Change the spark plugs if they haven't been done in the last 30k miles.

Check the air filter and see if it needs changed.

 

Ditto Sandstone. If the air filter is clogged, the thin mountain air means your engine is getting even less oxygen. The change interval for Patriot spark plugs is only 30,000 miles. Both are easy DIY jobs.

 

PS, before electronic ignition, drivers would have the carburetor adjusted for mountain driving.

 

Rieme, I had basically the same thing happen to me going up Guanella Pass out of Georgetown, didn't happen until I got close to the top where the hairpin turns start.

Air filter was fine, changed the plugs and problem solved.

 

The air filter had about 13,000 miles on it, dirty but didn't look too bad. Changed it anyway. Plugs had 25,000 miles on them. Changed them anyway. Used the Bosch double iridium instead of the $3 NGKs that were in there. Can't really road test it until next time I go to the high country maybe in a couple of months.

 

Ok, let us know how it works out.

 

I drove up Hoosier Pass from the south so I was able to do it at 50-60 mph. No issues.

 

Sounds good!

If you really want to test it, I think Mosquito Pass is still open. (just kidding)

 

Reviving the thread. I have a 2015 high altitude and had the same problem going up vail pass and Eisenhower tunnel recently. Changed filter and plugs and drove much smoother the next week. Any one have recommendations for upgrades that would help when when driving at altitude frequently. Is a new cold air intake worth it? The 2.4lt engines just feels really under powered up those big hills.

 

Since you have the 2015 with the redesigned air box and cylindrical air filter I don't think the CAI will help much. I remember a couple people here had CAI's, but if memory serves the biggest increase they noticed was intake noise, and not much by way of performance.

I don't know if it will help, but sometimes people notice better performance after resetting the system adaptives by disconnecting the battery cables, touching them together and leaving them for about 10 mins, then reconnecting.

 

You've already done the obvious: plugs and air filter. I'm not a real believer in fuel additives, but some injector cleaner might help.

Keep in mind the 2.4 is still a relatively small engine for a vehicle this size. I hear so many people crying for a V6. My Patriot is a 2.0 5-spd and eastern mountains are short compared to mountains in Colorado and Wyoming, but I still find myself needing 3rd gear in the mountains.

 

Thanks for the input. I appreciate comment. Cheers

 

Thanks for the insight! I’ll look into resetting the system. That’s new to me. Cheers

 

Sure, you're welcome.

I had the impression that you're mostly driving in the metro area, so the adaptives will be more or less tuned for there as opposed to altitude.

Let us know if it makes a difference.

 

When I was 19, i did a coast to coast to coast trip and I did the I70 pass in my 1970 VW Type III that was converted from the horrible bosch fuel injection to duel Dellorto carbs. By the time I hit the top I could barely go 25mph in 2nd gear. I didn't have any extra jets to correct the fuel mixture on me, so had to just grin and bear it through that leg of the journey.

 

Sounds like my dear departed Falcon I drove in high school. It could barely make it through Connecticut's Litchfield Hills. Top end in 2nd gear was about 30MPH. 3rd gear was useless and 1st wasn't syncro.

 

So I reset the adaptives and added BG 44k fuel cleaner over the past week. Also noticed my battery terminals had significant corrosion so I replaced them and put in a new Optima red battery. Not as noticeable difference as changing the plugs and air filter but it was worth a try. Thanks again