My 89 22re 5-speed accelerates very slowly at first, then about 3-4000 RPM feels like a turbo kicks in(there's not a turbo). Some days after warming up will have steady acceleration throughout RPM range, but lately has not been the case. If trying to maintain speed (cruising on interstate or thru town) and RPM is below 3000, you can feel hesitation/slight bucking. On start up idle goes up to 2-3000 RPM and comes down to normal around 700 once warm. Just looking for a good starting point, especially if someone has had this same problem.

 

O2 sensor.

 

When was the last tune up? plugs wires cap rotor airfilter pcv?

 

It was tuned up within 10K miles, but that was a few years ago (was wrecked for a bit), so that's probably where I'll start, I was just hopeful someone might say I had that exact same problem and did _______ and that fixed it. I'm in the middle of a syracuse, NY winter and don't have a garage, so my time to work on it is pretty limited.

I figured check engine light would come on if O2 sensor was bad, is this a good assumption? Used to be on till I found the melted wires and patched them up.

 

An o2 sensor going bad does not always throw a code. When they start going bad, they start getting slow to react and function, which does not throw a code. Also, some codes do not throw the CEL. There is a test procedure in the FSM to check 02 function.

My truck did the same thing, and a new O2 fixed it. How's that?

 

Sounds great, I'll start with the O2 next time it's above 30 here. Thanks for the help.

 

Check resistance on o2 before replacing. They almost always throw a code.
If the ecu gets no signal from the 02 it will go into limp mode. Nothing like the problem you have.

Do the routine tuneup stuff first. Check out the tps as well.

 

Got a new O2 sensor and when going to replace noticed where I had patched wires had corroded and almost broken through. Fixed that, and runs good now except when roads are wet/snowy, assuming that's water getting in wire patches. Still haven't replaced O2 sensor, went to do it and couldn't get rusted nuts that have probably been on for 10 years to budge, so saving that for another day. Thanks for the help

 

Wondering how you have come along with your work. My truck does the same thing, but still throws a Code 21 after the new O2 sensor was installed (and the codes cleared).

 

Still haven't done the O2 sensor since it is running good now and as rusted and stripped as the bolts are, I'm pretty sure something's going to get broken trying to change it. The main problem with mine was the corroded wires where I had patched them from where they were previously melted. They were melted past the junction from the O2 sensor, so changing it wouldn't have made difference in my case. Maybe try checking the wires the whole way back to the computer to see if there's a break.