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  • Suddenly lacking power

    I've a '93 carburettored Pride.

    I was doing a grass autotest yesterday here in the Uk (they're different to yours, being shorter and more fiddly - usually done in first and reverse only) when the power dropped off. We've had no rain for weeks (difficult to believe in the UK I know) so the ground's rock hard and the old car was taking quite a pounding.

    It's always revved very freely, I've seen over 7K on the tacho. It suddenly wouldn't go above 6K. It'll go to 4K quite well, but then slowly rise to 6K where it 'tops out', this is foot to the floor in first!

    My first thought was I must have clobbered the exhaust and squashed it, but it's fine and not showing any signs of damage. It's quite new from the cat back and still got paint on it and very solid.

    It drove home but lacked the 'punch' it's always had.

    It's not misfiring. I've pulled the plugs and they look fine. It had a new cambelt less than 5K miles ago. There's no slack in the throttle cable. Everything appears to be well apart from this lack of 'go'.

    I've peered down the carburettor throat. The first throttle butterfly is working fine, but when you operate the throttle cable further (I can feel what seems to be the second choke) the second butterfly doesn't move. Is this one operated directly, or is it indirect operation by vacuum or other nefarious means?

    The only other symptons are the exhaust note may be more muted (I may be imagining this) and when I pull the EGR pipe off the air filter there seems to be more exhaust coming out of there than may be healthy. I'm thinking possible collapsed cat. Is there any simple way of checking this?

    I'd welcome any other checks I can do and suggestions for for what the problem might be.

    The missus drove it around town this morning and didn't notice any difference, but she's pretty conservative in her driving style!

  • #2
    Sussed it!

    I took the cat off and could see that was fine, so I thought I'd remove the rest of the exhaust. The back box rattled!

    The little pile of black bits is what I assume to be the perforated tube that runs through the box. It seems this rusted through and allowed the wadding to block the exhaust path, increasing back pressure and forcing more exhaust through the EGR.

    The back box is now completely empty, I can see right through it, but stangely the car isn't any louder.

    I guess it doesn't get enough long journies. It'll be interesting to see how long the casing lasts. There's no sign of any rust on the outside.

    Took it down the road, 7K in first and second, no problem.

    The missus would like to know the reason for putting all that stuffing in there.

    I'd still appreciate anyone telling me how the second choke on the carb is operated.
    Last edited by Bathtub Tom; 10-05-2009, 01:54 PM.

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    • #3
      dude...I think your car choked up a hair ball or a small dog....
      "FLTG4LIFE" @FINALLEVEL , "PBH"
      89L Silver EFI auto
      91GL Green Auto DD
      There ain't no rest for the wicked
      until we close our eyes for good.
      I will sleep when I die!
      I'm a little hunk of tin, nobody knows what shape I'm in. I've got four wheels and a running board, I'm not a Chevy, I'M A FORD!

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      • #4
        There's these bald women wandering around, wondering what happened to their wigs.

        D'yer think I should put the air filter back on?

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        • #5
          For future refrence you can test for clogged exhaust with a vaccum meter.
          Original owner of silver grey carburetted 1989 Festiva. 105k km as of June 2006. 140k km as of June 2021.

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          • #6
            What the hell do they use for sound deadener in your mufflers over there? Guinea Pigs?
            Search Master - Honorary Member of Midwest Festiva Inc., Gulf Coast Chapter

            Everyone is entitled to be stupid, but some abuse the privilege.
            - Unknown
            I don't like superstitious people. They're bad luck. - Serge A. Storms

            If at first you don't succeed, failure may be your style.
            - Quentin Crisp

            God, please save me from your followers!
            - Bumper Sticker

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            • #7
              Only long-haired ones. ;>)

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