Originally written on Pennock's earlier today:
I've noticed since purchase the throttle response in 1st/2nd seems to be all over the place, an intermittent issue. 2nd seems to be the most consistent in producing the slow throttle response. I searched on the board and came across a thread referencing Ogre's write up on the throttle cable stretch, thinking maybe the two are related in some way or both are of issue.
I usually can get about 269 on a tank of gas, today I was at 200 when the car stumbled, died, I was able to get it to crank go another 5 miles to the gas station, the Check Engine light came on for a second when running, then turned off. But, I was within 500 ft of the station on a slight incline and it was stuttering before finally pickin up speed to get to the pump. I filled it up, it only held 8.5 gallons so that indicates there was at least another 1.5 in the tank.
I get on the freeway onramp, slow response, get up to 70 MPH. The car always seems to have good throttle response between 70-80MPH (3rd). I go the next 8 miles to the offramp, which has another slight incline to merge in to traffic, throttle response seems crisp this time. I go another half mile at about 40MPH, slow throttle response.
When I pull into the parking lot, exit the car I smell transmission fluid. Never smelled it until I exited, also the transmission never slipped. It just seems it's not kicking down to the proper RPM to match the throttle position which seems to be causing my above issue.
Now I have this new problem of great concern, the smell of ATF fluid. I checked it last week, the level was good, it did look a bit dark. Had planned to change it, ordered a kit but the kit showed up yesterday missing the filter.
Evening update:
Things almost got real bad and real fast. Flames shot out the back, then the brake pedal went flat to the floor. My guess is the rear caliper seized, blew the line from pressure, fluid ignited. Right before I couldn't get it to barely throttle, the car was vibrating, I smelled what I thought was ATF, must have been brake fluid. The entire rotor is a charred mess in pieces. Hoping no damage to axle or else, won't know till the weekend.
I guess this is the source of my "throttle" issue since this is the left rear on the axle. Essentially the brake caliper was seized on the rotor.
Friend is coming to tow me home. Thank God I had watered down coolant to douse the fire. Whew
I just received the last bits of my brake parts yesterday minus front hose and calipers. Had planned to replace the whole system this weekend.
So from what I can tell at this point, the cause of my slow throttle response was a seizing caliper, hence what I thought was ATF fluid, though I never saw any on the ground or the undercarriage.