97 Voyager 2.4L - Performance problem?

Question

97 Plymouth Voyager van - 2.4L - 4 cylinder - front wheel drive- with air conditioning - 251,000 miles on it - When taking off from a stop sign, engine won't accelerate no matter how far you push the gas pedal down until you push all the way down to the floor, then it will take off like a rocket, full speed. If you ease off the pedal the engine goes into the same state with no acceleration unless you push all the way down again, do that a couple times and it will then work fine no problems for a while as though a sensor or something has recalabrated . Replaced the timing belt, map sensor, and the throttle position sensor, so far for this problem, still has the same symtoms. Also have replaced the spark plugs, wires, coil, water pump and head gasket. Sometimes while driving you can feel a loss of power then power back and fourth rather quickly, then corrects itself. Other times it will run perfect with no problems. Seems like with a periotic problem it would be some sensor somewhere. Even with all the miles it has, it doesn't use a drop of oil and is real reliable except for this performance problem. I hope to be able to put another 50,000 miles on it at least. I've heard of them going even higher on this model. great vehicle. Can you help? thanks

Answer 1

What you don't tell us is if you have any codes set in the engine computer? If there are no codes set, then you may have a fuel pump problem. Hook up a fuel gauge and see what the reading is when the engine acts up. If it is the pump, remember to replace the filter as well. Good luck, you'll get those 50,000 miles and more.

Answer 2

This can be caused by a slow acting O2 sensor. Chrysler says to replace ALL sensors at 100,000 miles.

Answer 3

Whoh...you're throwing money at the car without addressing the most pressing issue here...throttle performance. That's where you should've started...check the throttle body and cables to make sure it's functioning properly. Replace as necessary.