Topic: 22re loss of Power

[SpencerS]

Hey guys,

I am noticing a loss of power in my engine when i head up even the slightest of hills. I will usually lose about 10-15 mph without moving the gas pedal in 4th gear heading up a slight hill. I dont know if its any significance but i am getting about 12-14 mpg running 5.29s and a 35in BFG A/T tire. I drive it like a grandma because well you cant drive it balls to the wall, it almost like my truck has a pair of boobs instead of any balls at all. Ok enough corny jokes! 

On a side note the engine sounds like it has a slight knock or tick. The engine only has 50k on it since the last rebuild. It kind of sounds like a pushrod is out of balance or something or sticky lifters!

Where should i start trouble shooting? It does have a OBD1 port i believe, should i try and snag a scanner from my buddy? thanks!

Specs: 1989 Toyota Pickup, 22re

[RockRescue]

Well i am 100% certain its not your LIFTERS  But what it could be is maybe your t-chain is loose and hitting the cover  and maybe you jumped a tooth on timeing

[Snowtoy]

With a loss in mpg's along with power, it is likely has something to w/compression, spark, or timing.  I would start by pulling/inspecting the plugs, and do compression check, along with inspecting the timing chain.

If you haven't found it yet, here is a link to a '93 Toyota FSM, that will basically walk you through everything from trouble shooting to repairs.  While it is for the '93 model year, it will work for the '89 just as well.

[yoshaleng]

It sounds like your timing chain or maybe one of the guides busted. You can lose alot of power if that's the case. Just take of your valve cover get a flash light look down see if you still have both guides there. For the time being, advance your timing to make up for it until you can find time to tackle it. The sooner the better with it being your DD.

[SpencerS [OP]]

how far should i advance the timing? all the way?

[zippo]

is it already has a knock retard the timing, see if the knock goes away.

[yoshaleng]

advance it by one to two notches (notches compared to your timing sprocket). 

[93REDCRAWLER]

Well i am 100% certain its not your LIFTERS  But what it could be is maybe your t-chain is loose and hitting the cover  and maybe you jumped a tooth on timeing

if its this fix it fast!!!!
in my bros yota this happened  and it eventually cut a whole threw the cover so his antifreeze and the oil started mixing.

[Snowtoy]

how far should i advance the timing? all the way?

If the chain is worn enough to skip a tooth causing your problem, it wont be too long before it breaks.  Which if it breaks, you are looking at a lot more issues than just the timing.

Have you checked/inspected the timing chain yet, or checked/adjusted the valves, inspected the spark plugs, cap & rotor, and plug wire, etcs.?  You need to make sure everything else in in proper working order before adjusting the timing.  If you don't know how to do this type of service, the FSM posted above will all but hold your hand through the process.

[bkn]

I have kind of the same problem when my check engine light comes on my truck losses alot of power, and if i turn off the truck the light goes away for a while. Is driving me crazy......

[BUDDERS]

I had a loss of power when I would climb from 3000ft up above 6000 ft and my check engine light would always come on when going over the same summit.  Then the check engine light would go off and not come back on until I had to go over that summit again - I think it was just my ecu having a hard time compensating for low oxygen content in the air at high altitude.

[Plekto]

Also be aware that modern oils since 2007 don't have enough Phosphorous and Zinc in them to properly keep the engines from wearing out their cams.  If you've been running oil with no zinc in it, 40K and making noise is terribly common.  The chain guides also are known to be a garbage design.  My old 4Runner had its timing advanced by about 5-6 degrees, but it had nearly 200K on the engine as well.

[SpencerS [OP]]

If the chain is worn enough to skip a tooth causing your problem, it wont be too long before it breaks.  Which if it breaks, you are looking at a lot more issues than just the timing.

Have you checked/inspected the timing chain yet, or checked/adjusted the valves, inspected the spark plugs, cap & rotor, and plug wire, etcs.?  You need to make sure everything else in in proper working order before adjusting the timing.  If you don't know how to do this type of service, the FSM posted above will all but hold your hand through the process.

I havnt checked the chain or valves yet. But i just bought a brand new cap, rotors, plugs and wires so i will do that today. Also gonna grab a timing gun and check it that way after.

[SpencerS [OP]]

which kit should i get from auto zone if im just gonna replace the whole thing?

http://www.autozone.com/autozone/parts/1989-Toyota-Pickup-4WD-4-cyl/Timing-Set/_/N-iub25Z8znax

[emsvitil]

which kit should i get from auto zone if im just gonna replace the whole thing?

http://www.autozone.com/autozone/parts/1989-Toyota-Pickup-4WD-4-cyl/Timing-Set/_/N-iub25Z8znax

DON'T
get any kit that uses POS plastic guides.


Engnbuilder has a kit with steel/nylon guides.   There may be a few other places that have the steel guides.

[yoshaleng]

X2......buy the kit from EngineBuilder.com! No plastic Guides, They're metal guides...will last you alot longer.