Where'd my power go?

[stanwood]

I'll be driving along at about 40mph and then I'll lose all horse power and torque. The engine will be running, rpm's up, but nothing's getting out of the motor. I know this is vague but help me out here. I think it's somewhere in the ignition. What should/could/can I check first. If I pull over and wait a minute it comes back. Then a 1/2 mile further and it starts again. No stalling though. Any ideas?

Thanks in advance!

stanwood

[Zacko]

A little more info is needed, like is the transmission hooking up? If the engine is revving your problem doesn't make sense.

[stanwood]

Yes, transmission is fine. RPM's are up, but not at normal range - it kinda sputters.

[talntar]

intermitent ignition modual

[joe]

Is the vac advance hose in good shape and hooked up to the distributor?

[Zacko]

Could be plugged catalytic converter too.

[stanwood]

I'll check the vaccuum advance hose. How do I check the intermitent ignition modual?

Thanks again!

[joe]

If the ign module was heating up and acting intermittently it wouldn't rob your power, it'd just cut out like if you turned the key off and then re-light after it cools. I'd look at the vac advance thing but it may be a fuel delivery prob or just plain old ign parts(wires, plugs, cap, rotor). If you haven't done a complete tune up in awhile that may be a good place to start. As mentioned above a plugged cat will rob your power also.

[ May 02, 2003, 11:22 AM: Message edited by: -joe ]

[Kaiserjeeps]

What about a plugged fuel filter??? Taking a stab in the dark here...

[1jeep4me]

WOW these FSJ really have similar problems......I had the same exact proble after a rther lengthy 1000 mile trip.....
Here is what I found......

4brl edel. with stock filter and cover robbed power even more so wwhen the filter got dirty.. so in themiddle of my trip I flipped the cover..got the power back.......later changed filter.......

Then 100 miles more it happened again.. this time driving down the highway foot deep in the throttle and not accelerating hummmm

Popped off the dist cap and viola 5K miles on new dist cap and its corroded like hell in side1 scraped the crud off spryed with WD 40 and Viola power came back......

5 mile later smae symptoms and find filter had clogged not even a full 2 pounds of pressure with elect. fuel pump. ok replaced filter and viola evenmore power......

Well well these engines need maint. all the time.. Not bad at al considering once you know what to look for these animals run like a champ.

Next move for me is the TFI swap!

[River Beast]

starting to get hot in TX.... does it CHUG along like a sputter? Could be vaporlock....

[highspeedgi]

I know this is a little out there and It has nothing to do with the ignition but what about the Torque convertor? I had those same symtomes with my Blazer before the TC imploded. I am not much for this stuff in here and usually I avoid replying to tech questions becuase generally I dont know for sure. But this sounds the same as mine.

[stanwood]

Well, I replaced the fuel delivery system about 200 miles ago so I hope that's not it, but I will check it. Vac hose is hooked up correctly. It's getting dark now so in the morning I will check the distributor for any obvious problems. It's run real well for a long time - I've been lucky.

Anyone else have any ideas please let me know.