.
The 'Advertised HP' is the highest reading they achieved over hundreds of hours amongst the dozens of engines.

MAYBE 10% of the production engines will achieve this crankshaft HP when brand-new.
But that crankshaft HP is sucked away by alternator, waterpump, PS pump, AC (even when it's 'OFF' it robs one HP at the pulley), and the big robber: tranny (auto robs more, but gears in a manual still have friction that robs HP).

Plus, heavier oil (5w20) as recommended by mfr., dirty air filter, warm day above sea level (thinner air with less oxygen), slightly plugged cat, slightly worn rings, slightly dirty injectors, slightly dirty O2 sensor, slightly worn cam, slightly plugged radiator, etc., etc.
All these things either rob HP or reduce the HP produced.

Frankly, 121 hp at the wheels is looking pretty good.

There is nothing in Pontiac's (or other mfrs') sales info that even HINTS they'll repair your vehicle if it doesn't reach advertised HP.
All they promise to do (with the warranty) is fix broken stuff.

Good luck with your claim, but you haven't got a snowball's chance in Phoenix of getting action based on 'lack of horsepower as dyno'd".
If you did, there would be a sh*tload of lawyers all over the Internet automotive boards offering their lawsuit-happy services to get what's rightfully due you.

-Rick

[RocketFast321]

so this meas my 2.4 put out like 95hp to the ground?

[Street-racer]

its a 2002 grand am gt.

3400 v6 engine with ram air.

[Pte Socks]

well if its any consolation, my ga dynoed at 143 WHP with dirty air intake and oil.

[HeyDace]

Running dyno once won't help you. It needs to be done several times and averaged. A lot of variables to consider.

[Street-racer]

also car ran 17.2 in a 1/4 mile. :(

[rixGAphx]

Originally posted by Street-racer
also car ran 17.2 in a 1/4 mile. :(
Okay, so you're down on power.

That's a different problem than saying "I dyno'd my car and it doesn't live up to Pontiac's published data".

How many miles?
What size are the tires?
Have you made ANY mods or had ANY work done recently?

[Street-racer]

Originally posted by rixGAphx
Okay, so you're down on power.

That's a different problem than saying "I dyno'd my car and it doesn't live up to Pontiac's published data".

How many miles?
What size are the tires?
Have you made ANY mods or had ANY work done recently?

I dynoed it at the track after it started running 17th...

car is bone stock

26,000 miles

stock size tires.

[matts]

yeah, they dont test every engine that goes out the door to make sure it's pushing the right amount of power. some have less, some have the right amount, and a few mutants have more. you can take 2 engines, makes all variables the same (engine wear, accessories, mods) and they will give you 2 different numbers......even if sitting side by side at the same moment. so nothing to worry about really. sounds like it'd be normal to me...i've heard its something like a 25% loss from crank through your drivetrain

[Street-racer]

it is something to worry about, it didnt used to be this slow.

[rixGAphx]

Check the simple things first:
Make sure the air filter is clean, and that there are no leaves or other obstructions in the intake (look underneath the vehcile, too).
Run a bottle of over-the-counter FI cleaner thru the tank.
Check the cat for adequate flow.
Replace the spark plugs, with stock-recommended AC plugs (nothing fancy seams to work well on this engine).

It's possible that the engine is developing proper power, but there's something wrong in the tranny.
If one of the shifting devices (solenoid, bands, clutch packs, whatever) is slipping, it could seam like low power.

[99GrandAMSE]

... I believe he also lives 3-4000 feet in the air too :( so that will account at least for some of the power loss.