loss of power

arbskynxnex · Post by **arbskynxnex** » Thu Aug 19, 2004 10:47 pm

I was driving down the freeway at 75mph when the car just started bogged down. I couldn't go over 65 and that was in 4th gear. The engine was running smooth though, no missing or stuttering, however the temp gauge went up to the red mark. I'm gonna take a look at it after work, does anyone have any suggestions as to what it could be? I'm going to check the plugs, cap, and rotor but it doesn't seem like those.

sacwac · Post by **sacwac** » Thu Aug 19, 2004 11:45 pm

Could be dragging brakes. Or dragging bearings.

Or perhaps something is wrong with the cooling system? Check the coolant. A common problem is to have that little pipe that goes from the water outlet to the wter pump to start a tiny leak.

tercel4wdrules · Post by **tercel4wdrules** » Fri Aug 20, 2004 12:03 am

Did you hear some pinging? If you did then most likely it was overheating at least that's what happened when there was absolutely no water my cooling system.

Thereminator · Post by **Thereminator** » Fri Aug 20, 2004 12:25 am

Mabey you blew a head~gasket and sucked some water down one cylinder? <_<

takza · Post by **takza** » Fri Aug 20, 2004 5:26 am

I'd say head gasket or warped head...at least it is now. I wouldn't try to drive it now...block sealer or stop leak won't likely do much...one of those times when you have to just fix it?

At least check the coolant level...stuck thermostat?

arbskynxnex · Post by **arbskynxnex** » Fri Aug 20, 2004 10:47 pm

Well I narrowed it down to either the water pump or thermostat. It wasn't leaking any water, and I looked in the radiator with it running and it wasn't pumping water. How ever that was about the only thing to go right... I lost one of the bolts for the thermostat, decided to call it a night, and was carrying the antifreeze in so the animals didn't get into it. I got the third step and BAM! the cheap no slip stuff on the stairs slips off. I bashed my toe and was wearing six quarts of anti-freeze. I grab a jug of water to wash off the steps since my landlord is too cheap to put faucets in at my apartments. I started pouring the water out when wammo, the handle breaks off the jug and smacks my toe again. Anyone want a tercel?

takza · Post by **takza** » Sat Aug 21, 2004 6:11 am

Somebody put a hex on you....you need to wait for a full moon and at midnight, while turning in circles....sing a song of your own making to the Toyota gods and it will ALL go away. B)

But seriously folks...your not havin' much luck......

Your landlord needs to put a coat of fiberglass resin on those steps and spread some coarse sand over it.

I'd get that coolant circulating and maybe you will get by with no damage. I'd change the oil too. Then mark your coolant level using a marker on the reservoir to see if you are losing any over time. :blink:

GTSSportCoupe · Post by **GTSSportCoupe** » Sat Aug 21, 2004 9:38 am

arbskynxnex wrote: Well I narrowed it down to either the water pump or thermostat. It wasn't leaking any water, and I looked in the radiator with it running and it wasn't pumping water. How ever that was about the only thing to go right... I lost one of the bolts for the thermostat, decided to call it a night, and was carrying the antifreeze in so the animals didn't get into it. I got the third step and BAM! the cheap no slip stuff on the stairs slips off. I bashed my toe and was wearing six quarts of anti-freeze. I grab a jug of water to wash off the steps since my landlord is too cheap to put faucets in at my apartments. I started pouring the water out when wammo, the handle breaks off the jug and smacks my toe again. Anyone want a tercel?

Man, I have some luck like that when working on the car sometimes.

I thought I was superman or something the other day and broke about 3 important bolts off in the space of 1/2 hour.

Anyhow, the 3AC engine is pretty invincible, so maybe your engine is still ok. Do what takza recommended, and then check your compression to make sure your headgasket and internals are ok. The fact that you lost so much power is sort of concerning... <_<

tercel4wdrules · Post by **tercel4wdrules** » Mon Aug 23, 2004 12:15 pm

I also had some bad luck and tried to 'unbend' the left fender (drivers side) and I ended up making a small dent and chipped off a little paint.

This really hurt me.

arbskynxnex · Post by **arbskynxnex** » Mon Aug 23, 2004 9:14 pm

Well I removed the thermostat, I couldn't get the new one in at the angle it was at. I think its the water pump, the motor would heat up when I let the gas pedal off going down hill, and the temp would drop when I floored it. Anyways, since I read how to change the water pump, I think I'm going to do this the easy way. I'm just putting the water pump on the new engine, and then going to put the engine in.