throttle response

[lowrider2962]

hey i have an 02 ecotec enigne in my ga and the throttle response suck a$$. if there is a way i can improve this as much as possible with as little money as possible please let me no.

[angrysk8r]

well...make sure your acceleration cable isn't slacking...that's pretty much free

some of the the cheapest mods you can get to improve performance are:
CAI
UD pulley
P&P intakes
Reprogrammed PCM

[lowrider2962]

ok ill check those out asap......ill let you no how it goes later
thanks

[skateswitch97]

cold air intake would help the most, then maybe a ported throttle body and maybe even ho mainifold would really help

[VanishingImage]

the HO manifold most likely won't work on the ecotec's,its a whole different setup then the 2.4 I belive. But a bigger TB and a CAI will help but if its a mechanical problem then those won't help.

Im also having a similar problem with throttle respones,hit the pedal,takes like 2 seconds for anything to happen

[angrysk8r]

Originally posted by VanishingImage

Im also having a similar problem with throttle respones,hit the pedal,takes like 2 seconds for anything to happen

I'm pretty sure that's a common problem with vehicles that have 2 cams...at least from what I've heard

[GrandAmSSE]

Plus the engine is small to start with.

[angrysk8r]

Originally posted by GrandAmSSE
Plus the engine is small to start with.

it wouldn't matter how small the engine is with throttle response

[GrandAmSSE]

I'm just saying that with a small engine you wouldn't feel it as much to being with.

[DontPassTheFence]

Everyone is wrong :D

Im willing to bet it is because Ryan has an automatic, and so does lowrider, that would contribute to the poor throttle response (or there really is slack in someones throttle cable, or pedal play)

I know for a fact ecotecs are LAGGY with the automatic trnasmission, I drove my mother's 03 cavalier and i takes roughly .85 seconds from when I mash the gas to when the car actually starts moving.

Im betting the same thing happens with Ryan's auto 2.4L for the same reason. Get some 5 speeds, boyos; the car will react as soon as you let up on the clutch :D

[skateswitch97]

not really your engine has about the same horse power as his, you just have alittle more torque, displacement isnt everything, but a true cold air intake will make the most difference especially for the money if it is not a mechanical problem

[skateswitch97]

i have pretty good throttle response, transmission isnt everything

[DontPassTheFence]

Im saying, that automatic transmission definitely slows the response. Its not exactly throttle response at that point, its the transmission taking its sweet time to shift. Or like already mentioned a lot in this thread, the throttle cable could be loose, contributing more to the feeling of a poor response time.

[VanishingImage]

well throttle responce would have nothing to do with the tranny,its something before the tranny. Yea the tranny gets the power from the engine then putting it to the wheels, BUT if the tranny isn't getting the power to begin with its gotta be something before it.

The only things I can think of right now are, throttle cable,possibly TB itself,TPS(throttle postion sensor). I'll have to throw the Tech II on the car and mess with the sensors and see if the TPS is acting funny. I know something is up because there shouldn't be this long of a delay,the PCM's in in 96+ cars are pretty quick acting computers,can make changes within milli-seconds.

[TA^Guy]

Before you start modding your car for better throttle response do a tune up. Clean/replace filters (pcv, oil, air and fuel), plugs, wires, clean throttle body, some fuel injector cleaner, flush the oil, refill with some good synthetic, etc While your at it check your throttle cable too.

[cabdisaster]

how abouts would one fix slack in the cable?

[ChevelleSSLS6]

Originally posted by VanishingImage
the HO manifold most likely won't work on the ecotec's,its a whole different setup then the 2.4 I belive. But a bigger TB and a CAI will help but if its a mechanical problem then those won't help.

Im also having a similar problem with throttle respones,hit the pedal,takes like 2 seconds for anything to happen

Ecotec and 2.4 (quad4 really) are two completely different engines, I seriously doubt it'd work.


try basic intake and exhaust, throttle cable slack.

[Bart001]

Ive read most of the replys but I skipped some, so i'll just reply to what i have read....lol...
the CAI and P&P really wont help...... in fact P&P on the heads will probably slow the responce some.... air velocity will be decreased...

I do know that my car 95GAGT 3100 in the cold or certain conditions is pretty snappy responce.. but when it heats up, it dies.... not to say A CAI will fix that....lol....those 2 things are More for yout TOP end... hence when you stomp on the gas and when your GA hits about 4k rpm you'll hear its results...
Soild motor mounts will help some... just open the hood and watch the engine when you stomp on it.. .you can see it move a bunch, instead of your car responding fast

[TA^Guy]

Originally posted by Bart001

Soild motor mounts will help some... just open the hood and watch the engine when you stomp on it.. .you can see it move a bunch, instead of your car responding fast
Solid motor mounts are also very hard on the transaxle.

[quadkid]

if its possible with these trannies, look for a higher stall converter. Itll let you put more power to the wheels.

[TheTrader]

I had the same issue in my Ecotec... and believe it or not, replacing the stock paper silter with a K&N pannel filter helped the throttle response a bunch... some people may say bull shit, but I know its true... sitting in my lot, with the hood open listening to the motor, floor it & let up quick, with the stock filter by the time you let off the gas, the motor has barley responded to the throttle being open, with the K&N the motor responded much quicker to the throttle being open... this is with everything else 100% stock.

-Daniel