Well Crap...

[nate12346]

I posted a while ago about my engine sputtering.. Well now I have no power and it is a constant Chug between 1 and 2k RPM. Once I get above 2k it runs smooth, but with no power. It idles perfect also.

This is what I have done:
OBD tests on everything (Passed everything)
Exhaust inspection
Fuel and air filter replacement
MAP and TPS sensor checks.

The only thing I can think of is spark plug cables. I just dont want to spen $50 Bucks to find out that its not the problem. If that isn't it then I guess it's time to drop a 4.0 in.

 

[MAKG]

Wow are you skipping steps.

OBD-I diagnostics are useful when they trip, but they are RUDIMENTARY. Try to think about what a personal computer was like in 1988.

If it has you stumped, don't you think an hour of professional diagnosis would be called for before going through the effort and expense of a serious engine swap -- which will have its own gremlins that you're going to have to figure out?

Inspect the spark plugs for deposits and check the gaps. Check the base timing. Check fuel pressure including fuel leakdown. Check compression and cylinder leakdown. At least run the dang thing in the dark if you think the spark plug wires are bad (though why you would go there first is beyond me). Perform a vacuum test. Perform a cylinder balance test. Probe the oxygen sensor to see what it is doing. Test it in situ if it isn't switching.

If these skills are beyond you, you're going to install a 4.0L and it won't work. And it would be silly to even start that due to a loose distributor that made wacky timing.

 

[srteach]

plugged catalytic? (if it has one)

 

[nate12346]

I had the Fuel pumps and pressure checked today. Ran a timing test when i did the OBD tests and it came out perfect. Spark Plugs are brand new. I gapped them when I put them in. I will pull them and check again but i dont think it will be the problem. I replaced all the vacume lines when I put my lift in 5 months ago. I did a cylinder balance test when doing the OBD stuff as well and it came out good. The only thing on your list I haven't done is the oxygen sensor.

As for the 4.0 swap... I would rather spend 4-600 on a 4.0 (with a warrenty) to drop in than spend the 200 dollars plus labor to diagnose the problem and probably hundreds of dollars more to fix it.

Ill go and double check everything again on your list.

Edit: I took the catalytic converters off when putting the lift in as well and chipped all the crap out of it

 

[rangernotlifted]

new cap and rotr and when did it start doign this give us the full story so we can help u

 

[nate12346]

rangernotlifted.. new cap and rotr and when did it start doign this give us the full story so we can help u

Forgot about that.. Ill check the cap and rotor now
Thanks

As for the story... Last week i was out wheeling and once I got to the bottom of the trail sitting at a stop sign, One big puff of smoke blew out. Just that once. It would sputter just once or twice every few min. when on the highway. I started replacing things simple to see if i could catch the problem before it got worse. Then on sunday I get to the head of a trail and there is a fairly deep pond (frozen over) There is one spot that people had broken through the ice. I started driving through like I have 3 times before. Then all of a sudden the exhaust changes sounds to a throaty deeper sound and I lost all power and now im here lol

Oh the deepest the pond ever got was to the very bottom of my door. Like the sliders

 

[rangernotlifted]

unmmm yeah loose cap or somethign just do a complete tune up on it and by the way the 4.0 swap is not that cool of a one do a 289 ull have better torque

 

[soylent_green]

Plugged cat. I had the same situation with an F150. Cut the cat off and no more problems.

A really hot cat, suddenly submerged in water could shatter the insides of the cat, resulting in a blockage. Which would account for the puff of smoke, and the drastic change in exhaust note.

After you fix the cat situation, make sure your manifold gaskets didn't blow out.

 

[nate12346]

I thought it was the cat also but when I pulled them off there was nothing inside. They were completly Gutted.

Im thinking about rebuilding the 4.0 with forged parts and turbocharging it. Im going to say max at 15 PSI. I just want to have something different.

 

[Sunk]

The big in change in exhaust tone is also quite possibly simply from submerging the tailpipe. But if the cat was hot and it was submerged that quick cool could have messed it up.

Do 2.9s have manifold gaskets? When i replaced my engine there were none....

 

[rangernotlifted]

well if ur cat was red hot then u have excessicve fuel in ur system like mine was running on three cylinders

 

[Sunk]

I think he means just hot from the truck running for a while.

 

[nate12346]

But again there is nothing in the cat. It has never gotten red hot. What made your engine have excessive fuel and run on three cylinders? It feels like its running on 3 lol I cant get it higher than 3rd gear or over 45 cuz there is no power.

As for the exhaust tone..Would it permenently change the tone?

 

[Sunk]

Has the exhaust tone permanently changed? No the water wouldn't to that. The water just does that when the tailpipe is submerged, it just magnifies the sound. If you want to test the plug wires, you can pull each plug and crank it/let it run to see if there is spark. While you're in there you can check the condition of the plugs.

 

[nate12346]

Yeah the tone has changed permanently

Edit: Im running a glasspack exhaust so I can def. tell a difference in sound when it changes lol