Poor performance from standstill...

I have been fighting with my dealer for a while, actually since I got the car about poor performance when pulling away on a dry road.
My car does not have enough power to light the traction light if I'm pulling away on a dry road. If the road is wet, the traction light will light any time I touch accelerator.
If I turn off my traction control and the stability track, and punch the throttle from a standstill, the car does not have enough power to make the back tires squeal.
As the engine RPM builds up, the car seems to accelerate quicker, and I might get a couple of small squeals from the back tires.
In presenting these conditions to the dealer, they claim that they don't have any XLR's of my vintage to compare to. Apparently in 06, the XLR is got the six speed transmission, and according to them, accelerate differently.
I honestly believe my torque converter is bad and is not letting the engine RPM build up as I pull away from standstill.
Does anyone out there, have a pre-06 XLR that can either light the traction light, or turn over the rear tires, while pulling away in a straight line when the dry road.
Every other car I own several Eldorados, an 09 Canyon, and a Cavalier four-cylinder station wagon, all have enough power to turn over the wheels while pulling away, or light the traction light.

:skepFirst, I have an '06 and it does NOT have the 6 speed - that came in '07 for the standard XLR. So, I would expect that the performance of my '06 should be the same as your '05. I can tell you from a scary experience when pulling out into traffic withOUT the traction control that the car went sideways very quickly. I also have had several other Caddies with the Northstar and with the addition of variable valve timing this is by far the most powerful from a standstill. I'm sure it will smoke the tires with the traction off - but these runflats are too expensive to waste that way.

As others have stated on this forum, make sure the dealer you are going to has a certified XLR tech. If not, try another dealer and good luck!

I have an 04, and it will not spin/squeal the tires or light up the traction control light at full throttle from a dead stop on dry pavement in a straight line. I have near-new tires. After a short pause/hesitation though it takes off exremely briskly. What I find odd, and haven't read elsewhere is my engine/transmission "pauses" between full throttle upshifts - behaves/sounds like it was a manual .

On my 08 I have tried to 'spin the tires' with and without the traction control on and it is very hard to do. My 4.6 seems to be 'rather lazy' out to aprox. 2800 RPMs, then it all blasts off right up to 6K. I figure the car's weight VS the small displacement (less than 300") even with the variable valve timing, this motor makes more horsepower (RPMs) than low end torque. GM must also think the way I do, because under 45 MPH going up slight grades my car is constantly shifting up and down to keep 1600 RPMs or more. Also with 2.93 rear end ratio, this is NOT a drag racer, it's a cruiser!

my 04 has the same lackluster power from a standstill. Have heard no acceptable solution-or cause. I agree, it's like a weak touque converter. arkansaswms Let me know if you fine an improvement. I also wish for a lighter steering wheel above about 5 mph.

my 04 has the same lackluster power from a standstill. Have heard no acceptable solution-or cause. I agree, it's like a weak touque converter. arkansaswms Let me know if you fine an improvement. I also wish for a lighter steering wheel above about 5 mph.

I didn't think this was a fault. The XLR is a Cadillac roadster, not a Vette and my understanding is that this slowish behavior off the line is deliberate decision. It is tied up with the electronic throttle, VVT, and an attempt to have a 'Cadillac' feel to the performance characteristics. Since 2004, Cadillac seem to have gone down the path of 'more power'.

ok, not to advocate anything, just telling you what I did: I bought a used acc. pedal on ebay for $100 to study it. Found it had 2 return springs. Made a decision that 1 would be enough. Fit the new "used" pedal (cost $77 at the garage) with just one spring in play, and am glad I did. Very nice touch. A lot less effort off the line- and still smooth. Now, if I can just get the steering lighter. Then the car might really be fun to drive!

ok, not to advocate anything, just telling you what I did: I bought a used acc. pedal on ebay for $100 to study it. Found it had 2 return springs. Made a decision that 1 would be enough. Fit the new "used" pedal (cost $77 at the garage) with just one spring in play, and am glad I did. Very nice touch. A lot less effort off the line- and still smooth. Now, if I can just get the steering lighter. Then the car might really be fun to drive!

IIRC that extra return spring is to do with a recall.

any word on the starting performance issue I`ve found mine to be sluggish as well even with mods still slow take off :sleep

I would be cautious about removing a secondary spring for throttle...
There are probably there as a saftey backup in the event one fails...
It wouldnt offer any futher benifit other than easier to push down, was yours that hard to press?
Just my 2cents :)

Holding down the T/C button for a couple of seconds should allow you to smoke the tires at will... Mine does :)
I have a Corsa exhaust on mine but that doesnt make that much of a difference in power I wouldnt think...Having said that, the sound is incredible and it will make you "feel" faster, lol

Having gone down the path of excess and building a 900+ hp Z06 and blowing it up twice I decided the caddy will never go the extreme route. My base 05 to 09 V front end is now complete so I've decided to focus on the driveline as I feel that a 3800 to 4200 stall along with a 3:42 differential and the tune should do the trick. I will get it done and post up my results.