2008 Matrix Acceleration Problem (Manual transmission)

[kymedia]

After highway driving for more than an hour or so, and then slowing down or stopping, my 2008 Matrix seems to have no guts when trying to get up to 100 k again. I gear up as usual, but once in 5th, the gas pedal seems to have no affect and the car actually slows down as it would if coasting. I then need to shift into 4th gear to be able to get to 100k, and then shift to 5th gear. I use it for city driving mostly, but noticed this last summer on a cottage trip, and again this year. It has very low mileage. Has anyone else encountered this issue?

[MR2Jedi]

When's the last time you did an ignition system tune up and change air and fuel filter ?

[kymedia]

Originally Posted by MR2Jedi

When's the last time you did an ignition system tune up and change air and fuel filter ?

My car is leased and goes in for regular scheduled maintenance every 6 months -- though not to the dealership for the last two times.

I really don't know what they check & change, though some air filter was changed last time. Should I have had an "ignition system tune up" as well? This first happened when the car was two years old, with only @ 13,000 k.

thanks

[ventsyv]

I think that's normal. If you upshift too early, you lose your acceleration. Try holding 4th gear a bit longer wait until 4000 - 4500 RPM before shifting to 5th. That should make difference I think.

[silver04rollas]

What is your shifting pattern?? Can you specify the gear versus top speed per gear please?? You can also specify which rpm do you upshift in???

It looks to me you are getting to 5th gear way too soon and essentially at such low speed, the 5th gear just simply does not have the torque multiplication available to pull higher (afterall, 5th gear in 1ZZ is the overdrive).

Assuming 100 KM is what you are going to accelerate to, using the gear ratios of 1ZZ you should be 3rd or max 4th until you hit 100 KM/H and then skip 4th and go to 5th to cruise at 100 KM/H.

[MR2Jedi]

At 13K, you should not need an ignition system tune up.I don't know what the torque curve is for your car, but peak torque will be your best shift points.
Like the others said, rev each gear longer before shifting.