Engine losing power?

Tiny
BRAD04
  • MEMBER
  • 1994 CHEVROLET S-10
  • 4 CYL
  • 2WD
  • MANUAL
  • 208,000 MILES
My S10 cranks and idles fine. However, once it warms up, it loses power on the slightest incline. This has been getting progressively worse. Check engine light comes on and goes off randomly.

I have replaced plugs & wires, fuel filter, blown head, coil packs. No vacuum leak. The truck does not have a cat. Converter as it was taken off years ago. Thinking maybe it the fuel pump or MAF sensor. Just not sure.
Wednesday, July 28th, 2010 AT 2:31 PM

24 Replies

Tiny
HMAC300
  • MECHANIC
  • 48,601 POSTS
Check your fuel pressure, if it's TBI it should 9-11 p.s.i. if it's port fuel then 48 p.s.i. You could have a bad MAF sensor as well I would start with these here are guides to help you.

https://www.2carpros.com/articles/how-to-replace-a-mass-air-flow-sensor-maf

and

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

Please run down these guides and report back

Cheers
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Thursday, July 29th, 2010 AT 8:38 PM
Tiny
BOOPERIII
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  • 1 POST
I had the replace the MAF (mass air flow sensor) in my truck got one for $78.00 all fixed!
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Saturday, August 18th, 2018 AT 9:21 PM
Tiny
JMORRI33
  • MEMBER
  • 3 POSTS
  • 1994 CHEVROLET S-10
  • 6 CYL
  • 2WD
  • AUTOMATIC
  • 115,100 MILES
I've had this vehicle for about 1.5 years now and since I've got it I've rebuilt the transmission, had two tune-ups (and I am going to replace the spark plugs and wires this week), and of course changed to oil every 2,500-3,000 miles (I originally changed the oil over to Castrol Syntec 5W-30 but now I am only using Royal Purple 5W-30 oil). A couple of days ago, after taking only about a 30 mile highway trip (averaging about 82 MPH the whole way) I stopped at a red light after getting off the interstate, I hit the accelerator a little harder than normal since I was going up a hill and my engine seemed to sputter a little. I let off and hit the accelerator even harder and then it sputtered and shook and eventually died. I pulled into a parking lot and started it up again (with relative ease) and slowly hit the accelerator and there seemed to be no problem. I then put the car in neutral and basically put the pedal to the floor and it sputtered and died. I added Prestone Fuel System Cleaner to my gas and changed my oil that day to Royal Purple 5W-30 and a K&N Oil Filter. After doing this, I noticed that my engine seemed to run smoother (no noises under the hood that were there before), but there was clearly a noticeable loss of power and performance. I can now barely hear my exhaust as I hit the gas (I put a Flowmaster 40-series and a Random Technologies Cat on it a year ago so it's noticeably louder than a stock exhaust) and it seems to decelerate quicker and there is MUCH less low-end torque than I had before. I am seriously stumped at what the problem may be; please help.
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Monday, December 14th, 2020 AT 9:26 AM (Merged)
Tiny
RHALL77
  • MECHANIC
  • 3,361 POSTS
Does it have a check engine light on. One thing I would have checked is the fuel pressure.
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Monday, December 14th, 2020 AT 9:26 AM (Merged)
Tiny
JMORRI33
  • MEMBER
  • 3 POSTS
The check engine light is not on. I replaced the fuel pressure regulator this past November.
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Monday, December 14th, 2020 AT 9:26 AM (Merged)
Tiny
JMORRI33
  • MEMBER
  • 3 POSTS
The check engine light is not on and I replaced the fuel pressure regulator last November
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Monday, December 14th, 2020 AT 9:26 AM (Merged)
Tiny
RHALL77
  • MECHANIC
  • 3,361 POSTS
No check fuel pressure.
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Monday, December 14th, 2020 AT 9:26 AM (Merged)
Tiny
DISTLER_AARON
  • MEMBER
  • 2 POSTS
  • 1994 CHEVROLET S-10
  • 6 CYL
  • 2WD
  • AUTOMATIC
  • 173,000 MILES
I have a 94 s10 v6 and about half the time I drive it, it runs fine, the other half any time I come to a stop or almost a stop it accelerates very very slow. Once it picks up speed it runs a little better but still loses almost all acceleration after I stop, I have replaced fuel filter, spark plugs, wires, cap, button, and just today the knock sensors, the fuel pump and transmission tested fine and with this being my work truck im completely out of ideas
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Monday, December 14th, 2020 AT 9:26 AM (Merged)
Tiny
INTERNETMECHANIC
  • MECHANIC
  • 700 POSTS
What was the fuel pressure spec? Any applicable trouble codes? If you have the spider fuel system, the fuel poppets may need cleaning. Any testing needs to be done when the problem occurs. Yeah, intermittent issues can be tough.
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Monday, December 14th, 2020 AT 9:26 AM (Merged)
Tiny
DISTLER_AARON
  • MEMBER
  • 2 POSTS
After I changed the knock sensors and the catilic converter the change engine light when off and hasnt been back on and no codes are comming up but the problem is still occuring I forgot the fuel pressure spec but the diagnopstics read that it was fine. I thought it was the pump at first because in the morning to get it to idle right you have to give it some gas someone told me that it might be a torque converter. It feels like with a manual trans. When you are trying to go with the clutch not fully engadged. It wil still go but I could get out and walk faster than it picks up. Thank you for any info you could give me
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Monday, December 14th, 2020 AT 9:26 AM (Merged)
Tiny
INTERNETMECHANIC
  • MECHANIC
  • 700 POSTS
If the engine races while going slowly, I would have to suspect a transmission issue, of some kind.
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Monday, December 14th, 2020 AT 9:26 AM (Merged)
Tiny
TMASTER
  • MEMBER
  • 1 POST
  • 1994 CHEVROLET S-10
  • 4 CYL
  • 2WD
  • MANUAL
  • 136,000 MILES
I have a 94 chevy s-10 pickup it runs like it missing badly and my converter gets red hot I replaced the converter and coils and had ignition model check but still get red hot and has no power
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Monday, December 14th, 2020 AT 9:26 AM (Merged)
Tiny
CARADIODOC
  • MECHANIC
  • 33,871 POSTS
Red hot means it's working, but being forced to work way too hard. It's not bad, ... Yet.

Pull the vacuum hose off the fuel pressure regulator and check for signs of raw fuel in it. If there is any wetness, replace the leaking regulator. GM has a ton of trouble with those.

Caradiodo
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Monday, December 14th, 2020 AT 9:26 AM (Merged)
Tiny
CARADIODOC
  • MECHANIC
  • 33,871 POSTS
Red hot means it is working, but being forced to work way too hard. It is not bad, ... Yet.

Pull the vacuum hose off the fuel pressure regulator and check for signs of raw fuel in it. If there is any wetness, replace the leaking regulator. GM has a ton of trouble with those.

Caradiodoc
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Monday, December 14th, 2020 AT 9:26 AM (Merged)
Tiny
CHRISTIAN SHAY
  • MEMBER
  • 1 POST
  • 1994 CHEVROLET S-10
  • 4.3L
  • V6
  • 4WD
  • AUTOMATIC
  • 175,000 MILES
I have a single cam with a 4.3 Vortec that is half Jasper and half Vortec. I am trying to figure out where to start. My truck starts and runs fine at idle though it is a little rough coming out of the exhaust. But when I am driving down the road it loses power when the engine warms up. But when I floor it it seems fine then goes right back to being starved of fuel it seems like it it is getting too much. I am not sure but I can put it in neutral and it is fine and if I shift it manually down it runs fine.
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Monday, December 14th, 2020 AT 9:26 AM (Merged)
Tiny
HMAC300
  • MECHANIC
  • 48,601 POSTS
Scan for codes and check fuel pressure with a gauge auto parts rent it. Do that first. See link.

https://www.2carpros.com/articles/how-to-check-fuel-system-pressure-and-regulator
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Monday, December 14th, 2020 AT 9:26 AM (Merged)
Tiny
JOHNNYDH1
  • MEMBER
  • 1 POST
  • 1994 CHEVROLET S-10
  • 6 CYL
  • 2WD
  • AUTOMATIC
  • 157,000 MILES
Please help truck starts every time no problems yet runs rough at low rpm the gets smooth yet lacks power and when floored hesitates and starts to stall dont know how to set timming with a computer compression good new plugs wires and dis cap and rotor gas miliage real bad
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Monday, December 14th, 2020 AT 9:26 AM (Merged)
Tiny
JACOBANDNICKOLAS
  • MECHANIC
  • 109,703 POSTS
It doesn't sound like a timing issue. Have you checked fuel pump pressure? Also, have you checked to make sure the catylatic converter isn't plugged?
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Monday, December 14th, 2020 AT 9:26 AM (Merged)
Tiny
STAN57
  • MEMBER
  • 1 POST
  • 1994 CHEVROLET S-10
  • 6 CYL
  • 4WD
  • AUTOMATIC
  • 186,000 MILES
Engine boggs down at about 2000 Rpm let off and idle down come back up to 2000RPM same thing Starts fine Idles fine
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Monday, December 14th, 2020 AT 9:26 AM (Merged)
Tiny
JMALECKI
  • MECHANIC
  • 118 POSTS
Hello
How many miles since the fuel filter was changed, if it has been a while start by replacing that and see if the problem goes away. It sounds like the filter may be plugged, if that doesn't help check the fuel pressure you may have a bad fuel pump.
John
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Monday, December 14th, 2020 AT 9:26 AM (Merged)

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