Power cut during hard acceleration

BM-Power · Tue Feb 12, 2013 2:46 am

Has anyone noticed power cut during hard acceleration? As in, when you're accelerating hard and somewhere around 5,000rpm the car feels like that there is a power cut for a brief second then immediately resumes and continues to surge (I never got to the red line so it's not the over-rev power cut).

Anyone experienced this before?

I noticed this happen few times before and even this morning when I was overtaking. I wonder what's causing it...bad spark plugs maybe?

murcod · Tue Feb 12, 2013 4:19 am

Mine does it too, but I haven't taken much notice at what revs (to see if it's always the same point.)

BM-Power · Tue Feb 12, 2013 5:29 am

Hmm...I use to have a similar thing happen with my previous BMW where power surge was interrupted, and as soon as I turn off the traction control, the interruption would go away and it would rev and power on freely till the red line cut off....I wonder if it's the same solution with the Kizashi

Juan · Tue Feb 12, 2013 2:12 pm

I thingk it might be the ESP / traction control kicking in, thinking you are about to loose control an needs to save you...

murcod · Wed Feb 13, 2013 12:39 am

I'd think the ESP / Traction light on the dash would flash if it was cutting in? (It has on other vehicles I've owned when it cuts in.) My Kizashi also doesn't have enough power to lose traction at the speeds the hesitation occurs.

It would be nice if it did!

I'll take more notice when it happens next time and see if I can repeat it. I've been wondering if it's something to do with either the VVT, the ECU programming, the TDC sensor (talked about elsewhere as causing starting issues) or if there's something like a split length inlet manifold on the J24B? (and the hesitation is when it switches over?)

BM-Power · Wed Feb 13, 2013 1:52 am

murcod wrote:I'd think the ESP / Traction light on the dash would flash if it was cutting in? (It has on other vehicles I've owned when it cuts in.) My Kizashi also doesn't have enough power to lose traction at the speeds the hesitation occurs. It would be nice if it did!

I'll take more notice when it happens next time and see if I can repeat it. I've been wondering if it's something to do with either the VVT, the ECU programming, the TDC sensor (talked about elsewhere as causing starting issues) or if there's something like a split length inlet manifold on the J24B? (and the hesitation is when it switches over?)

Yeah I was thinking those as well...might even be a weak high pressure fuel pump as well...although if everyone's experiencing this than it's probably not the pump

~tc~ · Wed Feb 13, 2013 2:32 am

Happens on mine, but doesn't "come back" - it is almost like a warning the rev limiter is getting close.

Wed Feb 13, 2013 3:40 am

I'll chime in since both BM-Power and Murcod experienced this and they both have the FWD 6MT like I do.
I have not experienced this. After reading the posts, I tested it on my drive home and everything was fine when revved around 5000 rpm.

Also, I don't think it's the ESP. As Murcod stated, the car will inform you when slip is detected and the ESP kicks in. I know this for certain for the Kizashi because I have seen it flash on the display when there was some slippage. It occurred on a rainy night when I was driving on the freeway. I must have driven through some standing water and could feel the tires not gripping correctly. The display flashed in orange for a second to alert that the ESP was kicking in.

BM-Power · Wed Feb 13, 2013 4:03 am

KuroNekko wrote:I'll chime in since both BM-Power and Murcod experienced this and they both have the FWD 6MT like I do.
I have not experienced this. After reading the posts, I tested it on my drive home and everything was fine when revved around 5000 rpm.

Also, I don't think it's the ESP. As Murcod stated, the car will inform you when slip is detected and the ESP kicks in. I know this for certain for the Kizashi because I have seen it flash on the display when there was some slippage. It occurred on a rainy night when I was driving on the freeway. I must have driven through some standing water and could feel the tires not gripping correctly. The display flashed in orange for a second to alert that the ESP was kicking in.

Hmm that's interesting that not everyone gets the same symptoms. I'll talk to the dealership guys on Friday since I got it booked in for service so will see what they say.

Just to add, the air-con was on and ambient temperatures were fairly high, so maybe this has something to do with the power interruption. I'm guessing maybe there is a brief interruption to protect the air-con compressor at high rpm??

murcod · Wed Feb 13, 2013 7:01 am

Some older EFI systems would cut out the A/C compressor depending on revs and throttle position - perhaps that's a possibility? I'd think newer systems would do the same.

It doesn't feel like that to me though- it's a quite noticeable hesitation when it happens. It's like some decent power starts developing and then something decides to halt everything. After the noticeable decline in momentum it doesn't seem to regain the same urgency.

PS: I couldn't get it to happen a bit earlier in 2nd gear up to 60km/h.

PPS: The common thing is two manuals and both Australian Kizashis - could be something to do with the ECU tune used here? Given the weather here (Summer) the A/C would most likely have been on each time it's happened to me.