Serious lack of power! Need Expert.

[SDatl404]

1994 a4 firebird is so slow that it can't make enought power, at WOT, to make it to the shift point. If I let off the gas a hair I can feel the power pickup and then it shifts. I have taken the car to a dealership and 2 other different transmission shops and they all say its an engine problem. Where do I start?

Fuel pressure is 43 psi idle / 50 psi WOT.

New plugs and wires
New intake gaskets
New fuel filter

I was at a shop today and they took the fuel line off the filter and fuel sprayed out the back of the car about 8-10 feet. The shop said that wasn't normal and that I had a backup in the lines somewhere, but If that was the case how could I have 43psi idle / 50 psi WOT?

They also were looking around the fuel tank area and they noticed some black lines that looked out of place. They said that it looked as if someone had the fuel tank out before. So basicly I have no idea how to even start to fix this. No shop can even figure it out.

Only codes are:

EGR SOLINOID #2
EGR SOLINOID #3

I tried replacing the EGR with a new one and one from a junk yard to no avail. Also I did notice that there was something on the scantool called a quad driver. 3 of the 4 said bad.

[97rs4life]

Re: Serious lack of power! Need Expert.

hmm, I have heard of egr's on the 3.4s causing issues, but if you already tried that then it probably is something else. Does your cat rattle or exhaust smell like eggs? Just trying to rule out clogged cat first

[SDatl404]

Re: Serious lack of power! Need Expert.

I gutted the cat and that didn't fix it.

[Camaro Dom]

Re: Serious lack of power! Need Expert.

well, i'll tell ya this first off:
your fuel pump DOES NOT pump more at WOT than at idle. it continuously pumps the same amount of fuel, regardless of the demand. The fuel pressure regulator only allows enough fuel through as is required. the rest of it is returned to the gas tank via another fuel line. Bass ackwards, i know but thats the way all modern vehicles are. so, given that, its REALLY weird that you have a higher pressure at WOT than at idle.

the next thing i would check would be for ANY intake restrictions. take your intake apart all the way to the engine. Look for any blockages.

next, take a vacuum tester and hook it up to the engine. i forget what you look for, but the tester should have a manual and i know you can determine if you have exhaust restrictions with a vacuum test.

if those two check out, try to find an in-line fuel pressure tester, and test fuel pressure as close to the engine as possible. my money says that the shop is right and that you have a plug up somewhere in the fuel lines. It could very well be your fuel pressure regulator, but test around first to see. Throw some injector cleaner in the beotch too... maybe that'll break whatever it is up.

But yeah, fuel line blockage for 400, alex.

[RadRacer]

Re: Serious lack of power! Need Expert.

It would depend on where you check your fuel pressure, wouldn't it? If you check it right at your fuel rail (like I did), it should fluctuate like that. I know mine goes from 46psi idle to 59ish psi WOT. Your fuel pressure does seem abit on the low side, I'd check it out. I'd also say there's a blockage or failing pump. Try dumping a can of seafoam into the next tank of gas (or even 1/2 tank so it's more concentrated) and see how it does

[vanbibber]

Re: Serious lack of power! Need Expert.

quick question...

noticed your other thread...

did it run like this before you changed the intake gaskets?

[SDatl404]

Re: Serious lack of power! Need Expert.

quick question...

noticed your other thread...

did it run like this before you changed the intake gaskets?

yep. I did the gaskets because of an oil leak.

I will get some seafoam tommorrow and try that.

[SDatl404]

Re: Serious lack of power! Need Expert.

Well the seafoam didn't fix anything. What next?

[auto666]

Re: Serious lack of power! Need Expert.

i periodically have the same problem i have a 5 speed though ive changed ignition modual pugs wires tried blocking my egr disconnected the air system decarb map sensor vac lines cam sensor and still dont know what it is all i can think is megasquirt now

[SDatl404]

Re: Serious lack of power! Need Expert.

Well I feel it is one of these things:

1) Timing chain jumped a tooth
2) Bad ECM
3) Bad E-Prom
3) Faulty injector

I am not going to play the buy and replace till fixed game though. Which sucks because I have no idea how to check this stuff. Probably going to have to send it to another dealership.

[camaroman1181]

Re: Serious lack of power! Need Expert.

have you replaced or blocked off the EGR valve? That valve can really mess up your car if its acting up. I wouldnt think it, but my blazer did almost the same thing and basically decided it wouldnt go up a mountain if the check engine light was on (EGR code all the time).

Get a junkyard EGR valve, or just block off the one you have now where it goes into the intake. Wont cost you a whole lot other than your time.

[bigbrian442]

Re: Serious lack of power! Need Expert.

Did the shop change the fuel filter? or just unhook the line?

Brian

[SDatl404]

Re: Serious lack of power! Need Expert.

Did the shop change the fuel filter? or just unhook the line?

Brian

The dealership put a new one on and the second shop took it off and checked it out.

[bigbrian442]

Re: Serious lack of power! Need Expert.

Did it get any better when the new on e was instaled and the start getting worse again?

Brian

[SDatl404]

Re: Serious lack of power! Need Expert.

it was exactly the same before and after. There is no flakeyness in this problem. It happens 100% of the time.