This is topic HELP!!! Car is down on power suddenly WTF in forum Tech Talk at Northern California Ford Owners  .


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Posted by sf89lx (Member # 3965) on :
 
well heres the deal, my car seems like it has a lost at least 50 percent of its power. When I punch it like right at a stop the car will not get up and go like it used to. like it struggles to get the power and the revs arent going up quick enough. and if you punch it sometimes you can hear like one or two clunks coming from the bottom of the car, what could this loss of power be , I cant lose to these Lambos (Joke) na really help me out. thanks
 
Posted by Black94 5.0 (Member # 655) on :
 
Make sure you don't have a loose spark plug wire...
 
Posted by blind (Member # 3052) on :
 
any bodies in the trunk? [Smile]
 
Posted by AL STOCK (Member # 1852) on :
 
quote:
Originally posted by sf89lx:
well heres the deal, my car seems like it has a lost at least 50 percent of its power. When I punch it like right at a stop the car will not get up and go like it used to. like it struggles to get the power and the revs arent going up quick enough. and if you punch it sometimes you can hear like one or two clunks coming from the bottom of the car, what could this loss of power be , I cant lose to these Lambos (Joke) na really help me out. thanks
Check MAF, Air FIlter & plugs .. Did you do anything recently to it?
 
Posted by svt1165 (Member # 2722) on :
 
That happened to me...my stock H-pipe 4-cats with 123k miles got plugged up in my 89 GT 'vert. Replaced it with BBK 2-1/2" cat- x pipe got my power back and more.

[ June 10, 2004, 12:30 AM: Message edited by: svt1165 ]
 
Posted by specialty (Member # 2978) on :
 
check harmonic balancer if it is off a little bit it will cause a power loss or sounds like it myt be trans or clutch
 
Posted by a50sn95 (Member # 527) on :
 
Cats.....
 
Posted by graylx (Member # 3919) on :
 
Did this happen suddenly or did the car gradually become slower? Like some of the other guys suggested, it may be "clogged" cats. Maybe install a no-cat H (or at least another H) and see if it makes any difference.
 
Posted by BlownNOSMustang (Member # 158) on :
 
Chech your air inlet setup. Any crack or hole will seem like a miss. Also check for burnt wires or boots on the plug wires. Sometimes they burn at the bottom boot and you can't see it. Whats your fuel pressure?
 
Posted by 9cobra9 (Member # 4470) on :
 
cats, are probably the problem. on my dads truck the same thing happend, and we changed the spark plugs, cleaned the connections, checked the carb, but then we finally thaught it was the exhaust, and it was, so when we ran strait headers, the car worked great.
 
Posted by 9cobra9 (Member # 4470) on :
 
when we removed the pipes we found a chunk of the converter stuck in the exhaust.
 
Posted by jcm3man (Member # 3834) on :
 
Nice job... solved it yourself.

Congrats! [Smile]
 
Posted by 9cobra9 (Member # 4470) on :
 
thanks [patriot]
 
Posted by sf89lx (Member # 3965) on :
 
well this happened literally all of a sudden about a week or two ago, the problem is if you gas the car feels clogged , like its either no getting enough fuel or spark to the engine. Its not the cats because it doesnt smell like rotten egg, and its not the tranny because I know its not, so basically I am going to change all the wires, plugs, new fuel filter, new coil, new cap and rotor, and then we'll see where we're at. It sucks though cuz I feel like Im driving a honda. sucks, oh and the other problem is the car like on start up also feels like uggggh uggggh and then finally starts up with this awful kkaaakaaaaa sound. I am thinking its either not enough spark or fuel, thanks for your guys hel p though
 
Posted by 9lbpony (Member # 3510) on :
 
I'd check to make sure the SPOUT connector is in. That behavior also sounds like not enough timing.
 
Posted by a50sn95 (Member # 527) on :
 
Rotten Egg is NOT the way to diagnose the Cats. Sometimes you don't even get the rattle. Seriously, the symptoms you are describing are EXACTLY what happens when one of the Pre-cats come apart and plug the Main cat downstream. It's only an hour or so to swap out the h-pipe, and most people put one on anyway. Just keep in mind when you have to smog it next.....
 
Posted by sf89lx (Member # 3965) on :
 
well did a complete tuneup, sparks, cap rotor, cleaned air filter, they plugs we found were shit and the the cap and rotor too! but the problem is not solved, so yes I now do believe its the cats that are bogging the car down, because it only does it on the low end of the rpm and not on the high end when you gas it. The problem now is it will be really hard for the car to start and remain at a constant idle. If I do get it started it will just bog down and shut off and it sputters to try and stay on. Solution put on an off road pipe on it, but then again I;m thinking of selling it also. Should I put the pipe on so it works fine but it wont pass smog, OR should I leave the car as is, and sell it while trying to pass a smog with the clogged cats.???
 
Posted by NorCalRydaz (Member # 3233) on :
 
just get an off road h-pipe- put it on run around the block and if the problem is solved you know what it is. It will take you 30 mins to find the problem. good luck
 
Posted by 1990GT50 (Member # 2119) on :
 
Clogged cats wont pass smog and it doesn't even sound like your car would make it to a smog check. If you're worried then buy an aftermarket x pipe with cats but get something besides what you currently have
 
Posted by graylx (Member # 3919) on :
 
I don't think any of these are the best options. As a seller, you are responsible for having the car smogged. Alot of buyers are also picky about this too. They would rather have you get the car smogged than purchase the car and risk that it is not going to pass. If I were in your shoes, I would probably look for an inexpensive stock (4 cat) H pipe on the board or go to a Pick A Part or junkyard and try to locate an H for your car. If you are going to keep it and it doesn't have to be smogged soon, stick with the no-cat H pipe. [patriot]
 
Posted by sf89lx (Member # 3965) on :
 
see thats the issue I dont know if im going to keep it for a while, so 1. does anyone have a 4 cat h pipe that is not clogged for sale????, or 2. does anyone have the hookup on smog for not to much??
 
Posted by 88DroptopGT (Member # 2535) on :
 
quote:
Originally posted by sf89lx:
Its not the cats because it doesnt smell like rotten egg
Where did you get that from?. If it's clogged you won't pass smog or you will be down on power.

What's your F.P? Talk to your local exhaust shops as some remove/weld in new cats for a fee, or cop a used one on the board. Hookups on smog are buku bucks because of the fines involved to the shop.
 
Posted by blind (Member # 3052) on :
 
if the car runs fine at upper RPM's then you're cats are fine.

the cat clogged on my truck twice in the past 2 years so I have some experience with this ( [Frown] ) when it clogs, the car will have LESS power with the more throttle that you give it. I was only able to get my truck to 65mph if I touched the pedal with the lightest pressure possible, anymore and it would buck and lug and the check engine light would blink (misfire). If I floored it from a stop, it would not go over 30mph, wide open.

Also, the truck became earily quiet each time it clogged, I could not hear the engine at all.
 
Posted by sf89lx (Member # 3965) on :
 
made it to concord, but not back, haha. thank god for AAA!! smoke was coming from all four cats, and thats all she wrote. car is up for sale make offer
 
Posted by sf89lx (Member # 3965) on :
 
ok, car is still for sale,!!! decided to just put another stock 4 cat h pipe on but.... it didnt help the problem for shit, no now this is getting frustrated. Checked timining on the car, timing is fine, SO what do u guys think it is?? Fuel Filter? Fuel Pump? Distributor? those are the only options left other than taking it to the Ford Dealership to get it diagnosed for hella $, Anybody Anybody please help!!!
 
Posted by 5.0#4 87 T-Top GT (Member # 1534) on :
 
how much for the car??
 
Posted by sf89lx (Member # 3965) on :
 
3200 oBO, if you want pics, just give me ur email and I will sendem to ya
 
Posted by blind (Member # 3052) on :
 
$500 cash.
 
Posted by sf89lx (Member # 3965) on :
 
quote:
Originally posted by blind:
$500 cash.
lettme think about, it um, the top alone cost more than that... no low ballin, por favor [patriot]
 




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