Towing and no power

[hidesertwheelin]

So I've noticed an issue when towing with my 2000 LX. I have a small off-road trailer, and when I have to climb small hills, and I am not up to a good speed (20 mph or so) I can't get past that speed. These are small hills in town. If I step on the throttle, motor revs up, but my speed won't increase. If I am going faster, there isn't a problem, but if there is a stop sign before the hill, I never seem to get going more than 20 mph until I crest the hill.

Picture of said trailer

 

[BnvS]

So I think what your saying is not too far off. This is a heavy vehicle so if you stop at the bottom of a decent gradient hill and go up its goes slow. So I think yeah I think this isnt too far off so dont fret.

Saying the above do you notice any acceleration hesitation? cause if you notice this then that's a different problem.

 

[hidesertwheelin]

So I think what your saying is not too far off. This is a heavy vehicle so if you stop at the bottom of a decent gradient hill and go up its goes slow. So I think yeah I think this isnt too far off so dont fret.

Saying the above do you notice any acceleration hesitation? cause if you notice this then that's a different problem.

No, it just doesn't want to speed up.

 

[cmck]

Seems like it not shifting down into a lower gear. You can try the power button on the console beside the shifter or go manually into 1st or 2nd. I tow a off road and larger travel trailer with 33”s so I did a transfer case conversion underdrive.

 

[saucebox]

Look into throttle cable adjustment. This thread details a similar problem: My LC is really slow going uphill

Unless that trailer is leaving Fort Knox, you should zip right through 20mph.

 

[LXPearl]

I turn off overdrive and use power mode when towing. I have also manually selected my gearing at times. The trailer you show should not be a challenge getting past 20 mph.

 

[hidesertwheelin]

I turn off overdrive and use power mode when towing. I have also manually selected my gearing at times. The trailer you show should not be a challenge getting past 20 mph.

That't my concern.

 

[Vermont]

Second on checking the throttle cable adjustment. And, as stupid as it sounds, checking the throttle pedal travel isn't impeded - reinstalled carpet, rubber floor mat doing some funny fold down there... I saw it on a buddy's truck. He was baffled for months at why his on-ramp acceleration wasn't very good.

 

[bigredmachine]

will it accelerate with out the trailer and questimate how much does the trailer weigh

 

[LXPearl]

If the LX accelerates well without the trailer attached, I would start looking at the trailer. Is it unusually heavy? Wheel lubrication or bad wheel bearing on the trailer? Does another vehicle also have difficulty with the trailer? If trailer is fine, then back to LX and I would look at things like a dirty air filter, dragging brake pads, or bad gas before getting into more complicated matter. I usually use a bottle of fuel system cleaner when I suspect a bad tank of gas...

 

[Zero Emissions]

 

[hidesertwheelin]

So I've been out of town for work and vacation, and just got around to doing some testing on this. I have a very small amount of play in my throttle cable. I did some driving with the torque app running, and my throttle was going up to 80% going up hill (without the trailer), so I don't think that is the issue. I'm not getting any codes that would indicate a clogged cat, but I guess it's possible. Could also be a clogged muffler and/or resonator. Is there a good way to diagnose these items? I'm willing to just cut the resonator off and see if that helps (I can have it put back on for cheap if need be), but don't want to start removing the muffler or cats without knowing they are the problem.

 

[oakback]

Did you try it with OD off and Power on? Or manually switching the 1-2 gears from a stop?