So SLOW!! WHERE'S MY POWER??

[acdcguitarchick]

I have a 1995 3.2 liter sho and it's pretty much dead to the world. I've had a similar experience driving a Chevette. It will barely even make it up hills. It has a rather new transmission and shifts well, so I know it isn't that. Sometimes I have to push the pedal almost to the floor to get it to go, and even if I push it to the floor it's still slower than any car I've ever had (I've had a buick, an 89 tempo with a bad tranny, and a 02 nissan 4 cyl sentra)... Anyone have any ideas what might be causing the power loss? The manifold intake valves aren't opening as they're supposed to and my check engine light comes on intermittently.. however, anywhere I take the car, the mechanic says he has no clue about those engines and can't help me, and it seems no one's scanner can read the codes. The car is also rather hard to start up some days... I have to hold the key a lonnnnnnnnng time before it turns over- sometimes start up is accompanied by a loud popping sound. If anyone has any advice/help for me... I'll welcome it. I'm getting no where with any mechanics in this town.

 

[FRDSHOGRL93X3]

The popping noise you describe probably is the sound of a bad MAF sensor and would cause sluggishness. Do a "search" on the forum for pulling the codes, you can do it manually with a paperclip, pretty simple and start from there.

 

[93rev2sev]

Dang ATXs

Since no recent maintenance is listed, I suggest new plugs/wires and a MAF sensor cleaning.

If that dosent help, then it might have suffered a jumped tooth on the timing belt. How is the temperature? Does it run hot?

I'm just going to the "bad place" right out of the gate.

 

[hawkeye18]

sounds like a cam sensor may be partly to blame. It sits on the passenger side of the rearmost cam bank. It's a little black circular-looking thingy. After that, I would look at plugs and wires (look for oil in the plug wells, that means it's new valve cover gasket time).

The cam sensor, when broke, doesn't tell the computer which cam is where, so the computer doesn't know which cylinder to fire, so it'll just randomly fire cylinders until it finds one that works. Then, it continues doing that, so the cylinder with fuel in it isn't always the one that's getting the spark.

As for the code reader, go to any advance auto and ask for an Actron Ford OBD1 reader. It's got 4 little pins on it and the end looks like the code reader plug on the firewall. Then, read the code-taking procedure either in SHOtimes (www.shotimes.com), or in the book that comes with the code reader. It's just like any other Ford OBD1/EEC-IV system out there. ...well, with the exception of the Probe and its stupid MECS system.

 

[SHObill]

Welcome to the SHOForum! Where in Ohio are you. They are a few Boys in Ohio that would prolly help out a AC/DC lovin Chick! Tom (93revtosev) prolly called it as bad plugs/wires or timing jump!

 

[Phoenix]

While you're at it , pull the codes , you stated you saw the CE light.

Here's how: http://www.shophoenixproject.com/eec/eec.htm

And welcome to the forum.

If you want a good piece of advice , don't send it to a Ford dealer , They don't know jack about SHO's either (Except a minority).

 

[acdcguitarchick]

Took it to a Ford dealership last night--- they said it was a bank one EGO sensor... heater in it shorting out and making engine do crazy things. Said there are probably more problems, but I need to start with replacing that. Bleh.

Plugs/Plug wires new. Temperature is normal. Had to replace the thermostat not too long ago.

BTW, anyone with a 95 SHO, there's a recall for the cruise control... apparently something in there causes something to burst into flames, lol, they fixed mine last night... May want to check that yours isn't on the recall list...Check with a dealership because mine didn't come up with any recalls on online vin/recall check

 

[93rev2sev]

That Stealership will OWN you if you let em.

 

[T.O_SHO]

As Hawkeye briefly mentioned, even though the plugs/wires are new, pull out one of the wires off of the plugs, see if any oil has accumulated in the plug well. If there is any oil sitting in there it's pretty much a safe bet that your motor has not had the 60k maintenance it needs.

 

[acdcguitarchick]

Yeah, except I just paid them to do the scanning because I'm entirely too lazy to do it manually... they get paid for no labor or parts... I work at another dealership and get my parts way less than list price and my boyfriend's a mechanic with a 94 sho so he puts the stuff in... the "stealership" isn't playing me too hard. lol

 

[BillyWillicker]

no power and popping from intake is lean fuel condition. check for fuel pressure and flow, also check for a plugged fuel filter and fuel system contamination. OBD1 systems dont monitor the fuel system like a OBD2 system does, so scanning for codes does no good. Have someone scan the car and poll the o2 voltage and switching, if it switches at idle and not at a cruise of say 45-65 you have a fuel flow issue. If you have no switching at all and a low o2 voltage all the time, you have a serious fuel flow issue. No power can also be a missing spout plug, however if that were the case you would have glowing red exhaust manifolds and your fuel mileage would be in the toilet, both things you are not describing. Good luck!!!