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Engine has a loss of power

Tiny
GHOKANS
  • MEMBER
  • 1999 CHEVROLET S-10
  • 113,200 MILES
Truck runs fine at city speeds but progressively loses power at highway speeds until down to 40 mph. Pushing the throtle to floor does not help and may result in significant engine stuttering. Shutting down for 5 min will help for about 10 miles.
Saturday, December 10th, 2011 AT 5:53 PM

33 Replies

Tiny
SATURNTECH9
  • MECHANIC
  • 30,869 POSTS
Have you checked for codes in the computer and also had a back pressure test down when it acts up? It sounds like the MAF sensor is bad. This guide will help us fix it.

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

Please run down this guide and report back.
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Saturday, December 10th, 2011 AT 5:55 PM
Tiny
GHOKANS
  • MEMBER
  • 3 POSTS
OBD reader at AutoZone prints out code P0420 and says it is catlytic converter problem possibly caused by engine misfire, large vacuum leak or excessive oil leakage into the exhaust. No recent repairs done. Found no vacuum leaks and not burning oil. However I did add a bottle of injector cleaner with previous gas fill up and immediatly after the "Service Engine Soon" light came on. 1st trip on freway since then. Could injector cleaner damage oxy sensor or converter?
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Monday, December 12th, 2011 AT 12:06 AM
Tiny
GHOKANS
  • MEMBER
  • 3 POSTS
AutoZone OBD reader comes up with catalytic converter problem, possibly caused by engine misfire, large vacuum leak or excessive oil in exhaust. No engine misfire, now vacuum leaks found, not using oil. HOWEVER, I did add a bottle of injector cleaner a couple fills backs and the "Service Engine Soon" lite came on for a couple days. So a long story short I replaced the fuel pump which fixed it.
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Monday, December 12th, 2011 AT 12:14 AM
Tiny
SATURNTECH9
  • MECHANIC
  • 30,869 POSTS
Nice work, we are here to help, please use 2CarPros anytime.
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Monday, December 12th, 2011 AT 4:53 AM
Tiny
ROOTTOOR
  • MEMBER
  • 3 POSTS
  • 1999 CHEVROLET S-10
  • 4 CYL
  • 2WD
  • MANUAL
  • 85,000 MILES
My truck will drive fine for a couple of miles, but afterwards will lose some oil pressure (it will be around 80 for the first bit, then drop to under 40 until I give it gas), and it will lose engine power and accelerate slowly nag sluggishly in 1st and 2nd, then once it has some speed, it appears to operate somewhat normally. When I remove my foot from the gas, the oil pressure will drop again, but when I accelerate again, so long as I'm in 3rd or higher, will continue to operate normally again. It makes a strange sound when the pressure drops, like it's puttering when in low gear, and it emits a strange odor (I'm not sure how to describe the smell) when trying to accelerate.
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Monday, December 14th, 2020 AT 9:13 AM (Merged)
Tiny
MERLIN2021
  • MECHANIC
  • 17,250 POSTS
The pressure ever drop below 10 psi? Could be your clutch is slipping a bit.
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Monday, December 14th, 2020 AT 9:13 AM (Merged)
Tiny
ROOTTOOR
  • MEMBER
  • 3 POSTS
No, the psi just barely drops below 40, it just loses engine power.
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Monday, December 14th, 2020 AT 9:13 AM (Merged)
Tiny
MERLIN2021
  • MECHANIC
  • 17,250 POSTS
Pressure is OK, does the engine seem to rev while the car goes slower? In other words, does it feel like the engine wont rev?
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Monday, December 14th, 2020 AT 9:13 AM (Merged)
Tiny
ROOTTOOR
  • MEMBER
  • 3 POSTS
It revs, but it sort of sputters when it does so. It also picks up speed, but extremely slow, and even in higher gears, it continues to do so.
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Monday, December 14th, 2020 AT 9:13 AM (Merged)
Tiny
MERLIN2021
  • MECHANIC
  • 17,250 POSTS
First step is a code scan Autozone does it free, also get the freeze frame data. This explains what the conditions where when the code set. Post all info here. Also you might want to check the catalytic converter(s). If the bed inside breaks up, pieces get lodged in the exhaust pipes and muffler, and will choke the engines breathing.
If you have a vacuum gauge, hook it up to an intake manifold port, raise the rpm to 2000, gauge should remain steady at 18hg or higher, if it starts to drop, the exhaust is plugged up.
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-1
Monday, December 14th, 2020 AT 9:14 AM (Merged)
Tiny
WDENNIS
  • MEMBER
  • 2 POSTS
  • 1999 CHEVROLET S-10
  • 4 CYL
  • 2WD
  • AUTOMATIC
  • 62,000 MILES
I am experiencing problems with Acceleration Power Loss and up hills it losses power and surges. It is like I'm taking my foot off throttle.
I have run it with Fuel system cleaner, changed fuel filter, changed fuel pump, changed Cat Converter, Muffler and still having problems with no change. Sometimes it is worse than others.

I read somewhere that the timing chain and tensioner would cause this if worn. I have taken to Dealer and he said I need to run automatic transmission in gas to clean the fuel system. But no help.
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Monday, December 14th, 2020 AT 9:14 AM (Merged)
Tiny
WDENNIS
  • MEMBER
  • 2 POSTS
I clamped off the vacuum line to the Fuel Regulator and it fixed the problem. Short of buying a new regulator and replacing it, I drove it a while with the vacuum line off so I think I will drive it a while like this to verify that It does not reoccur.
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Monday, December 14th, 2020 AT 9:14 AM (Merged)
Tiny
DUSTY
  • MEMBER
  • 1 POST
  • 1999 CHEVROLET S-10
  • 6 CYL
  • 4WD
  • AUTOMATIC
  • 150,000 MILES
Hi,

I am having a problem that happened 2 months ago, then repaired it's self and now it is not repairing it's self. Once my truck warms up it stumbles and looses power. Especially going up hills or if I give it any gas. I can keep my foot just touching the accelerator and make it up the hills (barely) and then can make it down with gravity. I change the TPS but this did not help. Should I move on to the fuel pressure and Cat check? Or is there something else simple I should check?
Thanks,
-Dusty
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Monday, December 14th, 2020 AT 9:14 AM (Merged)
Tiny
BLACKOP555
  • MECHANIC
  • 10,371 POSTS
I would change the plugs and wires first, and clean the MAF sensor with some qd contact cleaner and see how it runs. If that isnt any beter I would check the fuel pressure and the exhaust system for clogging. You can test it with a vaccum guage.
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Monday, December 14th, 2020 AT 9:14 AM (Merged)
Tiny
JUSTIN44
  • MEMBER
  • 4 POSTS
  • 1999 CHEVROLET S-10
  • 87,000 MILES
Why is my 1999 Chevy s10 2.2 not performing like it should when I replace the mass air filter and plugs and wire and fuel filter and air filter what can it be that makes it lack performance

2.2, Chevy s10 not getting the performance that it should have
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Monday, December 14th, 2020 AT 9:15 AM (Merged)
Tiny
BILLYMAC
  • MECHANIC
  • 2,204 POSTS
You replaced the mass airflow SENSOR?Is it missing?Low power?
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Monday, December 14th, 2020 AT 9:15 AM (Merged)
Tiny
JUSTIN44
  • MEMBER
  • 4 POSTS
Yes I replaced the mass air sensor and its low on power
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Monday, December 14th, 2020 AT 9:15 AM (Merged)
Tiny
BILLYMAC
  • MECHANIC
  • 2,204 POSTS
I would scan for codes. Check the convertor for backpressure[exhaust shop] check fuel pressure.
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Monday, December 14th, 2020 AT 9:15 AM (Merged)
Tiny
JUSTIN44
  • MEMBER
  • 4 POSTS
How can I check the fuel pressure, and what codes can I check
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Monday, December 14th, 2020 AT 9:15 AM (Merged)
Tiny
BILLYMAC
  • MECHANIC
  • 2,204 POSTS
Take your truck to your local parts store ask them to scan your truck they can get codes from the computer that are stored when a fault occurs. Fuel pressure is done with a fuel pressure fuage you have a schrader valve on the fuel rail on the engine
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Monday, December 14th, 2020 AT 9:15 AM (Merged)

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