Loss of power

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Nirodac - 24 Jan 2005 06:26 GMT

OOps, new news reader, I forgot the subject entry, sorry.

I need a second opion.

1991 Laser, 1.8 liter, 265,000 Km

Problem:
Loss of power when climbing hills.
Seems to be OK on level roads.

History:
I changed the timing belts within the last three months.
Before the belt change, the car sat idle for 5 months (periodic starts
about every couple of weeks). Driver (my son) claimed that there was no
loss of power before the storage.

Attempts;
We've changed the air filter.

Next is a injector cleaning.

But the question I have is:
Could it be that the catalyic convertor is plugged, and how do you
test it.

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Peter - 24 Jan 2005 06:51 GMT

In the mornings, is your car easy or hard to start ??, 1991 Laser had a few
problems here in Australia with bad engine rings. Owning a KB series, the
rings wore out with-in 10 years, I would test your compression to check.
Could be several things.

Peter
Australia

> OOps, new news reader, I forgot the subject entry, sorry.
>
[quoted text clipped - 20 lines]
> Could it be that the catalyic convertor is plugged, and how do you
> test it.

Reply to this Message

Nobody U. Know - 24 Jan 2005 13:14 GMT

Double check the timing marks and make sure you didn't retard the timing a
tooth. As for the cat, it's possible, but not likely. The way to test them
is to get the car hot and read the temperature of the pipe in and out of the
cat. If there is a large difference (out is colder), it is clogged.

Signature

Todd Honea

> OOps, new news reader, I forgot the subject entry, sorry.
>
[quoted text clipped - 20 lines]
> Could it be that the catalyic convertor is plugged, and how do you
> test it.

Reply to this Message

Nirodac - 30 Jan 2005 03:39 GMT

> Double check the timing marks and make sure you didn't retard the
> timing a tooth. As for the cat, it's possible, but not likely. The way
> to test them is to get the car hot and read the temperature of the
> pipe in and out of the cat. If there is a large difference (out is
> colder), it is clogged.

Well I checked the timing. There appeared to be two marks, and one was
right on a 5 degrees. But after much looking, it might be that it was just
a flake of paint.
If I read the mark correctly (it isn't much of a mark) the reading is about
10 degrees ATDC, with the test point grounded, and TDC ungrounded. The
mark appears off the stationary guage , toward the firewall side of the
engine. So if my timing is retarded, which way do I move the sprocket.
Would that be one tooth clockwise.

Would 10 degrees affect performance that much, and is ten degrees really
one tooth.

Coincidently, the "flex" portion of the exhaust pipe, between the exhuast
manifold and the cat, has spung a significant leak. With the pipe off I'll
be able to look into the cat.

Thanks for the help so far.

Reply to this Message

Bob Shuman - 30 Jan 2005 06:11 GMT

10 degrees retarded timing is a lot, and in my opinion, would definitely
negatively impact the operation, especially when (attempting) accelerating.
I have no idea how many degrees for each timing belt tooth, but you can
estimate by dividing 360 degrees if you know the number of cogs on the cam
shaft sprocket.

Bob

>> Double check the timing marks and make sure you didn't retard the
>> timing a tooth. As for the cat, it's possible, but not likely. The way
[quoted text clipped - 22 lines]
>
> Thanks for the help so far.

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TG - 24 Jan 2005 22:52 GMT

It is possible but loss of power, especially on hills, sounds like a fuel
pump, fuel filter, or evaporative emission problem. To check for the later
(the least likely) try going up the hill with the gas cap off. TG

> OOps, new news reader, I forgot the subject entry, sorry.
>
[quoted text clipped - 20 lines]
> Could it be that the catalyic convertor is plugged, and how do you
> test it.

Reply to this Message