went to a regular mechanic for a full service.. now my car is slower

[merr.]

hi guys,

just went to a regular mechanic. Not a honda specialist or dealer.. just my dad's mate. (i know my bad...)

This is the second time he serviced my car. (the first service was good)

I had the oil filter, fuel filter, air filter and spark plugs replaced and he tuned up my car.

The car's performance has plumpted. It is now driving a lot slower than it used to. It no longer takes off as quick as it used to and it takes longer to reach 60kms... It also revs high too quickly and i have to change my gears a lot earlier.

I took it back to the mechanic today and he said i should use optimax petrol instead of my usual caltex unleaded and this should make the difference as he changed the fuel filter.

I still think the car is slow.. and the vtec's response has also been affected.

It seems every time i accelerate... it is just straining to go faster.

anyone experienced this? or anyone know what the problem may be? and where i can fix it?

[bennjamin]

whatever the problem...is related to the mechanics work.
For everyones info - the engine and car is a eg sedan , VEI SOHC.

Without thinking of anything else - Merr - id think the mechanic may of played with the timing alittle and retarded it perhaps ? Also , is there a fat person in teh back you cant see ( maybe below a pillow , or behind your seat ?)

[barefootbonzai]

Maybe it's all in your head. And if your car is reving quicker, that should make your run quicker not slower right????

[merr.]

whatever the problem...is related to the mechanics work.
For everyones info - the engine and car is a eg sedan , VEI SOHC.

Without thinking of anything else - Merr - id think the mechanic may of played with the timing alittle and retarded it perhaps ? Also , is there a fat person in teh back you cant see ( maybe below a pillow , or behind your seat ?)

Yes.. thanks ben.. i should've added what car i have.

timing belt? hmmm... i'll probably go to a honda specialist so they can have a look at it..

lol.. fat person in the back? hahahha.... :p I'll check that one out as well.

[bennjamin]

Merr , i refer to the timing - that is , via the distributor. ( plastic thingy hanging off your engine , which the spark plug leads go into) Maybe this was adjusted via advance or retarded giving you this lack in power ?

[merr.]

Maybe it's all in your head. And if your car is reving quicker, that should make your run quicker not slower right????

hmmm... well it revs quicker.. but the speed doesn't really change. It is still travelling 40kms in second gear.. and it's over 3 revs.. so it definitely is a lot slower.

[xtercii]

maybe your clutch is slipping...the mechanic probably took your car for a thrash and ****ed up your car.

[merr.]

Merr , i refer to the timing - that is , via the distributor. ( plastic thingy hanging off your engine , which the spark plug leads go into) Maybe this was adjusted via advance or retarded giving you this lack in power ?

i think that may be the problem. do you know how this can be fixed? there is no way i'm going back to him. Coz he reckons i should just change the petrol.

[bennjamin]

i think that may be the problem. do you know how this can be fixed? there is no way i'm going back to him. Coz he reckons i should just change the petrol.

Just get someone with a timing light , and they can adjust your timing to suit. Maybe +1 or 2 degrees advanced will bring it back to its "former glory".

Since you arent at work how about head over to Hannys performance and get some honda people to have a look ;)

[type one]

well maybe the car had advacned timing to start with when really it should be sitting at 0 and the mechanic adjusted it back so settings are stock.

IMO on a stock car should not mess around with advancing or retarding your timing for that matter unless u are setting it back to 0.

[bennjamin]

regardless - chucking a timing light on hopefully will rectify a problem. OR perhaps , check if the ECU is throwing a code....

also...maybe a thicker oil was used ? Clogged air filter ? Slipping clutch /low fluid ?

[z3lda]

ur car is slow period.
VEI SOHC. thats your problem.

[jay-bee'z]

ur car is slow period.
VEI SOHC. thats your problem.

wow..great advice buddy, im sure he will take that onboard :)

[bennjamin]

relax guys.

This is a "before and after" question...not judging a persons car :)

[ian]

ur car is slow period.
VEI SOHC. thats your problem.

ha-ha-ha you funny zelda...........

i say have it checked at Hanny's as Ben suggested or a honda dealer (may be more expensive). :thumbsup:

[type one]

i often experienced worse performance before and after my ITR came out of a honda service... i put it down to needing to "blow away the cobwebs" so i did and after about 500k it was fine hehehe -

ask what engine oil your mech used... i reckon this could be the culprit.

[THE_MASS]

reset your ecu.. as pas would say;) LoL
i wen to hannys to get my 100,000km service and they did a really good job. no problems and really profesional about their work. would really recomend them

[Nuttz]

drive it for a few days. maybe your car needs to retune itself, cos your fuel filter is cleared out now it might be running richer than normal.

[merr.]

ur car is slow period.
VEI SOHC. thats your problem.

hahahah zelda you are funny! But then again... try think of something new to say.

Anyway.. Yeah i haven't bothered to fix the problem yet. Didn't think it would be necessary since it is only a "VEI".

Thanks for your help ben.. :D I'll take it to hanny's and get the car checked out.

[KAR-51K]

I had the same problem, when my timing belt got changed, I gotta take it bak up to the dodgy mechanic and demand that he fix it, cz its running soslow and weirdaz timings in gear changes

[merr.]

got the car's timing set to advanced and it has improved. But i'll have the oil changed as well. Thanks guys.

[aka_NSX]

got the car's timing set to advanced and it has improved. But i'll have the oil changed as well. Thanks guys.

so did u end up take the car 2 Hannys ?