1999 Sophie Manual Transmission 160K miles. Cranks and drives. Will idle fine and give is gas while in neutral still seems fine. Start driving and it has a major loss of power and takes time to get up to 50 mph. Start up the slightest hill and will lose power. The exhaust sounds muffled. It seem like the longer you run it the worst it gets. Engine light comes and goes. It may run a week or 2 with no engine light and then come on after it sets over night the light will go out. Engine codes always indicate a problem with the mass air flow.
Bought the car about a year ago and it ran fine with no power issues. About 2 months ago the harmonic balancer broke. Replaced harmonic balancer and then had disconnect the battery to reset the computer to get it to crank. That is also when the exhaust began to sound muffled. That is also when the loss of power began and it has continued to get worse. I have checked the timing belt and alignment, no notable issues. Have replaced the plugs. Did notice the plugs appeared to have a white or grey discoloration. Have noticed after driving and then setting for a few minutes you can hear a sound like air moving within the engine. At this point I don't know where to start. It will start and run with no issues. their is no knocking sounds from the motor. As a wild guess I kind of thinking it may be a problem with the exhaust as it seems to get worse the longer you drive it. Also would like to know if this could be a piston and ring bottom end of the engine problem or could it be something wrong with the within the top end with the intake and exhaust valves.
Bought the car about a year ago and it ran fine with no power issues. About 2 months ago the harmonic balancer broke. Replaced harmonic balancer and then had disconnect the battery to reset the computer to get it to crank. That is also when the exhaust began to sound muffled. That is also when the loss of power began and it has continued to get worse. I have checked the timing belt and alignment, no notable issues. Have replaced the plugs. Did notice the plugs appeared to have a white or grey discoloration. Have noticed after driving and then setting for a few minutes you can hear a sound like air moving within the engine. At this point I don't know where to start. It will start and run with no issues. their is no knocking sounds from the motor. As a wild guess I kind of thinking it may be a problem with the exhaust as it seems to get worse the longer you drive it. Also would like to know if this could be a piston and ring bottom end of the engine problem or could it be something wrong with the within the top end with the intake and exhaust valves.