Loss of power under full acceleration.

Tiny
SEBASTIAN96
  • MEMBER
  • 1986 SUZUKI SIERRA
  • 1.3L
  • 4 CYL
  • 4WD
  • MANUAL
  • 53,000 MILES
I bought a 1986 1.3L Suzuki Sierra last year with 53,000kms on it, besides it overheating when I drove it home due to a leaking radiator the car went relatively well.

Since then I replaced the radiator, bushes under the handles of the transmission shifter handle and the transfer case handle (hopefully that makes sense), new fuel filter, new oil filter, new heater core, had the alternator tested and it's working fine, all new oils.

After doing all that I took the car for a drive and when I got into 3rd/4th/5th gear the car began losing power, engine revs and speed started dropping. I was told I should replace my spark plugs, and I did. After that the car went fine in 3rd/4th/5th however except this time I can push the accelerator down about 90% of the way, if I push it the last 10% the car starts to lose power, if I let it off a little bit to within the 90% it starts accelerating again, foot down the last 10% and it starts to lose power.

I have noticed a spark outside the distributor, and also I rechecked my fuel filter and after taking it for a test drive the fuel filter is really dirty again! I pulled off the fuel pump and I think it looks okay, the only thing worth maybe mentioning was there was a slight mix of fuel and engine oil and the rocker arm was quite hard to push in and out.
Sunday, March 8th, 2015 AT 4:28 PM

7 Replies

Tiny
JACOBANDNICKOLAS
  • MECHANIC
  • 109,867 POSTS
Where are you seeing a spark near the distributor? Have you checked fuel pump pressure to make sure it is within spec?
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Sunday, March 8th, 2015 AT 9:11 PM
Tiny
JACOBANDNICKOLAS
  • MECHANIC
  • 109,867 POSTS
One more question. You said the engine would rev, but you would lose speed. It sounds like the clutch is slipping. Have you checked that?
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Sunday, March 8th, 2015 AT 9:12 PM
Tiny
SEBASTIAN96
  • MEMBER
  • 4 POSTS
What I meant was both engine revs and power are dying together, so therefore the clutch can't be slipping.

I can't really say where the spark was near the distributor, I only saw it once, and it wasn't sparking again when ignition was being turned on, but it sparked roughly where the spark plugs leads run out.

No I haven't check fuel pump pressure, today I opened up my carb air intake case and I see fuel is being squirted into the carb, out of one jet. Not sure if there's supposed to be two.

Also I removed and drained my fuel tank today, because as I said I put a new fuel filter on and I have driven approximately 10kms and it's dirty again, and the fuel tank was pretty good, no rust or any that was really visible, petrol came out clear, but I flushed it anyway.

My problem to me sounds fuel related, however if it were than changing my spark plugs shouldn't have really helped.
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Monday, March 9th, 2015 AT 1:36 AM
Tiny
SEBASTIAN96
  • MEMBER
  • 4 POSTS
Also I'm not sure if this is accurate but I think it is, according to suzistore website I should be getting a standard compression of 200psi and 175psi minimum, mines reading 120-130 between all 4.
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Monday, March 9th, 2015 AT 4:44 PM
Tiny
JACOBANDNICKOLAS
  • MECHANIC
  • 109,867 POSTS
I just looked it up. It should be between 170 and 200 psi. Yours is low. I have to be honest, based on your description, it does sound like it is fuel related. Basically, it sounds like when the added fuel is needed, it can't keep up, so it looses power. I think it would be a good idea to check pressure. I am worried about the compression, but don't feel it is the issue here.
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Monday, March 9th, 2015 AT 6:58 PM
Tiny
SEBASTIAN96
  • MEMBER
  • 4 POSTS
Yeah everybody seems to be worried about the compression, just a quick question if I'm losing compression almost equally among all cylinders would it more likely be a case of a blown gasket or something else rather than piston wear? Not to mention the engine has only done 53,000kms.

What I'm going to do is clean/replace all lines between petrol tank, replace fuel pump, put a filter between the fuel pump and the carby and then rebuild the carburettor, if all that fails then I will be working my way through the electrical side of things. Hopefully that works, I will post results once I have finished.
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Monday, March 9th, 2015 AT 7:36 PM
Tiny
JACOBANDNICKOLAS
  • MECHANIC
  • 109,867 POSTS
Usually with a head gasket, you will lose compression in either one or two of the cylinders and not all. You know, even though I looked up the compression, to me what I found still seems too high. Your readings don't sound too far from an average normal to me.

Things that can cause low compression are a head gasket, piston rings or cylinder wear, leaking valves, and engine timing.
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Tuesday, March 10th, 2015 AT 5:08 AM

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