Engine loss of power?

Is the check engine light on? Have you checked fuel pump pressure? Have you checked the catalytic converter to make sure it isn't plugged? Have you checked to make sure none of the brakes are hanging up? I just had a Jeep today that wouldn't go over 50. Up hill it was in 1st gear. check out these guides

https://www.2carpros.com/articles/engine-has-low-power-output

and

https://www.2carpros.com/articles/how-to-test-a-catalytic-converter

Please run down these guides and report back.

thanks much, no engine lites, but others poss. will check .

Let me know what you find.

Joe

RANDYBACKER

Is there a way to test for a plug cat converter?

Pickup truck listed above is a 5.9 liter. Sluggish no power on hills acts like it's starving for fuel. idles fine just no power.

How long since a tune-up? Any applicable trouble codes?

I have not had it on a machine.i was just trying to get a second opinion. Could it just it be a clogged filter?

You don't have to use a machine to check for some codes. You turn the key, just till the dash lights come on. Cycle the on--off, on--off, on, then the mil on the dash starts flashing, you count the flashes to get the codes. Your looking for two digit codes.

As far as the fuel filter, that is why I asked, how long since a tune-up? Use a gauge and check fuel pressure.

What does it mean when it flashes 10 times? Sorry to intrude.

This means there is a trouble code that needs to be read. here is a guide to help you get the codes then get back to us:

https://www.2carpros.com/articles/checking-a-service-engine-soon-or-check-engine-light-on-or-flashing

Please run down this guide and report back.

I put a scanner on it reads no codes. But the dash light for check engine flashes 10 times.

Good morning,

You may mean 11 times. If it is, that means the system has passed and no codes.

https://www.2carpros.com/articles/engine-has-low-power-output

As far as no power, there are a couple of possibilities.

1. Clogged catalytic converter which is common. You need to release the exhaust pipes from the exhaust manifold and drive it and see if power returns.

https://www.2carpros.com/articles/how-to-test-a-catalytic-converter

2. Low fuel pressure. This could be from a weak fuel pump or a clogged fuel filter. A fuel pressure test will verify.

https://www.2carpros.com/articles/how-to-check-fuel-system-pressure-and-regulator

3. In rare cases, a locked up torque converter can cause this as well.

Roy

The truck idles very rough. When I warm it up. If I push the pedal to 2,000 rpm's. The tachometer will drop down to 1,500 and then go back up to 2,000. Then back down to 1500. Eventually it smooths out and goes up to 3,000. All without moving my foot on the pedal. I've changed the battery and both cables. The passenger side O2 sensor. The coolant temperature sensor. The entire fuel pump assembly. I've inspected the plugs and wires. Tested the coil packs for spark and did a compression test. All cylinders are 125-135psi. She still runs horrible. Down to 7 MPG. Can't spin the tires on wet paving and this v-10 used to smoke the tires! Help!

Well. Upon further inspection. My mechanic failed to see the back,driver side spark plug wire sitting on the headers! Trying to find one plug wire now?

Hello,

Good luck with that one. You might try an auto dismantler or if there is a pick and pull near you you should be able to a spark plug wire there. I would suggest replacing all of them in a set. Also, your mechanic should be responsible for replacing the spark plug wire, so you might try getting him to make it right. Please let us know how it turns out.

Thanks,
Alex
2CarPros

Roger that! I'm broke busted and disgusted right now. Bought a new commercial fishing boat this year and haven't sold one fish! Been too busy working on dodge V-10 trucks and Detroit diesels! Boat is trashed! Fishing has been closed half the season due to no fish! No fish means no money for me! But, I'm not totally blaming my mechanic for the burnt plug wire. The hold down for the wire broke off. I noticed it when I was changing the IAC valve. I stuck my head in their as many time as he did. It was the back cylinder off the headers. It loops on the fifth cylinder on the headers. Unlike a V-8.

Hello again,

I completely understand. I live in a small coastal town in Northern California. Crab fishing and logging is what we do legally up here. Detroit Diesels are absolutely bulletproof. I also drove OTR truck for 13 years and never had a problem with one. Anyway, please keep us informed, or don't hesitate should you have any other questions.

Thanks,
Alex
2CarPros

hi i have a 97 ram 1500 2wd 5 speed and it revs out at 2800 to 3000 rpm when driving it was reving to 4000 in neutral but now it dose'nt even do that i dont no if it is the rev limiter or not could it be the speed senser or what im stumped if you no what it could be please let me no thanks or could it be full pump or something

Hi:
If the engine is original, you may want to check compression to see if there is a problem. Also, has the check engine light come on? Finally, are you sure the catylatic converter isn't plugged?

yea it was the cat that was plugged i fixed it that night thanks for the fast response though

I'm glad you got it fixed. If you have questions in the future, let us know.

Joe

1997 dodge will not go over 40 mph,5.9 liter 4x4

Is the Check Engine light on? If it runs unusually smoothly, suspect a plugged catalytic converter. That will also cause the exhaust at the tail pipe to sound like a steady hiss rather than the normal "putt putt".

caradiodoc

check engine light is on and when i took it to auto zone to check it sai misfire on 1 3 5 cylinders

Dandy. That's the left bank of the engine. Most likely those codes did not all set at the same time. The Engine Computer can detect a single cylinder misfire, of which you have three, and it can detect a multiple cylinder misfire, which it did not. Multiple cylinder misfires occur at the same time and will be related to something they have in common such as a bad sensor reading, low fuel pressure, contaminated fuel, or a vacuum leak.

A single cylinder misfire is caused by something that is related to just that one cylinder such as the spark plug, plug wire, injector, or burned valve. Given the nature of the codes, (multiple single cylinder misfires), I'd start by looking at a combination of those generalizations. That means multiple items related to a single cylinder. A perfect example would be high-mileage spark plugs and wires. A worn spark plug will cause random misfires in one cylinder, but just as two tires wear out at the same rate, so does a set of spark plugs.

If the left front oxygen sensor incorrectly reports a rich condition, the Engine Computer will reduce the pulse width to all four injectors on that bank. It can't tell which cylinder is running rich. It can only adjust the mixture to all four cylinders together. That could result in misfires from a fuel / air mixture that is too lean.

That oxygen sensor could also be responding correctly. O2 sensors do not detect unburned fuel, only oxygen, but some of the normal oxygen in the exhaust will be burned with that extra fuel before it reaches the sensor. The sensor will take longer than normal to detect the lean part of the cycle. In this case, a leaky injector would be suspect. Assuming the computer is reducing fuel to the entire left side of the engine which is resulting in the misfires, suspect the injector for cylinder number 7 which is not misfiring.

If spark plugs and wires don't solve the problem, consider switching the injector from cylinder number 7 with one on the passenger side to see if the misfires go to the other side.

caradiodoc

On the highway, my truck will not over 65 mph. What could be going wrong?

Just had a recent tune-up. Have a new set of plugs, wires, and distributor cap.

At lower speeds, my truck is fine.

However, when trying to go up to 70 or higher engine just starts revving, getting loud and I cannot go any higher than 65.

This sounds like you have a plugged catalytic converter that is plugged, but to be sure check out these two guides to confirm the issue.

https://www.2carpros.com/articles/engine-has-low-power-output

and

https://www.2carpros.com/articles/how-to-test-a-catalytic-converter

Please run down these guides and report back.

Cheers

Thanks for this post. I had this problem as well, I had to have the catalytic converters replaced for $650.00 back to normal. ;) I love this site.

i have a 1996 dodge v10 that is trying to load up, it is going through mass amounts of fuel, blowing smoke, and lots of power loss. i have changed the map sensor and replaced the o2 sensors 4 months ago. what else could be the cause ?

Are there any diagnostic trouble codes?/check engine light

The catalytic converter may be plugged. Take it to a good exhaust
shop and they can run a pressure test on it. Or, bang on the
catalytic converter with a good sized hammer and try to loosen up
the plugged area. Have you noticed any honey-comb looking stuff coming out of the exhaust? This is the cat's inards coming apart and getting blown out back.