Car breaking down badly under power

[John F. Russo]

As always the expert diagnosticians have served me well for all my problems so far.

A couple of weeks ago I was driving along and decided I needed more speed. I dropped it into 3rd gear and went about 1/4 throttle and the car started to chug badly and immediately started to slow down . After a few seconds I released the throttle. I tried the same thing from a standing start when I was close to home--I didn't want to be too far away from home if I had to walk--no problem.

About a few days ago I started at nearly full throttle and it broke down badly again. I could not repeat the condition.

I have never had this kind of periodic problem ever since I bought the car new.

My car is a daily driver.

Any guesses?


12/4 Additional note: After the car chugged and I released the throttle to get out of boost, the car drove as if nothing was wrong.




2003 Dark Blue Pearl 300B (Canadian) w/Light Flint (reversed traction control, mini spare, trunked 6 disc CD changer, clock-in-the-radio, heated front seats/mirrors, hood light), Born 12/10/02; converted new then used 2/28/03; 70,000 miles
ENGINE: Kenny Brown: 6th “Signature Series” conversion, Vortech supercharger (5 to 7 psig boost; 3.48 pulley), 400 RWHP/377 RWTQ, 8.8lbs/BHP; Dennis Reinhart Cobra engine cooling kit, TRANSMISSION: Stock transmission upgraded with Performance Automatic "Super Streeter" transmission version, stub shaft (defective metal) failed at 30k miles; upgraded internals (except for torque converter) to Reinhart's design; Precision, triple disc, P/N469018-3, later upgraded to 3500 rpm stall speed); Ford Racing transmission aluminum pan SUSPENSION: Metco control arms (black powdered coated), coil from each front stock spring removed to produce the “same” effect as an Eibach spring DRIVETRAIN 4.10 gears, MMX Driveshaft, Ford Racing Stud and Girdle BRAKES:14 in. KVR brakes (two piston, slotted rotors), TIRES: Pirelli P-Zero Asimmetrico (front 255/45ZR18, rear widened rims with Hankook 295/45ZR18), ACCESSORIES: Wheel locks (Ford), godshead valve stem caps, KB Dead pedal, Badgeless front grille by “Zack”; Zaino waxing; RainX; 3M protective film, FordChip, Ground clearance: 5 in. MISCELLANEOUS 18.5 mpg at a steady speed of 80 mph, one tank of gas
______________________________ ___________________________
(Gone) 1961 Ford Galaxie, 2 dr. Club Victoria, 390CID, 375hp, 4 barrel

[Local Boy]

Vacum leak?...Check your pipes, after the blower...and the hose that actuates the purge valve...

Best of Luck...

ALOHA

[Bradley G]

I would start with easy stuff.
How long have the spark plugs been in?
Clean the Maf.
Fuel filter
Coils?

[Zack]

A bad FRPS can cause the symptoms you are describing.
Does the car run fine during normal driving?

[fastblackmerc]

I'd try new plugs.

[BODYMAN]

had a similar problem on my KB-S a couple of years ago and that is what it was doing pulled 3-plugs found That they were detonating something went bad on there tune:confused: had a local speed shop re-dyno and tune and problem fixed and The car actually ran better than before and 24 more rear wheel horse. He nor I could figue why the tune went bad? pull 2-3 plugs and ck for detonation. You may find the plugs actually move like there coming apart and that can cause major engine damage. Just a suggestion from what I have read almost all KB-s had some type of tune issue. Things can chage as engine wear happens!!! ALSO TUNNING IN THE MIDWEST AND THEN YOU LIVING IN THE EAST COAST AREA???? Just a thought

[BODYMAN]

John did KB have to send you a knew chip after you had youre car back from them? The reason I ask They took my car back to re-tune for stalling and a couple of other issues and they stated there were 4-others doing the same thing and they were going to re-tune mine in house and send the other folks a new chip so they were not incoinvenced. Thought maybe youres may have been one of them. They metioned that some of them were on the east coast?????

[ckadiddle]

Your car has a Yugo stuck in it's windpipe. :)

[John F. Russo]

I would start with easy stuff.
How long have the spark plugs been in?
Clean the Maf.
Fuel filter
Coils?

I replaced them a few months ago NGK(?) style with iridium tips.

[John F. Russo]

Vacum leak?...Check your pipes, after the blower...and the hose that actuates the purge valve...

Best of Luck...

ALOHA

Why wouldn't it happen every time the engine got some boost?

[John F. Russo]

A bad FRPS can cause the symptoms you are describing.
Does the car run fine during normal driving?

My badgless grill man! Thank you for the great job.

My answer: Yes

What is a FRPS?

[John F. Russo]

I'd try new plugs.

Even though my plugs are a few moths old. I may try your idea if nothing else seems more probable.

Than you.

[John F. Russo]

had a similar problem on my KB-S a couple of years ago and that is what it was doing pulled 3-plugs found That they were detonating something went bad on there tune:confused: had a local speed shop re-dyno and tune and problem fixed and The car actually ran better than before and 24 more rear wheel horse. He nor I could figue why the tune went bad? pull 2-3 plugs and ck for detonation. You may find the plugs actually move like there coming apart and that can cause major engine damage. Just a suggestion from what I have read almost all KB-s had some type of tune issue. Things can chage as engine wear happens!!! ALSO TUNNING IN THE MIDWEST AND THEN YOU LIVING IN THE EAST COAST AREA???? Just a thought

Thank you.

[John F. Russo]

John did KB have to send you a knew chip after you had youre car back from them? The reason I ask They took my car back to re-tune for stalling and a couple of other issues and they stated there were 4-others doing the same thing and they were going to re-tune mine in house and send the other folks a new chip so they were not incoinvenced. Thought maybe youres may have been one of them. They metioned that some of them were on the east coast?????

You're exactly right. When I picked up my car and drove off, It stalled on me a couple of times. Later they sent me a new chip and it eliminated the problem completely.

[Zack]

My badgless grill man! Thank you for the great job.

My answer: Yes

What is a FRPS?

Fuel Rail Pressure sensor.

Passenger side fuel rail toward the front.
It will have a vacuum line and electrical connector on it.

It can go bad electrically, or mechanically. Pull the vacuum line off, smell for gasoline odor. If odor is present, it is for sure bad.

[BODYMAN]

You're exactly right. When I picked up my car and drove off, It stalled on me a couple of times. Later they sent me a new chip and it eliminated the problem completely.

I kinda figured that. The other one was Haggis,s #8 was one of the other ones. do you drive it on the cold,cold days to? the reason I ask Vortech does not recommend cold start start up below 25 degrees could cause major failure??? have you heard that? KB never warned against this I would never spend another dime with them if they were still in business. bashing or not it is the truth!!!!:beer:

Todd

[John F. Russo]

Fuel Rail Pressure sensor.

Passenger side fuel rail toward the front.
It will have a vacuum line and electrical connector on it.

It can go bad electrically, or mechanically. Pull the vacuum line off, smell for gasoline odor. If odor is present, it is for sure bad.

Thank you again, Zack.

[John F. Russo]

I kinda figured that. The other one was Haggis,s #8 was one of the other ones. do you drive it on the cold,cold days to? the reason I ask Vortech does not recommend cold start start up below 25 degrees could cause major failure??? have you heard that? KB never warned against this I would never spend another dime with them if they were still in business. bashing or not it is the truth!!!!:beer:

Todd

Thank you for your response.

I read about the Vortech limitation about temperature. I drive my car year around and once it went down to zero the last 5 years during the past five years that I have owned the car. I drove the car without any problems.

Most often it is usually in the high teens in January. I have never had any work done on the unit.

I drive no higher than 40 mph until the car warms up. Then I occasionally open it up at these low temperatures.

I keep the car in my unheated garage. But it is almost always about 10 to 15 degrees warmer until I drive out of my garage. This usally brings the temperature in my garage to 20 to 25 degrees except in very rare circumstances.

[Local Boy]

Sorry John...

I must have mis-understood...I thought it was a consistant problem...

Best of luck...

ALOHA

[John F. Russo]

Sorry John...

I must have mis-understood...I thought it was a consistant problem...

Best of luck...

ALOHA


ALl the way from Hawii?

A black Marauder was sold to the Hawii police department by one of our own from Chicago. He use to be a very frequent contributor to this web site. Have you seen the car?

[BODYMAN]

Thank you for your response.

I read about the Vortech limitation about temperature. I drive my car year around and once it went down to zero the last 5 years during the past five years that I have owned the car. I drove the car without any problems.

Most often it is usually in the high teens in January. I have never had any work done on the unit.

I drive no higher than 40 mph until the car warms up. Then I occasionally open it up at these low temperatures.

I keep the car in my unheated garage. But it is almost always about 10 to 15 degrees warmer until I drive out of my garage. This usally brings the temperature in my garage to 20 to 25 degrees except in very rare circumstances.

yeah its kinda funny KB never made metion of this but I had already known that but just like you I used to drive my KB , in all kinds of weather and never one problem? but there again vortech swears that the s-trim which you have is ok at any temp so:confused:

[Local Boy]

Thanks for your (Chicago) contrabution to our PD...:D

Yes, we have several fast MM's in the PD.

I remember one local Brutha...MADDOG... I think was his sig.

It's the coolest, to see our Brutha's running MM's as there personal vehicals...

ALOHA