The last two days I've noticed that sometimes when I'm in 4th gear despite having the pedal to the floor my car can only maintain speed but can't accelerate. If I down shift to 4th its ok. Its not constant but seems to come and go. After the last time it happened I could smell a "bad" gas smell. BTW is an EG hatch.

 

well your bad smeel is most likely your catalytic converter. thats that mine was. now as far as the fourth gear thing ya got to keep in mind that if its stock in 4th gear it doesnt have the low end to push it further. thats why you have to down shift. i had the same problem with my 4 dr and its just it doesnt have the trouqe to go faster in 4th gear

 

Its not all the time though it comes and goes, its stock, but I know that I should still be able to accelerate in 4th.

 

well i really only noticed it when i was going up hills. on flat land and down hill i could accel but never going up hill.

 

check your o2 sensor. Mine on my accord just started messin around like that and I changed it problem went away. Hah I just read you said up hill. well if your car is stock 5th gear is useless on hills.

 

yeah luckily enough hes in 4th lol

 

Is there a way to check if the O2 sensor is bad without replacing? No CELs right now.

 

if there isnt any cels then i dont see it being the o2 but to check you unplug it from the harness and do a resistance test. youll have to look that up i dont know what its sappouse to be off the top of my head

 

Hmm...ok so probably not O2 sensor then, car has no CELs, motor is all stock except for AEM CAI, the problem just started two days ago, really don't understand what could be wrong. Anyone else?

 

oddly enough try cleaning your spkar plugs and check your plugs. bad spark could be a part of the reason