01 NB2 suddenly undrivable below 3000rpm
 

Hey everyone I have a 01 VVT with 104K miles. No mods. I've always had the slight loss of low end power when the motor is cold. However it has suddenly become undrivable... especially when warmed up. First noticed this problem while trying to park after coming off the freeway yesterday.

When accelerating from a stop, the motor makes no power below 3krpm and is so rough it violently shakes the car. Above 3K power suddenly surges back and it's perfectly normal. The problem is intermittent at the start of the drive, but gets progressively worse as I drive it - to the point where it's so violent during idle and low rpm that I have to turn it off. Even at this point it still drives perfectly once I get moving... confusing.

Any ideas on what's going on?

vtcs?

That's what I thought as well. Disconnect the VTCS solenoid and see what gives.

Is your car stock? What EMS?

Timing belt off a tooth or three?

If unplugging the VTCS doesn't do the trick, try unplugging the VVT solenoid and see what happens.

Tried unplugging the vacuum line going to the VTCS before the green 1-way valve. nothing. Tried unplugging the connectors to the two solenoids? connected to the VTCS vacuum lines. nothing. Tried unplugging the two wire connector going to the VVT solenoid on the valve cover. nothing... hmmmm...

The transition from no power to full power is an on and off switch at 3,300rpm. Restarting seems to temporarily fix the problem.

Totally crapped out today. No power at any rpm. hmmm

opened the valve cover today... and the timing belt is in perfect condition. this is really puzzling.... any ideas?

Did you count the teeth on the belt between the cam gears when you removed the valvecover? It should be 19 teeth on the belt between the markings on Intake and Exhuast.

When I bought my '99 with a bad cat it was very weak and eventually lost power to the point it was undriveable. I doubt that's the issue since you said it was previously regaining power up, but it might be worth removing the 4 bolts and pulling the cat out to see what it does.

PS - If you do this it will be loud.