Where's the power

[marc-w]

I'm about to hit 1400km on my 2010 MS3 and have a noticed a loss of power over the last 400k.
After the usual heat cycles and ensuring proper ring seating, varying speeds/revs etc. i noticed the boost would come on with some violence and the car was fast as hell. Same as when i test drove one.
Now it feels like just a new 2.5. If you get into boost above 3000 (boost gauge shows ok pressure)
i'll occasionally feel a boost spike, which the ecu/bov must notice by immediately dumping pressure making for a jerky ride.
All the inlets etc. seem tight, sunoco ultra 94 with the same performance from 2 different gas stations.
Anyone have any ideas before i head to the dealer? Or was the first 1000km just to trick me:bang

[3DEE]

This is the MS3 bullshit my friend. Depending on the weather outside you will or won't have power. On 20 C + is good, and below is shit. I bought my 08 MS3 last summer and drove great with lots of power. But come September I thought something happened, cause the power just disappeared. Went to the dealer and bitched. They kept the car for 3 days and couldn't find anything. Then a few people told me of a moody ECU in these cars. I guess that didn't change for 2010. I could be wrong and maybe it's something else. I know I'm saving money for a reflash. Cause this is Canada and I wanna car that has power more than 3 months out of the year. The new Hypertech tuner device seems to be very good and cheaper then Accessport.

[marc-w]

Yeah, the odd thing is the last time it made impressive power it was snowing...
I'll see what the dealer says then take it to a dyno.

[cwp_sedan]

You've probably just got used to it. :chuckle

[starscream]

Get a tune...You'll be happy again :D

[cy88]

You've probably just got used to it. :chuckle

I have to agree with this. Sad, but it's true.


Get a friend to drive you car and sit in the passenger seat - You'll feel the "impressive power" again. :)

[Broxn]

+1
It works..lol

[Unoriginalusername]

The weather does horrible things to the ms3.... a test drive in the spring/fall teens to 20's with low humidity and life is good. June/July/August even with a tune and a bunch of mods (SRI, TBE, FMIC, BPV and Cobb AP) i still found the car sluggish and lower on the fun factor which is too bad because on its good days its awesome

Secondly, the others are right the other part of it can be getting used to the power. I test drove an SI for fun when i had my speed3 and it almost killed me how slow it was, for fun i drove another one a few weeks ago and it seemed pretty fun. The only solution i can think of is to drive something with less than 150hp as a DD and have something with 300+ for the weekend/evenings as whatever you drive everyday, even if it is 200, 300, or 400+ hp will eventually feel normal and kinda boring

[Turok]

The weather does horrible things to the ms3.... a test drive in the spring/fall teens to 20's with low humidity and life is good. June/July/August even with a tune and a bunch of mods (SRI, TBE, FMIC, BPV and Cobb AP) i still found the car sluggish and lower on the fun factor which is too bad because on its good days its awesome

Secondly, the others are right the other part of it can be getting used to the power. I test drove an SI for fun when i had my speed3 and it almost killed me how slow it was, for fun i drove another one a few weeks ago and it seemed pretty fun. The only solution i can think of is to drive something with less than 150hp as a DD and have something with 300+ for the weekend/evenings as whatever you drive everyday, even if it is 200, 300, or 400+ hp will eventually feel normal and kinda boring

Specially a day like today, on the way home it was so sluggish and like you said on other days its amazing depending on the temp/season/time of day etc.. I know when I visit my family and friends back home for a week or more, I end up driving my brothers jeep or his wife's 2009 Mazda 3 GX, then I get home and drive my car and its like wow this is so much faster, but I do that's probably because I'm not driving it for a week or more. Even now since I have the CAI and TIP installed (not that those 2 mods will add that much power) but I can notice and feel a difference, so it's still fun driving it since I added them. But I'm sure in a month or so I won't think anything of it.

I thought of doing that, getting a beater box or something with less HP and use that for my work commute, then use my MS3 evening/weekends or the odd time to work.

[20ms310]

MARC-W

Did you ever find out what was causing the loss of power? Or did the power ever return? I have had my 2010 ms3 for 20k now. Just the other day when I left from work I had noticed a huge power loss. I was not feeling the boost kick in from 3rd gear and on. Before I could really feel the boost kick in. Now it feels like a normal mazda 3. The pressure gauge says the pressure is fine. I can hear the turbo spool up. It seems to be a little lower which leads me to believe a leak or some sort. I check the intercooler and BPV connections and they all seem to be in order. One thing I have heard about these car which I have not checked yet, is the inlet pipe coming loose. This will mess up the MAF sensor and cause a major power loss. Add this whole thing about you are just getting use to the power is a load of crap. I can very easily tell something is wrong.

[Turok]

MARC-W

Did you ever find out what was causing the loss of power? Or did the power ever return? I have had my 2010 ms3 for 20k now. Just the other day when I left from work I had noticed a huge power loss. I was not feeling the boost kick in from 3rd gear and on. Before I could really feel the boost kick in. Now it feels like a normal mazda 3. The pressure gauge says the pressure is fine. I can hear the turbo spool up. It seems to be a little lower which leads me to believe a leak or some sort. I check the intercooler and BPV connections and they all seem to be in order. One thing I have heard about these car which I have not checked yet, is the inlet pipe coming loose. This will mess up the MAF sensor and cause a major power loss. Add this whole thing about you are just getting use to the power is a load of crap. I can very easily tell something is wrong.

I just recently upgraded my TIP with a Cobb and when I was taking off the stock, it was not only loose it wasn't even snug all the way on the flange, you could see it moving around on the flange when I moved around the stock TIP. On top of that I didn't even have to loosen the clamp to take it off, I just pulled it right off didn't take much effort at all.

[20ms310]

I just recently upgraded my TIP with a Cobb and when I was taking off the stock, it was not only loose it wasn't even snug all the way on the flange, you could see it moving around on the flange when I moved around the stock TIP. On top of that I didn't even have to loosen the clamp to take it off, I just pulled it right off didn't take much effort at all.

Did you notice any power loss in you car because of it being loose? I am trying to figure this out on my own. Cause I know the dealer ship is going to give me a hard time about it cause there is no CEL. I take the car in Tuesday for them to look at.

However, just a few hours ago I pulled up to a light next to one of the new GTIs. I asked the guy to race me cause I wanted to see if in fact I am losing power. Sure enough I got beat by a the new GTIs. Normally a MS3 would have no problems beating a GTI. The guy said it was all stock.

[marc-w]

I went to the dealer and they did'nt find any problems. However they also did'nt seem too concerned.
I still notice there is not the instant power there was when i first broke in the motor. But i have'nt had much of a chance to explore the power potential lately.
The power does seem very dependant on temperature and humidity, much more than i expected. Even after reading other members posts.
However i just spent 3 days in a 2002 M3 (330+ hp) and the pick up seemed comparable on a relative basis.

[alhope34]

On top of that I didn't even have to loosen the clamp to take it off, I just pulled it right off didn't take much effort at all.

This was the norm with the 2 inlet pipes I have installed, and normal for most people's stock inlets as I have heard.

[Sean80]

This was the norm with the 2 inlet pipes I have installed, and normal for most people's stock inlets as I have heard.

Same here. It's like it wasn't even clamped up!

[alhope34]

Same here. It's like it wasn't even clamped up!


Yea, even after I put my stock one back in, tightened it up, then after a couple weeks I put the inlet back in and the stock inlet was loose again. and I know for sure I had tightened it properly. I think it's just the crappy stock hose clamp and how the engine/turbo moves around a lot but the intake doesn't. I'm guessing over time it works its self loose. The T-clamps on the RPMC inlet I had never loosened at all the whole time it was on my car.

[Turok]

This was the norm with the 2 inlet pipes I have installed, and normal for most people's stock inlets as I have heard.

I'm thinking of putting an extra clamp on the inlet side of my Cobb TIP, just to make sure it never comes off or becomes loose.


Did you notice any power loss in you car because of it being loose? I am trying to figure this out on my own. Cause I know the dealer ship is going to give me a hard time about it cause there is no CEL. I take the car in Tuesday for them to look at.

Not really I mean for all I know it could have been leaking but I doubt it since there was no CEL, I'm sure if there was a leak near the flange/inlet pipe you'd get a CEL, unless its a very small leak and it's not detected The inlet part is snug against the flange on the turbo.. and Jimmy tightened the sucker down nice and tight yesterday. So I doubt it will ever come loose again.


However, just a few hours ago I pulled up to a light next to one of the new GTIs. I asked the guy to race me cause I wanted to see if in fact I am losing power. Sure enough I got beat by a the new GTIs. Normally a MS3 would have no problems beating a GTI. The guy said it was all stock.

Well he might have lied.. your power loose shouldn't be that major.. I would hope not.