Sluggish Power 3k-5k rpm range?
 

I have a 2003 base with the 2.7 and 114,000 miles, I noticed in the last few days its sluggish in the 3k-5k rpm range. I did a search on here, and narrowed it down to 2 potential problems. One is the clutch, the other is, I put in a new battery Saturday. I read on here that can change the cam timing if voltage isn't suppled to the car. I wish I would have read that before I changed it!

The engine isn't missing or any other strange sound, any ideas? If it's the cam timing, what is involved with fixing it?

TIA

MAF sensor.

If it was clutch, you would hear it slip on fast take offs.

If its just in that RPM range, MAF.

I changed my battery a couple weeks back and had the old one with my all day. No issue whatsoever.

No CEL? At least then you would have a code.

I think you mean ignition timing, and the only change to that would be the ECU resetting parameters to factory presets. This is not a battery issue...

Thanks, guys, I'll look into the MAF, no CEL, so nothing to go on but seat of the pants.

As you drive, the ECU will slightly change the ignition timing to improve performance and minimize air pollutants. Replacing the battery will reset the ECU to the stock or default parameters. This can result in the engine running slightly "different". Drive it for a few days encompassing about 100 miles in varying conditions and the ECU will re-learn on its own. If this was the cause, then the mid-range power should come back.

As thstone said, just drive it a while. The ECU is forced into using a set of predetermined values and will gradually get smarter and do a better job of balancing air and gas. Don't change anything until you are sure, having driven under varying conditions for several days and 100+ miles that the ECU didn't fix the issue. Most MAF diagnosis are wrong and it is an expensive part.

If you are still having trouble after a few days of driving it, disconnect the electrical plug on the MAF sensor and test drive it. If there is a improvement in the performance with it disconnected, then get some MAF cleaner, take out the MAF, and clean it. Hook it all back up and if it doesn't improve after cleaning it, then the MAF may be bad.
If you still have the original MAF after 114,000 miles, then I would think that it might be a good guess.