Lack Of Power?????

[Funrover]

My friend just called me... She told me her car when going upa hill has loss of power........ When she hits the gas to go up is studders and feels like it will die out.......... She also told me that it will not do over 50 MPH!!!! and her EFI light has come on.... It is an 88 RRC...... I will look at it in a few days when I have time... Just want a few ideas where to start..... my thoughts are fuel pump, TPS, MAS/MAF

[p76rangie]

Get an ODBC reader nad find out what the fault code is and that should tell you what to fix.

[Disco]

Funrover, I assume the lack of power is while driving on a flat road as well as going up a hill? This usually indicates a problem in the ignition or fuel system or perhaps a clogged catalytic converter. As the vehicle doesn't seem to have the top speed it used to, then suspect a clogged converter. Also, check the fuel rail.

[Muddy Oval]

ODB? It's an 88! Computers don't tell ya nuttin about the 88's.

I second the catalytic converter suggestion above.

[RageRover]

Sounds like what I experienced earlier during the summer before MRM...

It turned out to be a really bad cap and rotor, bad ignition wires, and bad plugs. Not to mention a dying ignition coil.

[Greg M]

Funrover i think you're on the right track.
It sounds like possibly the TPS. I recommend a through examine using the "electrical" found here:

http://www.landrover.ee/est/varia/downloads/cars.htm

[Kevin88RRC]

In the 88, EFI light is caused by the MAF, TPS, O2 sensors, and/or coolant temp sensor. Check that the hose between the MAF & plenum is not collapsing inside. But like Greg said it's probably the TPS.

[TerryS]

I agree with Disco, and Steve. Sounds like the same symptoms of plugged Cats. But, As Disco said, it could also be ign related. I'm gonna go way out on a limb here, and assume that it's 19 year old distributor is not in the same condition it was when it left the factory.
When you start to pull a load, you step on the accelerator, which is asking the Ignition system to "quickly advance" the timing to about 34-38 degrees BTDC. As RPMs are increased. the vacuum advance relaxes, but the mechanical advance continues to advance the spark. Without advancing the timing you get no power, and a very sluggish increase in RPMS. This is where I look at advance weights, and test the vacuum advance. Also check to see that the operating rod of the advance mechanism is still hooked to the breaker plate.

There are dozens of possibilities to look at for most symptoms, and the number gets smaller the finer the symptoms are described. I am not hearing anything that would make me suspect anything else. To rule in or rule out a componant, you need to know what it does, how it works, and what happens when it doesn't work. Some componants can slowly wearout, going pretty uniformly from good to bad over time. Most don't. They are like people; One minute they're alive, the next, they're dead. (coils are one of these, RageRover)

The thing about plugged Cats is that they keep getting plugged, once they start. If you said this 'lack of power' thing was going on for awhile, I'd set the cats aside, at least temporarily, as a cause. There is no decongestant for plugged cats.