Loss of Power?!?!?!?! WTF!!!

Recently my car has experienced a slight loss of power. I noticed it when mid way through first I floored it without breaking loose. After going WOT in first, my friend and I both realized the loss of power. Any suggestions on the cause. I was thinking it was either bad gas, clogged fuel injector, spark plugs, and/or its not firing on all cylinders. Thanks to all in advance and any advice is greatly appreciated.:confused:

anyone?

Happened to my car not to long ago. There was a bad wire on one of the cylinders. It was arching or corroded or something. It was replaced and all was good

Anything can cause a power lose. Fuel filter, clogged cat, etc. Bad wires or spark plugs would generally have a misfire which you could notice. Does your air filter need cleaning? You do anything recently to your car?

Can you tell us what you're O2 readings are?

I went to a place today, definitely not spark plugs or loss of an cylinder. He told me it stil could be the fuel filter and the clutch may have "hot spots" on it. How do i get an o2 reading, sorry still dont know much yet. The only thing i have done is the slp air box lid and a holley powershot filter. It is still under warranty so im going to bring it there, but id like to know your insight as well. Thanks to all in advance!!

u get o2 readings with autotap.....


where are u llocated???

and do u have a check engine light on?

are you saying cause you didnt break loose your think your lost power? what were the weather conditions

The not breaking loose was not the only indication, it just felt very sluggish like a loss of about 30rwhp ( just and estimate dont know a moderate loss in power) there isnt a check engine light so i think im safe with the spark plugs and or cylinders. Where is the fuel filter? Could that be it? I just changed the air box lid and the air filter so its not that. I live in brick nj about 5 min away from seaside. What about the clutch? He was talking about hotspots ( not sure what they are) sorry for the sloppiness of this im just in a huge hurry to find this shiyat out. ps Do i buy an autotap or is it a thing at a local mechanic shop? Thanks to all

Could be a vacuum leak...

Nate

Maybe you bent some pushrods. Is your car making a ticking noise from the top of the engine?

Maybe your clutch is slipping?

I dont think I have heard a ticking noise, plus a mechanic drove it and i think thats something he would notice. The clutch, fuel filter, and a vacuum leak, is there any indicators or ways to check these problems out myself? Its really pissing me off that my car isn't at its full potential, Thanks to all once more

As far as the vacuum leak just listen to the engine when it's running. If you hear a hissing, you got a leak. The the hard part of course is finding out where it's coming from. I'm not too familiar yet with vacuum lines on LS1s but hopefully there isn't too many.

Nate

Originally posted by allnet777
a vacuum leak, is there any indicators or ways to check these problems out myself?

I remember back when my Dad used to help me with my cars(mostly carbs) and once showed me a way of finding where leaks were.And I'm not really saying do this cuz I myself havent tried on the Camaro.But it did work a few times finding vac. hoseing leaks and intake.
It was taking a can of areosol carb cleaner and spraying different spots of the areas concerned while engine running.When the leak(if there) sucked up the carb cleaner the rpms or stumble of the motor would tell if theres a breach in the area just sprayed. Just a thought to ponder,maybe some of the others will give feedback as to possible probs with 3rd gen v8 and this method. I cant see any probs other than maybe it might stain?

I had some thought on this hissing.I have noticed a hiss...but not while running.It happens when I shut the motor off I can hear a hiss,or suction right after shutin it off just for a second.
Kinda want to know if others hear it when shutting theres off with hood open?

Alright thanks, is there anyway to know if it is my clutch, a way to check it or anything?

Originally posted by allnet777
Alright thanks, is there anyway to know if it is my clutch, a way to check it or anything?

The only way to know without tearing apart the tranny is if it's just not gripping anymore. If you're new to manuals, get someone who's good with them to drive you car and see if it slips. It's just something you "feel", and if you don't know what to feel for, you probably won't know.

Nate

I had some thought on this hissing.I have noticed a hiss...but not while running.It happens when I shut the motor off I can hear a hiss,or suction right after shutin it off just for a second.
Probly just your A/C pressure equalizing if you had your A/C or defroster on.

As for the lack of power, have you checked your MAF? Sometimes they get small amounts of build-up on them, or even some fibers from the air filter. And yes this will affect the air flow readings causing the ECM to add less fuel. And I have cleaned off a few that had similar problems and that fixed it. Use brake cleaner to clean off the wires.

To check your clutch: watch your rpm's when you shift, if the rpm's hold steady or decrease as speed increases with the cluctch fully engaged then it is likely slipping. Basically when your clutch pedal is up, your rpm's should change with speed, not hold steady, decrease of run up too fast.

Slipping clutch? Drive about 30 - 35 MPH and then shift into 6th. Let off the clutch and drive for a second, then nail the gas.


If the motor bogs, your clutch is OK. If the RPMs go up and the motor doesn't bog, then your clutch is slipping pretty bad.

you dont see the RPM's rising and then going down? That is what my car did when my clutch burned.

Went to get it fixed today. The mechanic drove it and said it was fine. He didnt even look at the vehicle. But he has a 1- sec thunderbird so he doesn't have to? I dont know they said it was fine but i noticed the loss in power. He also mentioned that the aftermarket air filter changed my air to fuel ratio? Can that be true? He went on to ask me if i was getting " bigmouth " exhaust and that my car should run mid to low 14's at 98 mph, this is the guy at the gm service place. Do i believe him or what ? What should i do?

how miles you got on your car? 1st thing i would do is change the fuel filter..then work from there.. fuel filters dont cost that much i belive below 15.00... its located in front of the left rear tire more towards thearea of sfc's end...pretty easy to change.. it also looks like a canister about 3-4inchs long and 1and half wide..