Engine is losing power going up hills

Tiny
KEITH PUNK
  • MEMBER
  • 1993 TOYOTA 4RUNNER
My 93 toyota 4runner (2.4 Diesel Turbo) is experiencing power-loss, the engine revs really high but the truck's not going fast enough. Whats wrong? I usually experience this while going up a hill. Its not really that weak but it takes time to pick up speed. I could hardly go up a steep hill in 3rd gear, I'd always have to bring it back down to 2nd or 1st gear to get to the top. The engine sounds very powerful and the mechanic thats been working on it says he just cant figure out what the problem is and suggested it could be a problem deep inside the engine (pistons, cylinder-head or block) but we've had all those replaced so he just became absolutely clueless. I still use the 4runner everyday and everything seems to be OK except for the weakness! But it does consume more fuel than it used to. The most annoying thing is that the engine sounds almost brand new and powerful but all that power is just not getting to the wheels I guess. Please reply and suggest something. By the way this is coming to you guys all the way from the Solomon Islands in the South Pacific!
Saturday, September 24th, 2011 AT 9:30 PM

6 Replies

Tiny
MHPAUTOS
  • MECHANIC
  • 31,937 POSTS
Check compressions, check fuel filter and air filter is not blocked, I am thinking that the engine has a lot of km's on the clock, so it may be due for new injectors, have they been done yet?
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Sunday, September 25th, 2011 AT 4:10 AM
Tiny
KEITH PUNK
  • MEMBER
  • 5 POSTS
A new fuel filter had just been installed in February this year. The air filter was badly clogged when it was replaced late last year and the injectors were replaced in early 2009 so I don't think its any of those, but I got a new mechanic to check on it today and he was absolutely positive it was a clutch problem. He said it was the clutch lining. What do you guys think?
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Sunday, September 25th, 2011 AT 9:26 AM
Tiny
MHPAUTOS
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You can do a clutch test your self, just apply the hand brake as hard as you can and select 1st and drive off slowly, the car should stall out straight away, and if the drive takes up with the pedal well off the floor, the clutch will be suspect.
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Sunday, September 25th, 2011 AT 1:56 PM
Tiny
KEITH PUNK
  • MEMBER
  • 5 POSTS
So you mean a normal truck without clutch problems should stall straight away.I think this new guy thats checked it out must have done that test for sure. But I'll try it myself. Thanks!
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Sunday, September 25th, 2011 AT 10:19 PM
Tiny
MHPAUTOS
  • MECHANIC
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A good clutch will stall the engine, a slipping clutch will also stall but you will feel it slip and it will smell as well, just don't do it to many times as it is very hard on the clutch plate.
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Monday, September 26th, 2011 AT 3:50 AM
Tiny
KEITH PUNK
  • MEMBER
  • 5 POSTS
Hey guys, I was driving back home when my 4runners engine stalled on me and I couldnt restart, thankfully I was in my drive way already. Anyway before it died it gradually got weaker (power loss) and there was this ratteling sound from the front of the engine around the bonnet area. The funny thing was that the left battery suddenly went flat right at that spot, (very weak cranking) this truck needs two strong batteries to kick the engine, well the left one was totally flat. The next morning the engine didnt crank at all.

Before handing me any advice, My AC fan has been running without a relay for about 2 months now (cant find a spare in my country). The AC guy connected a wire straight from the fusebox right to the AC compressor switch, this meant that even when the engine was off, the AC fan would still be running, so everytime I got back home I had to turn disconnect the wire to stop the fan from spinning. I only connected it when I needed AC.

Do you think my AC fan relay problem has something to do with the engine stalling?

Any Advice would be a Godsend. Thanks Guys!
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Friday, March 2nd, 2012 AT 11:24 AM

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