complete loss of power on hills

[dplum]

Hi,

Just had my 1.9DG 1988 t25 back from the garage (after having had new radiator and mot) and taken it out for a spin, but there is a real loss of power when approaching hills. basically if I approach at around 40-50mph in 4th gear, as soon as the hill starts the revs drop below to between 1500 and 2000, so as you would do I change down into 3rd gear but as soon as I depress the clutch the revs drop right down to around 1000 and obviously there is no pull in third. The same happens when I drop it into 2nd, just no power at all.

Slowing right down and putting it into 1st is the only option, then to increase the speed by moving up through the gears.

On flat and downhill there are no problems at all, cruising along in 5th at 60-70mph no worries.

It did this before it went into the garage a while ago but I thought maybe having had the timing redone and cooling system all sorted it might have improved.

Looking through some other posts, it seemed a compression test was a good starting point so I did one last night.

Compression readings were:

Cylinder 1 – 8.5 bar
Cylinder 2 – 11 bar
Cylinder 3 – 9 bar
Cylinder 4 – 10.5 bar

From the Haynes manual, these are all within the limits of each other (i.e. 3 bar) although it seems #1 and #3 are on the worn side but still within limits?

Would this cause such a dramatic decrease in power? I would have thought it would be more noticeable overall if there was significant problems with the engine?

What should be the plan of action now? Is it the engine, or more likely the timing or an air leak? Seems odd that the revs should drop when the clutch is depressed but not increase again when the gears selected?

Thanks

[kevtherev]

Lack of power
poor timing
weak/rich mixture
weak or insufficient spark
binding brakes
Clutch slipping
Have any vacuum lines come off the carb or distributor
apply the hand brake select first gear and release the clutch.. If the engine does not stall the clutch is shagged

[CovKid]

And was it timed with dizzy vac pipe on or off. My guess is its in that area.

[dplum]

thanks for the suggestions -

yeh my feeling is its either fuel mixture or timing - i had problems with the fuel mixture for the mot as it was causing high emmisions but the garage managed to lower it for it to pass, but perhaps in doing so it effected the mixture to cause the power loss problem?

i'll check the vac hoses etc tonight, though i'm pretty sure all is on there. I'll also get the timing double checked

[PetenAli]

PM'd you

[California Dreamin]

Blocked air filter.
Ignition leads/distributor cap arcing to ground.
Fuel starvation, filter blocked in carb/filter blocked.
Could be soooooo many things.

Martin

[Mickyfin]

What mileage is on your engine?

How much petrol do you have in your tank?

Check your fuel return filter on the back of your carb too. This I'm told fills up, and aids inclines for when your petrol tank is low on fuel.