Losing all power between 3000-4000 rpm?

[reddahaydn]

Hey fellas,
Tried a search but nothing came up. I recently had my engine rebuilt and apart from a issue with the butterfly getting stuck open due to a dodgy bolt on the cruise control it's been fine until the other day. My truck is a 92 RV6 with the 3.0L petrol 3VZ-E. ( I know, I should have put a v8 in, not rebuilt the originaly motor).

I was taking off at an interection and the engine just bogged down (kind of like it was flooded or something). Anyway i put the clutch in a few times and then it started working again so i kept driving.

Then the other day I was accelerating in 2nd and at around 4000rpm it just lost all power and stopped accelerating. I put the clutch in, changed up and it was OK. Then I was taking off in 1st and it did it again but at 3000 rpm. again, changed gear and it was OK at the lower revs.

I tried to get it to do it again today and I could accelerate all the way to 4500 and it wouldn't do it.

Any thoughts on what it could be? I thought maybe there's something stopping the cable from pulling round any further, but I wouldn't have thought that would cause a comlete loss of power?

I'd really like to get it sorted as a few of the rocky hills around here you need that high rev range to get up and if you lose power you'd have to roll all the way down and start again.

Also I'm running 33" tyres but this wouldn't have any bearing on the problem I wouldn't think.

THanks in advance.

 

[vctehbro]

Possible fuel problem Im guessing. Clogged fuel filter or pump going out?

 

[Bad_Vision]

do a full tune up
1 fuel filter
2 plugs
3 cap
4 rotor

if the problem persists youll need to look into injectors pulse and fuel pressure level. if that is good then youll need to check injector spray pattern of all injectors.
download a copy of a FSM that will show you step by step in how to fix any issue you may have.

 

[reddahaydn]

Thanks fellas.
Since it was only rebuilt a few 1000 kms ago the fuel filter will be fine. The spark plug leads are reasonably new but the cap and rotor are probably worth having a look it.

fuel pump is what I'm thinking would be most likely. i may have been low on fuel when it happened as well but I'm not really sure.

The fuel pumps are inside the tank aren't they?

Cheers guys

 

[Footofgod]

Also make sure your exhaust is good to go. O2 sensor and Cat could be adding to the issue.

 

[vctehbro]

Yes on the fuel pump being inside the tank.

 

[FlyingRN]

I had a similar problem on my 88 4cyl 4Runner. It turned out to be the plastic air inlet tube that directs air to the air filter. What would happen is that the plastic lip that prevents water from entering the air intake would fold flat blocking off air from the engine. I simply cut off the offending part and all was good. I just happened to find it when troubleshooting under the hood. I was standing in front of the truck, revving it up by hand and noticed that small flap of plastic suck down when I revved it up. Lucky find. Hope yours is this simple.

 

[Bad_Vision]

just because you had a motor rebuilt does not mean the fuel filter was replaced!!!??!!!
crawl under the truck and look at the fuel filter. it should be changed once a year i do and i never have problems with it. 30 minutes and a 10$ part well worth it.

 

[reddahaydn]

thanks for all the advice fellas.
Just checked back on the rebuild.
fuel filter, rotor button and spark plugs were all replaced and injectors were reconditioned.
my exhaust is half stuffed and may have got full of water when I hydrolocked the car. the O2 sensor is probably due (I remember reading they only last about 60 000 miles anyway.

The fuel filter is in behind the engine anyway isn't it? I remember my mate (I bought the car off his dad) saying it was in a shocking place to get to?
or is there another filter along the fuel rail?

i will check to see that there is nothing blocking the air intake and replace the oxygen sensor. if that doesn't fix it I would think the fuel pump might be the offendor.

I would like to think the guys that rebuilt the engine got the injectors running properly (the do quality work and I paid through the teeth for it). but again, like anything, you can't necessarily trust anyone working on your car but yourself so I will look into the injectors if the other solutions don't fix the problem.

I do know the ignition coil got wet and wasn't replaced.
do you guys think that could have anything to do with it?

Cheers

 

[hoe_nah]

Fuel filter is on the pass side frame rail

 

[reddahaydn]

not sure what my mate was talking about with the fuel filter being in the engine bay. From everything i've found it's where you guys said, near the passenger side torsion bar bolt.
I'll have a look tonight after work and make sure the shop did replace it like I paid for!

 

[Bad_Vision]

when the engine is in high rpm and boggs down it is 90% of the time a fuel issue.
fuel system includes tank,lines,fuel rail, fuel rail pressure regulator,injectors, throttle position sensor, mass air flow sensor and oxygen sensor.

the ignition system is a totally different system and it has a mind of its own, but when ignition fails it almost always is a constant and is not limited to high RPM's it will effect the hole power band.
as for it being the fuel pump that can easily be tested by fuel pressure test if its up to spec then the fuel pump is good.

their is a link in my signature to 4crawler's website it has all the info you need to adjust and test all the sensors i mentioned above.

im sorry but i feel the first step is to replace the fuel filter dont be lazy its easy and cheap and it eliminates one possible problem and its good for your engine and fuel system anyway a bad fuel filter will break injectors and cause issues like your having now.

 

[Bad_Vision]

when the engine is in high rpm and boggs down it is 90% of the time a fuel issue.
fuel system includes tank,lines,fuel rail, fuel rail pressure regulator,injectors, throttle position sensor, mass air flow sensor and oxygen sensor.

the ignition system is a totally different system and it has a mind of its own, but when ignition fails it almost always is a constant and is not limited to high RPM's it will effect the hole power band.
as for it being the fuel pump that can easily be tested by fuel pressure test if its up to spec then the fuel pump is good.

their is a link in my signature to 4crawler's website it has all the info you need to adjust and test all the sensors i mentioned above.

im sorry but i feel the first step is to replace the fuel filter dont be lazy its easy and cheap and it eliminates one possible problem and its good for your engine and fuel system anyway a bad fuel filter will break injectors and cause issues like your having now.