This can't be right.....? for auto tranny S-14 owners..

[NorthGAS14]

OK, I'm trying to make sure my car is supposed to be this slow . I have a '97 model S-14 SE and it's got the horrible automatic tranny. Anyways, from a dead stop, I can floor the gas pedal, and the car slowly pulls away. With the decent amount of HP and the good amount of torque from the factory, shouldn't the tires at least spin a little or maybe even just chirp or something? The car is bone stock including wheels and tire size. Is this normal or is there maybe something wrong with the car? I'm doing a compression check tomorrow morning, but I was just going to post and see some opinions first. I was expecting a little more than this from the factory motor. Maybe I was expecting too much??

[statik]

you were expecting too much

[the240sxer95]

haha he thinks 240's are fast these cars suck! sell and buy a honda civica si!

[Bryants95240sx]

the only time i can get my mom's auto 240 to chirp or break lose is to punch it in a corner or when its wet

[Salty_X]

Originally Posted by NorthGAS14

I can floor the gas pedal, and the car slowly pulls away.

For some reason this gives me a funny ass mental image...
Anyways, most people here can't help you since they all have manual transmissions, and think automatics are totally worthless (which is partially true). I have an automatic though, and it is possible to break traction for a split second. Mine usually happened on the 1-2 shift, sometimes from a stop if you really got on it. It doesn't usually happen though when you're going in a straight line, but making any kind of turn, watch out!

[S14DB]

Do you know how to launch a Auto car?


May want to goto the dealer and have the tranny flushed.

[anthony240]

Originally Posted by NorthGAS14

With the decent amount of HP and the good amount of torque from the factory, shouldn't the tires at least spin a little or maybe even just chirp or something?

my 98 SE started off as an automatic. as far as i know, street going automatic cars are made so they don't spin/chirp tires from a dead stop. so skip the compression test (useless) and start saving for a 5 speed conversion. changes the whole attitude of the car and you can take command of the power.

Originally Posted by NorthGAS14

Maybe I was expecting too much??

yes you were. I wasn't expecting a lot when I bought mine, it was mainly for commuting. but after I got a closer job I started to realize the potential of the car. if you bought the 240 just because everyone wants it, you bought it for the wrong reason. good luck with it.

[AKADriver]

An auto car with a stock converter won't take off from a dead stop like that.

Hold the brake and mash the gas. The engine will rev a bit. Then get off the brake. Then it'll take off much more quickly.

[ILiveToDrift]

Look for a grey plug inside the engine bay. Located on/infront of the fender well. Unplug it, this will make the tranny shift faster and harder. This is rumored to make the tranny break faster but if you plan on swaping to a 5-speed this really isnt an issue. I did it and am pleased and have driven it for over 6 months now with no problems.

[projectRDM]

It's not rumored, it's a fact. But like you said if he's pulling it soon, go for it. Just make sure you're lined up to buy the parts before you blow the auto.

[mike13]

automagic transmission shift like magic spooky!

i feel your pain (wait no i dont, i waited till i found a 5 speed)

[NorthGAS14]

Nope, I can't do the conversion yet. I've got to pay the car off first. I just got it last year. I know the car is mainly for handling purposes. I just felt that the car seemed a little sluggish for what the motor is rated at. This is my daily driver car, I have plenty of power sitting in the garage (300zx TT). I reserve that car for the weekends though. I guess the transition from Sunday's car to Monday's car is just a little overwhelming.

Thanks guys.....I was just double checking.

[OptionZero]

did you drop down to 2nd gear? I occasionally chirp the tires, but i have '91 cams and a K/N when i launch hard

[Johny5]

300zx AND an s14. you must be just overwhelmed with all the "horsepower" you say that like there's some sort of mystical beast or rare car sitting in your garage. oh yeah, and yo auto aint shit dawwwwwg

[Jeff240sx]

Everyone shut the fuck up. Especially you Johny. If you don't have actual number or any help for this guy, don't fucking post.

Guy - I *had* an auto s14. Hooked up a GTech to it and ran 17.3 in the 1/4. Hooked up the same GTech to a buddies stock 5-speed s14 and he ran a 16.1. It may be a few tenths off, but it's supposed to be consistant from car to car. So yea, the auto kills about a second from the trap time. The speed shifting valve didn't do anything noticeable to the car's time on the GTech.
-Jeff

[ankyle62]

autos suck, i could mabey get mine to break loose if i had crappier tires on it but i doubt it. dont expect much from it. good luck with the swap.

[kungfucowboy]

if you really want to see your auto break loose from a dead stop here is what you do.
1) put the car in N
2) rev to 4500
3) slam the shifter to 1
4) do your burnout while holding the gas in
5) buy a new transmition because if you do this often you will need it very soon

if you just want to take off a little faster hold the brake down and keep the rpm's at 2500 before you you go

[orion::S14]

Also had an auto S14...best time at the track was a 16.6 @ 84...pitiful. And that was modified (I/H/E, e-fan, and underdrive pulley)!!!

Stock it ran a 17.1 @ 82 or something...

I ran it a lot, just for fun...and it was consistently doing ~16.8s at around 83mph.

That's slow, and there's nothing you can do to fix it...except swap in a 5-speed.

- Brian

[aznpoopy]

Originally Posted by AKADriver

Hold the brake and mash the gas. The engine will rev a bit. Then get off the brake. Then it'll take off much more quickly.

yep... just power brake it. still going to be slow though. manual tranny is much better; but the car is still very slow.

[Phoen_x_s14]

lol yeah auto tranny sucks, glad I'll finally be swapping it in before the end of the month (hopefully). In the mean time, get to know the handling characteristics of your car. Or if your just bored go smoke some Civic Si's or V6 mustangs, it sure makes me feel better after a frustrating day.

[Shin_Kudo]

Originally Posted by kungfucowboy

if you really want to see your auto break loose from a dead stop here is what you do.
1) put the car in N
2) rev to 4500
3) slam the shifter to 1
4) do your burnout while holding the gas in
5) buy a new transmition because if you do this often you will need it very soon

if you just want to take off a little faster hold the brake down and keep the rpm's at 2500 before you you go

Yeah, that's exactly what I had to do to get mine to break lose as well. And note that I never would have done it if I didn't know that my 5spd was going in in a matter of days.