QuestionThe car seems to run fine until I get towards the top of a steep hill by my house then I steadily begin to loose speed and power and the car starts shifting gears up and down and once I top the hill everything begins to smooth out.
The car is a 1985 Chrystler Newyorker I think its 2.2 liter. So far we changed the Oxygen sensor, knock sensor, coil,computer and the pickup module. I own 3 of these cars so Parts are not the problem. Just not sure where else to look.
AnswerHi John,
I assume that it is a fuel injected 2.2 non-turbo, but let me know if that is not the case. I wonder how many miles are on the engine and what sort of compression the 4 cylinder might measure. Also, there is the possibility that deposits in the combustion chamber are heating up to the point of causing pre-ignition combustion (pinging).
But while you have replaced a number of control system parts have you questioned the system for any fault codes?
The most useful thing to do would be to try to get the fault codes that are likely stored in the engine controller memory to readout. Try using the ignition key: turn it "on-off-on-off-on" and leave it "on" (doing this quickly, no longer than 5 seconds). Then watch the 'check engine' light to begin flashing, then pause, flashing, pause, etc. Count the number of flashes before each pause and keep track of the numbers. Repeat the readout and verify the counts are correct. Then group them in pairs in the order that they came out, thus forming two digit numbers. You may notice that the pause is shorter between the digits of a given number, and longer between the numbers themselves. Then send me a 'follow-up' question telling me the results of your readout. By the way, 55 will be the last number (two groups of 5 flashes each) and that is the code for "end of readout".
I have the troubleshooting manual for the 2.2L engine and we can look up the possibilities of what is wrong based upon what fault codes you show.
There is also an essay on fault codes at the site:
http://www.allpar.com/fix/codes.html
which gives the meaning of the code numbers. But then you need to get specific info for what exactly might be the diagnostic tests or parts to replace to complete the repair.
Roland
