Loss of Power

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dearpete22

10 Year 15 Year
Joined
Sep 21, 2008
Threads
5
Messages
9
Everyone.

I am a puzzled. 1996 LC, 140k seems to have lost power last week, particularly on a long, hill climb. Norther New Mexico, so steep, long hill, used get to 50 MPH at the top, now difficult to hit 35. I have changed the fuel filter, and the cap and rotor. Doesn't seem to be transmission, or motor-strength. The most noticable thing is a loud whizzing noise or air whisle, from the right side front fender when under heavy throttle. Anyone? Seems to drive normal on level surfaces, albeit with the loud sizzling noise. Also, my rig has recently begun to have the intermittant, oil level light bs.
 
Sounds like a partially clogged catalytic converter. You should have two of them in series under the passenger foot well - right where you mention the noise is coming from. If they get clogged, your exhaust can get out of the engine fast enough which reduces power.
 
I had a couple of cases like these a few years ago.. Because of the noise I think I agree with Jeeper. But in both of the cases I had before it was the electric fuel pump, and particularly its synthatic tea-bag-filter. It got glogged.. water, debree, bad quality fuel and CHEAP fuel enhansers , ironically :) ... I don't know about the noise but when I used to go up a hill or something, all the debree was slushing in the tank and make the condition worse. I had to replace the fuel pump twice. changing the pump's filter is not always an option. ( when the pump is stiving for fuel but not getting enough it overheats rapeadly , especially in very low fuel levels... causing it to degrade and lose its initial performance capabilities. Which may actually cause it to produce a distinctive noise, but that noise show be continous... untill its replaced. the good news is that it can be accessed through a special access point right behind the 2nd row seat's carpet if I still remember well :) That all is just a theory, try to locate the noise's source more accuratly, it should be your key ... good luck.... use the power. :)
 
I would check the ribbed intake hose that goes from the air filter to the intake plenum. These frequently develop a crack between the ribs, and will suck in unmetered air, causing the engine to run like crap. That might be the "hissing" sound too. You may have to remove it and inspect it, as the cracks can be hard to see between the ribbing, or manipulate it while the engine is running as see if the engine stumbles.
 
Hey Ben, wow you just already answered a question I was about to post in a minute !! You see, my new 97 rig had some duct tape around that EXACT part ( the ribbed intake hose that goes from the air filter to the intake plenum ) I asked to dealer why it was there and what was the initial problem, but he knew nothing... Interesting... any suggestions on how to fix it ? Thanks :)
 
You just have to replace it with a new OEM piece. IIRC, ~$100.
 
I have been having a similar problem with loss of power and just yesterday while going up a steep hill and immediately after the tranny downshifted I noticed a whistling noise. My noise, however, seemed to coming from behind the engine just in front of the driver. I did a search on the forum and found the source of my whistle / hissing noise: The small vacuum hose between the EGR and modulator had become disconnected. You might check there. Mine may just be an old hose that needs to be replaced or a symptom of something else that's wrong.
 
In order to pinpoint the exact problem, I took it to Toyota, and they have said it is the Cat/or Something in the exhaust, causing restriction. I finally got my K&N and it was pretty much a worthless victory, as there was exactly 0.0 change in power. I have ordered aftermarket parts (Toyota Cats are $2400). I am hoping it is further down the line, so that I have an excuse for the Borla System. I will follow-up, if only to save someone else the hassle of diagnostic. FYI, Toyota said it was so blocked that it actually forced an emissions/EGR valve off, so that it could breath. Thing thinks for itself.
 
dearpete22 said:
In order to pinpoint the exact problem, I took it to Toyota, and they have said it is the Cat/or Something in the exhaust, causing restriction. I finally got my K&N and it was pretty much a worthless victory, as there was exactly 0.0 change in power. I have ordered aftermarket parts (Toyota Cats are $2400). I am hoping it is further down the line, so that I have an excuse for the Borla System. I will follow-up, if only to save someone else the hassle of diagnostic. FYI, Toyota said it was so blocked that it actually forced an emissions/EGR valve off, so that it could breath. Thing thinks for itself.
Click to expand...

Thanks for the info and please keep us posted. I have a P0401 code and the same whistling noise that comes from the the passenger side. Kinda sounds like I have SC under the hood. Is your EGR throwing any codes? My LX has enough power but it does go slow up some good hills. Is there any way to test the cats? If you don't live in an emissions state, could you just straight pipe to the muffler and leave the cats out?
J
 
Just wanted to post that the Dealer confirmed in my case that the Cats are bad and need to be replaced.

John
 
Thanks. Yes, about $1800 for the pair.

John
 
Long story short.

Everything is back on, and I am amazed at the power difference.

After Market Cats (both)
EGR
EGR Modulator
new vacuum line
cap and rotor
KN

It was the Cats, and this primary issue destroyed the EGR and Modulator. There is another post that describes the EGR valve practicing blowtorch warfare on the modulator. This happened to mine as well. Replace these with the cats, as insurance. Thing did 60 up the hill I mentioned in original post, like it was nothing. I am impressed. Also, don't buy the parts from toyota, they wanted 2500, for only the front and rear cat.

Good Luck.
 
Thank you to Jeeper, for the Idea, and for Torque, if the lower hose connection between EGR and Modulator is removing itself, you are probably in for a repeat of my story, as this is the symptom of the cat clog, in tandem with loss of power. Good luck. (it was about 900 for all the parts).
 
Last thoughts.

Mine threw a 402 code two years ago, which I ignored. This could have been the beginning, and a 50 O2 might have or might not have saved the converters?
 
i am having the same thing. ridiculoius loss of power with hissing and figure it is the cats. all compression came back good, no vaccuum leaks.

best source for cat's anyone?
 
Sorry to hear that. A few months back when I had to replace mine I decided to go Toyota OEM because I couldn't find anyone who sold a legal set of catalytic converters for CA. I went through Cruiser Dan and it was $1800. Maybe someone now makes a legal set for CA.

Eastern makes a bolt on direct fit, but not legal in CA, Both cost about $500:

Toyota Land Cruiser Catalytic Converter | Free Shipping | 1995 - 1997, 1987, Eastern

Cruiserparts.net sells used ones for about $700.

A local muffler shop could probably butcher things up and weld on two cats, however, I don't think there's even a universal cat that's legal for the state.

Keep us posted.
 
found one from Magnaflow on Summit racing for about 100 bucks. Ca legal, states that is is OEM direct fit. but gotta check because it is only one and not 2.
 
I think I stumbled on that one too, but called Magnaflow directly and they said it was not for use in CA. They said that the Summit Racing site was wrong.

Hopefully, I'm wrong and it will work!

John
 
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