Acceleration Problems

SPORK777

MEMBER
TOYOTA PICKUP

I have a 1988 Toyota pickup with about 177,000 miles, and a 2.4L 4 cylinder engine. I've recently had trouble accelerating, like it has lost some horsepower. I also have trouble maintaining speed going uphill. Even a very slight hill causes a dramatic slowdown in speed. And I've also noticed a burning chemical smell, especially after going uphill. I had a tuneup about 5 years ago and had the radiator and alternator replaced within the past 2 years. I had the oil changed about 1 month ago. What do you think the problem is?

3 Replies

SERVICE WRITER

MECHANIC
9,123 POSTS

How many miles regding that tune up? And what was replaced at that time?

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Sunday, April 1st, 2007 AT 9:12 PM

SPORK777

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2 POSTS

I've gone maybe 40,000 to 45,000 miles since the tuneup. They changed the spark plugs and whatever else is normal for a tuneup.

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Sunday, April 1st, 2007 AT 9:35 PM

SERVICE WRITER

MECHANIC
9,123 POSTS

Tune up is a kind of generic word that doesn't mean the same thing to everyone.

BTW is this the Carbureted or F/I motor?

For starters, since you don't know what was done, I would start with a tune up as you need it anyways.

If it were mine, I would get a set of NGK brand plugs,
I think these were regular resistor plugs. ( If that is what it came with I would stay with it and not put in platinum or any other one).
Replace the fuel filter, replace tha Cap, Rotor, and wires with a quality brand, I like Standard.

Look at each plug and check for anything abnormal, noted what cylinder it came from if anything is present.

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Monday, April 2nd, 2007 AT 5:00 AM