New owner - throttle/gas delay?
 

Well, this is my first post after browsing this great site for about a year. I just got my car about 2 weeks ago (description in signature) and the first 400 miles have been great so far, though I can't wait to get out of the break in period. Thanks to all that have posted information on this site. It was very influential in my purchase.

On to the important stuff. I have noticed that there seems to be a slight delay (maybe half a second or so?) when I press the gas and when the engine revs go up. For example, when the engine is idling, I can press the gas quickly and let go before the needle in the tach responds at all...is this normal? Am I just crazy?
I used to drive an MX-6 and I don't remember ever sensing a delay. Any help would be greatly appreciated. Thanks!

Edit: I forgot to emntion that I have the 6-speed.

do you have the automatic or 6speed? well at least in my 6 speed i think its pretty sensitive, the throttle that is. but of course the more mods you do, the more sensitive the throttle becomes

That's what I was thinking too... thanks to the electronic drive-by-wire throttle, my 6sp is extremely responsive. Sounds like what he's describing is the torque converter of an automatic building up pressure...

I have a 6-speed. Sorry about that.

On the contrary... one of my favorite aspects of the engine is how responsive it to throttle input. I even have this fetish where I love "bouncing" the throttle while waiting at intersections.... wumm... WUMM... lol... it's just too much fun to not play with it.

My 8 is very responsive. I did have the hesitatation w/ my Mazda6 but not on the RX8.

Touch the gas the engine revs, the more gas the higher the revs. No delay at all.

It sounds to me like I have an issue that I need to mention to the dealer. Any idea what it might be?

Mine has a delay when I'm at really low revs (idle and less than 3000), I would say maybe a half second or so, but in the high revs it is very responsive.

I've noticed a similar "lag-time". I have an AT. It seems like it happens when the engine is at lower RPMs and when I floor it. Any ideas?

I've also noticed a slight delay in throttle response in the low rpm range when I quickly 'peg' the gas and let off (in comparison to my old Z28). If you want to improve the response a bit, look into a lighter flywheel. I think what we are feeling is time needed to rotate the flywheel.

I thought the same thing for the first few hundred miles, I blamed it on the electronic throttle. Now I don't notice it at all. Maybe it was the lack of low end torque that I was feeling, I really don't know. Whatever it was I had forgotten about it until I read your post.

Now I am wondering.

I dont have that problem.............. mine responds pretty fast

When I got the L flash, hesitation disappeared. Hesitation ever since the M and continues with the N flash. So it's either the flash or it could be something else in the fuel delivery or spark plugs or whatever.

I'm not 100% sure I've had this problem but I do remember a few times were it felt like there was a delay. Yeah...maybe it's the lack of low end torque??? Heck...torque in general, while I think it's OK for normal driving.

I would have it checked; my 6-speed isn't like that at all -- it's lightning fast and responsive. Whatever that problem is, it would drive me nuts.

^ what Hard said.

It's the drive-by-wire throttle, and therefore by extention, the engine computer software (PCM 'flash').

VWs have the same thing - it happens when you 'pop' the throttle to the floor and off quickly - if you *try* to do it, you'll notice it. If you quit obsessing about it, it'll never bother you.

You know what it's like? Look at a computer monitor with a Sony Trinitron or Mitsubishi Diamondtron tube (Could be a Dell, a Sun, a LaCie, an Apple, whatever, so long as it has one of those CRTs in it). Those monitors have two little fine wires running across the aperture grill. Some people never notice them until they're pointed out, then they can't stop seeing them the rest of the time they have that monitor! It's a feature, not a bug, it doesn't make your car less 'responsive'.

Hmmm...mixed responses. It sounds to me like this could just be a matter of my getting used to the drive-by-wire throttle. What are some of the benefits to this system over a "normal" throttle cable/linkage?

By the way, I am not trying to be one of those people that sit around and whine about nit-picky things all the time. I am just trying to understand more about this great machine. I have never had a sports car before and I have definitely never spent this much money on a vehicle before, so I just wanted to double check something that I was unsure about. Thanks again for all the help!

I've notived a lag when I am coasting at about 5000 RPMs and then when I mash it, it delays ever so briefly before the power kicks in. It also only happens when reaching that precise RPM and I can do it every time.

I'll check mine at home, but you might just stop by the dealer and try one or two demos there; see how they feel. I swear mine feels fine.

DBW throttle has fewer moving parts. Your problem (?) aside, I suspect it's more reliable than the cable system, and never needs adjustment.

No need to explain; I'm the same way: If there's a problem, esp. when it's under warranty, get it fixed!

Update: I checked today...and I have a suggestion, how is your foot positioned?

I noticed that based on the way my foot was placed, it made the difference. I'm still trying to find a comfortable way to place my LEAD foot right...

You just need to do the throttle body ground.

Just Kidding!

I did do it in my Mazda 6s though...

My 8 seems to have great response. The same or faster than my 84 RX7 that the 8 replaced.

My boss had bought a Toyota sedan with throttle by wire and complained about the lag he had. I drove it and it was slower than my 8. After repeated attempts by the dealer to fix it, including replacing the throttle body, he finally got tired of complaining. Another worker has the Toyota truck and has the same complaint. Both of these are much slower than my RX8.