ok im pretty sure somethings up with my rx. first off when i'm in neutral or have the clutch in and rev it up, it takes a whole lot longer than even my camry to rev to even 5 grand. not to mention i get worked by everything at the lights, got taken by a freakin stock civic .

Its a 87 NA by the way, 100k on it, I am missing one muffler if that could be the problem but i don't think thats it. i tried just taking out the air filter only to see if it would rev any faster in my garage. its completely stock, 5spd, but i'd think that an rx would be able to beat the same cars a camry can beat, but it can't right now

anyone have any words of wisdom? and if you're gonna tell me to search, please save yourself some time n look at another thread

 

Yea i had the same problem, it went away when i put kmy header on, i have a feeling that the stock manifolds get really clogged or they just plain suck. i put the Racing Beay header on sand that bitch revvs nice

 

Or a compression check..

 

check your cats. they could be clogged. that's my guess

 

Do a complete tune up first before mods, change plugs, spark plug wires, air filter (K&N drop it will work nice), fuel filter and oil change. Also check compression. If compression checks out and after tune up there wasn't much of a performance, your cat might be cloged.

 

also i forgot to add that when i rev it, i can feel something shaking that doesn't feel normal, if that matters?

and thanks for the replies so far

 

Trainwreck's got the right idea! After the tuneup, Just dont forget to clean your in tank filter, and theres a great thread on adding more grounds to your car in the archives. (this worked wonders for me, solving a shuddering problem that sounds not unlike yours)

Side note: My G-Tech says I LOST power when I put in the K&N (drop-in) instead of a clean, OEM-style paper filter.

 

You lost power? I noticed alot more low end and top end with my drop in, also cut small holes on the cold air side of the air box, read it from one of Icemark post... And I have to say with the K&N drop in and the holes my car feels alot faster and it still keeps the stock look under the hood.

 

Hey, maybe it worked for you, did you test it with the paper filter in with the holes in the airbox at the same time? Or did you do both at once?

I'm just saying what I've found, not saying that it nessisarily works the same way in every application

 

Had the holes with the paper element for about a week, then drop in the K&N drop in filter, noticed the gain instantly.

 

most likely, the exhaust is clogged. Fix that and you should be able to beat civics again.

the following can be done at your own risk to verify diagnostic:
- remove O2 sensor to slightly open the exhaust
- see if it helps
- care must be taken because flames will likely come through the hole

an alternative is to monitor the vacuum as you rev the engine. If slow to go down, exhaust is clogged.

Hugues -

 

yea it is slow to go down, and up, should i think about replacing my exhaust or just gut the cats (which i've heard mixed opinions on), if i should replace my exhaust what should i get, straight pipe, high flow cats, header?(already getting cat-back next week due to rust eating away my stock one) and what would be the cheapest option to fixing clogged exhaust?

thanks