Power Loss

timhobbs · 01-10-2005, 04:52 PM

my 2000 4wd blazer with 60k has recently had a huge power loss. at low speeds and idle there is not much noticeable loss, but at highway speeds i am running about 500 to 1000 rpms higher. it is driving like i am pushing into a big headwind. also my mpg have dropped about 1 to 1.5 mpg, down to about 15 in town. i was getting about 16.8.

i recently replaced plugs with paltinum +4, have a k&n air filter, clean, fuel filter is less than 6 months old, recent oil change, transmission change about 8000 miles ago. i am also going to clean the MAF after reading a post.

from reading all of the forums i think it might be a plugged cat. i would rather get a new high flow one from jegs or somewhere, than pick one up autozone. but i don't know which one i need. also plan on getting new o2 sensors. could someone tell me what cat to get, or what site has a vehicle lookup..

if anyone else has any other ideas as to the problem.....

andy84 · 01-12-2005, 07:37 PM

Make sure you aren't running your windshield defroster when you don't need it. It causes your AC compressor to run and robs you of power. I keep leaving mine on accidently and notice it as soon as I go to merge on the interstate. Also make sure your tires have enough air in them--but i'm sure you already knew that. If it is running higher RPM's at highway speeds, I wonder if your torque converter lockup solenoid is working...not sure how you would test that though.

timhobbs · 01-12-2005, 08:17 PM

turns out it ws the catalytic converter. i also found aout a useful piece of information. it seems there is a federal emissions law that requires car makers to warranty emissions components fo 8 years/80,000 miles regardless if you are first owner or not.

the_dubster98 · 01-13-2005, 09:54 AM

hmm i think my 2000 jimmy with about the same amount of miles feels like its lost a little bit of HP..
you have a link to see the warranty info you found out?

timhobbs · 01-13-2005, 11:12 AM

i was told by a local muffler shop. i never found an actual law. but when i asked the dealer about it they knew about it, but i don't think that they would have told me otherwise

andy84 · 01-13-2005, 12:46 PM

Has your check engine light ever come on? I have heard that unburnt fuel going out through your exhaust will ruin your catalytic converter very quickly. Yours seems rather early to go out.

the_dubster98 · 01-13-2005, 12:56 PM

nope no SES light.. if ya were askin me..

dweh54 · 01-13-2005, 01:32 PM

The warranty info would have been included in the original warranty documentation when the truck was purchased

timhobbs · 01-13-2005, 02:43 PM

i have heard that also, no the check engine light has never come on. it still seems a little wierd though, the major power loss is definitely better after the cat, but it still seems to hesitate a little though, two weeks ago it ran great so i don't know...

devilman13xx · 01-13-2005, 05:56 PM

does your ses light work? if it lights for a sec when you start the car its working/ ive had em blow the bulb and never knew i hade like 15 codes runnin, bad 02 sensors and egr valve

pull those plat plugs and check em.. they sometime get carbon buildup in those little hooks they have, spray em down with parts clean and check the gap.

also if you havent in while fill er up with high octane and run it down the higway for a hour or so to blow any carbon out.

if it still doing it after that check your air filter, you gotta clean those k&ns out once in while and re oil them

STILL doing it after that the time to check wires and cap/rotor and maybe a fuel filter

and lastly if none of that works, have your fuel pump tested and/or drop the tank and change the small fuel filter on the fuel pump, they normally last the life of the pump but if you got ahold of dirty gas they will clog

timhobbs · 01-13-2005, 09:44 PM

yeah my light works. would the platinum =4 have carbon on them after only a month? i will check the k&n it might have some mud or dust, been offroad a couple times here lately. i will try the other stuff..

devilman13xx · 01-13-2005, 11:57 PM

filter prolly most likely

ive heard good and bad bout the +4's mostly bad... wont hurt to check em out though, just pull the #1 plug.

also next oil change throw a can of engine re-stor in it, that stuff works great and for 7bux a can cant beat it

timhobbs · 01-16-2005, 06:11 PM

the strange thing is that at idle it is fine. would it be in the fuel system if it did not act up at idle only highway speed. the k&n looks fine, but i am going to clean it anyway.

Quote: Originally Posted by devilman13xx

does your ses light work? if it lights for a sec when you start the car its working/ ive had em blow the bulb and never knew i hade like 15 codes runnin, bad 02 sensors and egr valve

pull those plat plugs and check em.. they sometime get carbon buildup in those little hooks they have, spray em down with parts clean and check the gap.

also if you havent in while fill er up with high octane and run it down the higway for a hour or so to blow any carbon out.

if it still doing it after that check your air filter, you gotta clean those k&ns out once in while and re oil them

STILL doing it after that the time to check wires and cap/rotor and maybe a fuel filter

and lastly if none of that works, have your fuel pump tested and/or drop the tank and change the small fuel filter on the fuel pump, they normally last the life of the pump but if you got ahold of dirty gas they will clog

XCELLRTR · 01-16-2005, 10:57 PM

yes it is true it cover's your converter and your pcm since both have to do with emissions

Dave1814 · 01-16-2005, 11:17 PM

it could be a clogged EGR valve, ive heard that they tend to get carbon buildup and crap in them, maybe u should check it out.

also, my 2000 blazer runs like crap without a full tank of gas, i can tell when im runnin like a half-tank because it gets sluggish and feels like its not gettin any fuel.

and lastly, did your gas mileage improve after the cat was replaced? i noticed a dip in my mileage like from 16 to 13 and about two weeks later i herd noise which turned out to be my wheel bearing, after i replaced it, i noticed a significant improvement.

timhobbs · 01-17-2005, 12:04 AM

it runs like that full and empty. i will try the EGR i had the codes checked, but the computer wasn't holding any. the gas mileage improved about 2-3 days after the cat, but now is worse than ever. the guy at the the auto parts said it sounded like either the o2 sensors, or the MAF, i am going to try those too. but since the computer wasn't showing any codes i am not sure i should. it is funny that you said that about the bearings. that was one of the things i was curious about, have to try that. anyone know how hard it is to replace them?..

Dave1814 · 01-17-2005, 11:46 AM

i did my wheel bearing my self. it wasnt that bad, u just need the right tools. since mine is a 4x4, i needed a deep socket like bigger than an inch and had to use an impact gun to get the hub nut off, and to put it back on. you are supposed to torque the three bolts holding it from the back and the hub nut, but my brother has done a few and said to just sock it down with the gun so i did, its holdin up good. and the wheel bearing itself was about $200 from NAPA but its guarenteed for life and i plan on having this truck for a while so it wasnt that bad.

someone told me you can check for bad wheel bearings by checking if the tire is wobbley up or down, but it didnt seem that way for mine. i could hear a whining noise and it got worse over the course of two weeks, i changed it and couldnt tell it was bad until i got it out and turned it, comparing it to the new one.

anyways, good luck on whatever it is, hope this was helpfull.

01-10-2005, 04:52 PM	#1
timhobbs Registered User Age: 33 Join Date: Aug 2004 Posts: 8 Location: User is: OffLine	Power Loss my 2000 4wd blazer with 60k has recently had a huge power loss. at low speeds and idle there is not much noticeable loss, but at highway speeds i am running about 500 to 1000 rpms higher. it is driving like i am pushing into a big headwind. also my mpg have dropped about 1 to 1.5 mpg, down to about 15 in town. i was getting about 16.8. i recently replaced plugs with paltinum +4, have a k&n air filter, clean, fuel filter is less than 6 months old, recent oil change, transmission change about 8000 miles ago. i am also going to clean the MAF after reading a post. from reading all of the forums i think it might be a plugged cat. i would rather get a new high flow one from jegs or somewhere, than pick one up autozone. but i don't know which one i need. also plan on getting new o2 sensors. could someone tell me what cat to get, or what site has a vehicle lookup.. if anyone else has any other ideas as to the problem.....
	[Reply w/Quote]

01-12-2005, 07:37 PM	#2
andy84 Registered User Age: 25 Join Date: Nov 2004 Posts: 116 Location: User is: OffLine	Re: Power Loss Make sure you aren't running your windshield defroster when you don't need it. It causes your AC compressor to run and robs you of power. I keep leaving mine on accidently and notice it as soon as I go to merge on the interstate. Also make sure your tires have enough air in them--but i'm sure you already knew that. If it is running higher RPM's at highway speeds, I wonder if your torque converter lockup solenoid is working...not sure how you would test that though. Last edited by andy84 : 01-12-2005 at 07:37 PM.
	[Reply w/Quote]

01-12-2005, 08:17 PM	#3
timhobbs Registered User Age: 33 Join Date: Aug 2004 Posts: 8 Location: User is: OffLine	Re: Power Loss turns out it ws the catalytic converter. i also found aout a useful piece of information. it seems there is a federal emissions law that requires car makers to warranty emissions components fo 8 years/80,000 miles regardless if you are first owner or not.
	[Reply w/Quote]

01-13-2005, 09:54 AM	#4
the_dubster98 V8 Member Age: 30 Join Date: Feb 2003 Posts: 2,808 Location: Rhode Island User is: OffLine	Re: Power Loss hmm i think my 2000 jimmy with about the same amount of miles feels like its lost a little bit of HP.. you have a link to see the warranty info you found out?
	[Reply w/Quote]

01-13-2005, 11:12 AM	#5
timhobbs Registered User Age: 33 Join Date: Aug 2004 Posts: 8 Location: User is: OffLine	Re: Power Loss i was told by a local muffler shop. i never found an actual law. but when i asked the dealer about it they knew about it, but i don't think that they would have told me otherwise
	[Reply w/Quote]

01-13-2005, 12:46 PM	#6
andy84 Registered User Age: 25 Join Date: Nov 2004 Posts: 116 Location: User is: OffLine	Re: Power Loss Has your check engine light ever come on? I have heard that unburnt fuel going out through your exhaust will ruin your catalytic converter very quickly. Yours seems rather early to go out.
	[Reply w/Quote]

01-13-2005, 12:56 PM	#7
the_dubster98 V8 Member Age: 30 Join Date: Feb 2003 Posts: 2,808 Location: Rhode Island User is: OffLine	Re: Power Loss nope no SES light.. if ya were askin me..
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01-13-2005, 01:32 PM	#8
dweh54 Registered User Age: 31 Join Date: Jul 2004 Posts: 237 Location: Cleveland User is: OffLine	Re: Power Loss The warranty info would have been included in the original warranty documentation when the truck was purchased
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01-13-2005, 02:43 PM	#9
timhobbs Registered User Age: 33 Join Date: Aug 2004 Posts: 8 Location: User is: OffLine	Re: Power Loss i have heard that also, no the check engine light has never come on. it still seems a little wierd though, the major power loss is definitely better after the cat, but it still seems to hesitate a little though, two weeks ago it ran great so i don't know...
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01-13-2005, 05:56 PM	#10
devilman13xx Same Poop,Different Scoop Age: 29 Join Date: Jan 2005 Posts: 4,054 Location: Daytona Beach User is: OffLine	Re: Power Loss does your ses light work? if it lights for a sec when you start the car its working/ ive had em blow the bulb and never knew i hade like 15 codes runnin, bad 02 sensors and egr valve pull those plat plugs and check em.. they sometime get carbon buildup in those little hooks they have, spray em down with parts clean and check the gap. also if you havent in while fill er up with high octane and run it down the higway for a hour or so to blow any carbon out. if it still doing it after that check your air filter, you gotta clean those k&ns out once in while and re oil them STILL doing it after that the time to check wires and cap/rotor and maybe a fuel filter and lastly if none of that works, have your fuel pump tested and/or drop the tank and change the small fuel filter on the fuel pump, they normally last the life of the pump but if you got ahold of dirty gas they will clog Last edited by devilman13xx : 01-13-2005 at 05:58 PM.
	[Reply w/Quote]

01-13-2005, 09:44 PM	#11
timhobbs Registered User Age: 33 Join Date: Aug 2004 Posts: 8 Location: User is: OffLine	Re: Power Loss yeah my light works. would the platinum =4 have carbon on them after only a month? i will check the k&n it might have some mud or dust, been offroad a couple times here lately. i will try the other stuff..
	[Reply w/Quote]

01-13-2005, 11:57 PM	#12
devilman13xx Same Poop,Different Scoop Age: 29 Join Date: Jan 2005 Posts: 4,054 Location: Daytona Beach User is: OffLine	Re: Power Loss filter prolly most likely ive heard good and bad bout the +4's mostly bad... wont hurt to check em out though, just pull the #1 plug. also next oil change throw a can of engine re-stor in it, that stuff works great and for 7bux a can cant beat it
	[Reply w/Quote]

01-16-2005, 06:11 PM	#13
timhobbs Registered User Age: 33 Join Date: Aug 2004 Posts: 8 Location: User is: OffLine	Re: Power Loss the strange thing is that at idle it is fine. would it be in the fuel system if it did not act up at idle only highway speed. the k&n looks fine, but i am going to clean it anyway. Quote: Originally Posted by devilman13xx does your ses light work? if it lights for a sec when you start the car its working/ ive had em blow the bulb and never knew i hade like 15 codes runnin, bad 02 sensors and egr valve pull those plat plugs and check em.. they sometime get carbon buildup in those little hooks they have, spray em down with parts clean and check the gap. also if you havent in while fill er up with high octane and run it down the higway for a hour or so to blow any carbon out. if it still doing it after that check your air filter, you gotta clean those k&ns out once in while and re oil them STILL doing it after that the time to check wires and cap/rotor and maybe a fuel filter and lastly if none of that works, have your fuel pump tested and/or drop the tank and change the small fuel filter on the fuel pump, they normally last the life of the pump but if you got ahold of dirty gas they will clog
	[Reply w/Quote]

01-16-2005, 10:57 PM	#14
XCELLRTR Registered User Age: 33 Join Date: Mar 2002 Posts: 14 Location: WICHITA User is: OffLine	Re: Power Loss yes it is true it cover's your converter and your pcm since both have to do with emissions
	[Reply w/Quote]

01-16-2005, 11:17 PM	#15
Dave1814 Dave Age: 21 Join Date: Dec 2004 Posts: 107 Location: South Kingstown, RI User is: OffLine	Re: Power Loss it could be a clogged EGR valve, ive heard that they tend to get carbon buildup and crap in them, maybe u should check it out. also, my 2000 blazer runs like crap without a full tank of gas, i can tell when im runnin like a half-tank because it gets sluggish and feels like its not gettin any fuel. and lastly, did your gas mileage improve after the cat was replaced? i noticed a dip in my mileage like from 16 to 13 and about two weeks later i herd noise which turned out to be my wheel bearing, after i replaced it, i noticed a significant improvement.
	[Reply w/Quote]

01-17-2005, 12:04 AM	#16
timhobbs Registered User Age: 33 Join Date: Aug 2004 Posts: 8 Location: User is: OffLine	Re: Power Loss it runs like that full and empty. i will try the EGR i had the codes checked, but the computer wasn't holding any. the gas mileage improved about 2-3 days after the cat, but now is worse than ever. the guy at the the auto parts said it sounded like either the o2 sensors, or the MAF, i am going to try those too. but since the computer wasn't showing any codes i am not sure i should. it is funny that you said that about the bearings. that was one of the things i was curious about, have to try that. anyone know how hard it is to replace them?..
	[Reply w/Quote]

01-17-2005, 11:46 AM	#17
Dave1814 Dave Age: 21 Join Date: Dec 2004 Posts: 107 Location: South Kingstown, RI User is: OffLine	Re: Power Loss i did my wheel bearing my self. it wasnt that bad, u just need the right tools. since mine is a 4x4, i needed a deep socket like bigger than an inch and had to use an impact gun to get the hub nut off, and to put it back on. you are supposed to torque the three bolts holding it from the back and the hub nut, but my brother has done a few and said to just sock it down with the gun so i did, its holdin up good. and the wheel bearing itself was about $200 from NAPA but its guarenteed for life and i plan on having this truck for a while so it wasnt that bad. someone told me you can check for bad wheel bearings by checking if the tire is wobbley up or down, but it didnt seem that way for mine. i could hear a whining noise and it got worse over the course of two weeks, i changed it and couldnt tell it was bad until i got it out and turned it, comparing it to the new one. anyways, good luck on whatever it is, hope this was helpfull.
	[Reply w/Quote]