rough acceleration and loss of power

[waikiki]

First of, when the car is cold , it runs perfectly fine and has good power but when its fully warmed up i can notice a considerable drop in power. Is this normal? Also when the AC is on the car feels like it lost 30 HP... The car is stock except for a BBK CAI.

I am also wondering about my power band... When i floor it , the acceleration is not smooth, it picks up way more at around 3000 rpm and then again at 5000 rmp.. Is this normal too? if not what could be the problem?
This is my first car and i never drove anything else so I'm not sure if there is something wrong.
Btw, it is a 04 stickshift.

Thanks for your help!

 

[Tyler Woodall]

No expert here at all, but I've been doing a lot of work with my exhaust and engine lately so I feel I might have some insight. Check your 02 sensors that theyre attached correctly. If you went over a bump or bottomed out just right they could have been jostled loose. they're located under the car and if you have stock exhaust should be at the start of both sides of the mid pipe and then right before you get to the catalytic converter. Also check your battery, and if the battery is fine, look into the alternator as well, i had to replace mine about a year ago, and it was surging at 3 and 5k. best of luck! update us when it's all done

 

[Skymarshal]

Not sure about the loss of power, but it could be related to your CAI. Is the intake inside the engine compartment? I so it could be ingesting hot underhood air. The factory intake pulls air in from the fender where it is cooler.

As for the power band, welcome to V6 performance! Our cars have 2.72 gears in the rear end, which is good for fuel economy but bad for performance. Any V6 won't have a lot of low end torque, and won't make a lot of power until you get the revs up a little, which is what you are feeling. You can make more use of the V6's limited power by upgrading to 3.73 gears. That will make your highway cruise RPM about 2500 instead of 2100 and it will use more gas, but it will feel like you have more horsepower.

 

[waikiki]

Thanks for the help!
I got a BBK CAI which is in the fender too.
As for the powerband problem I understand that our V6s do not have alot of low end torque but it still should be smooth from 3000 to 6000 rmp and not picks up way more at 3000 and 45000, shouldn't it?