cant go past half throttle
 

i have a '98 protege and when i try to go past half throttle it boggs down and it wont go any faster. it goes fine when i ease into it, but when i punch it, it will not do anything. just seems like somethin is plugged up.. but i cant figure out what.

RE: cant go past half throttle
 

could be any number of things. do you smell gas when you stop and kill the motor? sounds like it idles fine, huh? do you have a check engine light? auto or maual?

RE: cant go past half throttle
 

no i dont smell any gas.. idles fine.. the check engine light is on, but when i had that checked out, they said everything read fine. could it be the fuel pump?

RE: cant go past half throttle
 

its manual

RE: cant go past half throttle
 

hey k, I had that same problem and it may sound stupid but it was my catylytic converter. I "fixed" it and have not had a prob. Also chk engine light went out. Hope this helps!!!!
Matt

RE: cant go past half throttle
 

If check engine light is on then everything cannot be checking fine. A trouble code should have been stored that may help point to the problem. Do you remember what code # was stored? Should start with letter P and then have four numerical digits following.
Power loss as you describe could be caused by restricted exhaust as was probably the case with mattstpier. Could also have a fuel pressure problem. Faulty air flow signal, timing belt jumped, etc. Does the engine rev up normally when just sitting at an idle or does it also bogg down then as well?

RE: cant go past half throttle
 

the code was P0421.. they said it was just a dummy code?.. when i have it in nuetral and rev it up, it bogs down also, same as when i drive

RE: cant go past half throttle
 

i'm guessing that the fix for the cat that you speak of involves a broom handle, huh, mattstpier

RE: cant go past half throttle
 

ok its not the cat converter. getting a fuel pump soon.. if that doesnt work.. then i dont know whats next..

RE: cant go past half throttle
 

could be a fuel regulator instead of a fuel pump. if you do your own work, i would say that the easiest way to tell is to pinch the fuel return line and see if it acts any different.