North American Turbocoupe Organization



Loss of power
Ron J. Offline
Junior Member
#1
I had to drive my 88 TC from Kansas City to Denver and back (about 600 miles one way} and I had trouble with slow to accelerate from 0-70 and it loses accelerating power to pass on the Interstate and has a complete loss of power at 80 like a governer is installed. I have an IHI that won't get over 7 psi. I am thinking either the intake air is restricted, the exhaust is restricted or the turbo is bad. There are no sounds from the turbo, of course at my age I am half deaf (LOL). I am the original owner and always took good care of the car and am easy on the accelerator.
Ron

1988 Grey T/C Stocker, Original Owner. She's got 200,000 trouble free miles or at least nothing NATO didn't have answers for.
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Dan S Offline
Administrator
#2
Ron, if it still idles normal, I'd start looking towards fuel system problems. When was the fuel filter last changed?
Dan S
Custom 88 TC, Mandarin Copper Pearl Metallic
http://natomessageboard.com/ubbthreads.p...5#comments
1972 Ford F-100 SWB Styleside
2015 Lincoln MKC 2.3 EcoBoost AWD
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balz24 Offline
Member
#3
I purchased my 87 TC knowing that the turbo was "bad". I bought it about 150 miles from home and drove it all the way back. It did not have awhole lot of power, especially on hills. Once I got to work on it, I took off the old turbo and it was completely lock up. Further investigation revealed that the oil feed line for the turbo(runs from back of motor to turbo) was totally clogged and I guess this is what fried the turbo. I did not any any boost at all though, so the fact that you are seeing 7psi makes me think that the turbo could be OK.

What about the catalytic converter? Is it the original? I have had those go bad (get clogged) before and it creates substantial power loss. I have also heard that running high octane fuel shortens the life of the converter too.
Balz

87 Turbo Coupe - T-3 turbo, FMIC, Stinger 3", CenterForce clutch, Hurst shifter, TurboXs boost valve, Kirban F.P. regulator & gauge, Walbro 255, Innovate LC-1 wideband, Forge BOV, AutoMeter gauges

2003 Thunderbird Roadster
1964 Ford F-100 V8 4spd
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Pete D Offline
Administrator
#4
Ron, It does sound like fuel or restrictions.

If it is an exhaust restriction, the exhaust manifold/ turbine housing may glow red, even with just normal driving. Mileage would be down and you would have to down shift in situations where you did not used to have to down shift. With 195 K, a clogged cat is a possibility.

Intake restriction - air filter or maybe the support spring missing from the VAM hose and it's collapsing under high load.

If the turbo was bad and a wheel was dragging on the housing, you "should"?? hear something. Might still want to pull the inlet tube off the compressor housing and check for side and end play in the turbo shaft. See if the wheel will hit the housing any where.

Fuel system - run the diagnostics:
http://www.turbotbird.com/techinfo/Fuel_...ostics.htm
Pete Dunham


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Ron J. Offline
Junior Member
#5
Quote--Ron, if it still idles normal, I'd start looking towards fuel system problems. When was the fuel filter last changed?--
Dan, I replaced the fuel filter 1500 miles ago. Also the HG, complete dizzy assy. I had an oil leak at the turbo inlet fitting and spliced a brake line in with a brass bushing sleeve using scotch weld.

Quote--What about the catalytic converter? Is it the original? I have had those go bad (get clogged) before and it creates substantial power loss.--
Balz, The cat is original, maybe something to look at, thanks.

Quote--Intake restriction - air filter or maybe the support spring missing from the VAM hose and it's collapsing under high load.--
Pete, I have a new air filter in the original air box. I will check my turbo air hoses, shaft play and the exhaust glowing. Also I will replace the cat. I want to put a T3 in when I find my problem.

One more thing, I took my bird out to wash the bugs off from my trip, still cold I backed into the street and drove forward the boost actually hit 10 psi briefly, but not over 7 after it warmed up.
Ron

1988 Grey T/C Stocker, Original Owner. She's got 200,000 trouble free miles or at least nothing NATO didn't have answers for.
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Nsw Offline
Senior Member
#6
if you changed the head gasket there could be a chance that the cam timing is off by a tooth or two. there a tech article on here that will show you how to check that. might also be the ignition timing, my car had the same problem when it was way off.....before i found this website and the correct way to set it :p this probably is not your problem, but i might be worth checking
1988 5speed black every option. 3inch single turbo to tail(stinger), manual boost control. k&n cone walbro fuel pump

1986 xr4ti project car..... way to many mods to list.
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firstsvo Offline
Senior Member
#7
I had a similiar situation a while back. On the highway doing like 50-60, floor it to pass and the car would actually slow down. After looking over everything and finding nothing, I disconnected the knock sensor and problem solved. I guess it was a little noisy under the hood. Timing set at 10* and boost at about 15psi and 0 detonation, I figure it was safe. Knock sensor still disconnected and no problems. Guess I'm the knock sensor now. Easy and worth a try.
White '88 auto mostly stock, Black '88 5 speed nowhere near stock
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86XR7auto Offline
Moderator
#8
I would say cat. He get a small amount of flow of the exhaust when the engine/exhaust is cold. Once it warms up...back down to no flow.

JMHO

Travis
86XR7 in pieces...old time [email protected] http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=kGsz7PdEqTI 88TC stock Red RHSC [email protected], 01 Z71=Nice winter ride, 01 CVLX w/HPP wifes ride!
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Ron J. Offline
Junior Member
#9
thanks for all your help, I will do all the stuff that doesn't cost money first then on to the not free stuff. You have given me alot of helpful info.
Ron

1988 Grey T/C Stocker, Original Owner. She's got 200,000 trouble free miles or at least nothing NATO didn't have answers for.
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balz24 Offline
Member
#10
Not sure what the laws are in you state, but if you're going to spend the money on a new Cat, you should opt for the Stinger 3" exhaust instead -
Balz

87 Turbo Coupe - T-3 turbo, FMIC, Stinger 3", CenterForce clutch, Hurst shifter, TurboXs boost valve, Kirban F.P. regulator & gauge, Walbro 255, Innovate LC-1 wideband, Forge BOV, AutoMeter gauges

2003 Thunderbird Roadster
1964 Ford F-100 V8 4spd
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