icebird_1981

k heres the deal.
my car is being robbed big time of power and i cant firgure out y.
i got new wires
new plugs
fuel filter is new along with every other filter.
timeing is perfect>just had it checked today
what else could cause such a thing?
could my distrubutor/coil/rotor cause a huge power loss?

KED85

Yes.
What ya do?
NOT KNOWING your defination of loss of power, start examinaing the obvious & also check your alternator output.
DO not count out electrical power output for rbing power, too.
Heat is also a big power robber, too. Is the car running to hot, lately?

nadster

A coil going out can be a big cause. Usually if a rotor or cap is going the car will missfire here and there during idle with symptoms close to what a fouled spark plug would be. Like KED said, check the electric current with a volt meter and it should be close to 13.8 - 14.5 or so volts while the car is running. Usually it'll be around (for my cars at least) 12.8 - 13.1 while not running.

Also, these cars tend to run normal temp around 195 degrees - 220 (when the fan kicks on). So make sure it's less than 220 during normal operation.

Finally, run a scanner or have a scope run to check on your sensors. Things like a bad Mass Air Flow Sensor or Mass Air Pressure sensor could actucally rob a lot of power, and just be close enough on the scale of what is needed to not set off a check engine code. Same with the o2, the TPS, and the air temp sensor.

Good luck,
-Dan

icebird_1981

power loss as in my car not being as fast as it use to be. k i am gunna replace my coil. i dont got any back fires so i think the rest should be fine.

CC_HotRod

If all of the before metion check outs. Check your converter if it is starting to clog that can cause a lose of power also.

SSC

Yep, thats what I would check, almost bet money its a plugged converter. Take a rubber mallot and pop the converter a few times and listen for debree.

KED85

Yep, it's time for a replacement CC.
My call was on "power" in a different way.
I've had my CC clog up & yep, it does loose power.
I replaced mine with a AC Delco CC (USED for 50K, too!).
It's a 2 1/2" sized model from a 4th gen F Body.
Fit 100% like it was made for my 3rd Gen F body car.

icebird_1981

k well just a update i had the cats checked today>well not taken off and checked, but the dude hit them, and he listened to the revs and exhaust sound and said they sounds perfect. i am still debateing if i should get them cut off and checked out>what u guys think?
also i checked out my distrubutor and its working fine.
and i changed the spring to my carb to the yellow one>helped a bit.
the mechanic took it for a spin, the first thing he said was it has no power. then after he checked everything and tested her again he says he knows my problem, its my kick down wire.
see i have not had it hooked up since i got the car, its to short to reach the carb and its all burnt up from leaning on my header.
he says hes sure this is the problem.
anyway what do u guys think i should do next???is it possible this kick down wire thing is screwing me up??

KED85

What is a "kick-down wire"?
Never heard of that.
If exhaust doesn't rattle, then the CC is ok.
My CC, when it went bad, rattled.
Then when fell to ground chunks fell out (it decomposed interanlly, broke up, blocked exhaust flow causing loss of power).
Sorry never heard of a kick down wire.
Exactly what year we helping ya on?

DaGoat

Are you talking about the TV cable?

You might also try a new O2 sensor (if you're computer controlled) like mentioned above. It's only $20.

SSC

I still wouldent cout out the converter. What year is your car? I know some later 80's early 90's GM cars came with the screen cat that doesent rattle when broken or clogged but crap grows on the inside reducing the flow.

Karl should be familiar with this type thats what He's now got on his car flows much better.

87CamaroMan

My car was lacking much power. It ran fine until it warmed up.. I put that engine restore crap in mine its in a can that looks like a beer can. I ran it for about 100miles and then outta no where I was spinning tire. that fixed my power problem, and also you should check your O2 sensor and any other sensors.

Nixon1

If by kickdown wire, you mean your TV cable, or kickdown cable as it's commonly mis-referred to...then I could see that giving you power loss! Why? Because the car's not kicking down or hitting passing gear most likely! It's like going 20 mph and nailing it and staying in 3rd gear in a stickshift....it's sloowwww!

How long has the cable been disconnected? Sadly...that's a surefire way to blow your transmission. Does it shift REALLY smooth? My buddy had an 84 carbed Trans Am and didnt hook up his cable. The car shifted fine for about 3 weeks, then he blew 2nd and 4th gears while racing someone. I'm afraid that if you hook the cable back up now, the sudden fluid pressure increase might blow seals. Either way, it's doomed if this IS the case.

Gumby

It could be your kick down cable but did it run better before even with it un-hooked???

Sounds like it ran better befoe but reciently went soft.


When I feel my car get a bit soft in the rev's it means I got a hole in my ram air ducting and the car is sucking hot under hood air.


Matt

KED85

Transmission would be acting extremly funny by now, if cable was detatched.

SSC

It's probably a cruise controll cable disconnected. I think someone would notice the car running to 5k before the MTV up valve forced it into second and then the imediate drop into 3rd. Adjust your T.V cable and see if it helps, It cant hurt and most get whacked out of adjustment every 6k or so.

icebird_1981

i no this is old but i dont see y i should make another topic for it.
anyway i still did not get the problem fixed, from a stop she wont spin on bald tire, but the thing is> from a roll she will fly, i never lost a race from a roll, but when i am at a stop she has nothing at all. anyway i went out and got a whole new exhaust system with a new high flow cat, did not make much of a diffrence if any and put new gears in her 3.42 still nothing.
and ya it is the kick down cable not hooked up>i have a th 350 tranny not a 700r4 so from what i no i dont have a TV cable on mine and some guys dont even hook up the kick down cable. my question is could a kick down cable on a th350 be stuck in some sort of spot and cause her to have nothing off the line? what else can it be??

Nixon1

Well lemme say this.. I've never heard of a car with a kickdown/TV cable in which it's OK to disconnect it. It's there for a reason! If the cable is disconnected, it will supply the transmission with insufficient fluid pressure, which allows the clutch plates to slip....aka, tranny slippage.