Truck advice

[AmyH]

Okay, I have been having an issue with my Toyota pick-up truck, and I am about at wits end! My mechanic can't figure out what is wrong with it, and the Toyota dealership can't figure out what is wrong with it. And this is the truck that I want to pull my trailer with, argh!!!

Here's the issue, the truck seriously loses power going up into the mountains. I have already gotten the fuel injectors cleaned and a full tune-up. I know it isn't the clutch, since I know from experience what that is like, and it doesn't have an altitude adjustment thingy (I don't know the technical term).

The truck is getting a bit old (approaching 150,000 miles), but in all other aspects it is still a great truck. It's a '93 Toyota SR5 V6 pick-up. I really don't want to have to replace it yet, since it really is great other than losing power, but I am worried it won't be able to pull the tear well.

Do any of you have ideas about what might be happening? I am totally at a loss here,

Amy

[doug hodder]

Howz yer air filter? just a thought...I had a similar problem while driving the Alcan...and that was the problem...however, I'm sure someone has already done that if it has been to a mechanic...is it an auto or standard transmission? Doug

[AmyH]

Doug, I got the air filter replaced when I did the major tune-up, so it should be looking pretty darned good right now,

Amy

[waywardson]

hello amy,
it may just be tired, (worn out)
high miles sometimes equals low compression,

george / waywardson

[gman]

Have your exhaust system checked, some of the trucks used double wall pipe that corrodes from the inside causeing blockage, looks fine on the outside, will run okay untill underload. Muffler too, also, if only while going uphill, maybe sediment in the gas tank that is blocking the pickup tube, will need to remove and clean.

[Nitetimes]

I'd start with the catalytic converter. They tend to frequently be the problem when power is an issue.

[gman]

try posting in news group alt.autos.toyota.trucks - I googled the following :toyota truck problems power loss, got lots of hits!

[Chris C]

Amy,

I'm not anything close to being a mechanic.............or even knowing much about internal combustion engines, but I had a Plymouth Voyager back in '84. Ran great until I got to the mountains. No-one could ever figure it out. Since I spent a lot of my time out in Colorado, Montana, Wyoming, etc., etc., I finally sold it to a friend. Turns out he moved to Durango, CO with it. He had a buddy out there who worked for Chrysler and he looked at the serial numbers and it just happens that my Voyager wasn't supposed to even be sold in Oklahoma. Something about the permanent jets in the carb were set for sea level. So, needless to say, when I started hitting 8,000 feet, it acted like a 99 year old man! He had the carb replaced and it ran like a top for the next 6 years he owned it! Just a thought.

[Gaston]

change the fuel filter. If it runs OK on the flat but runs out of steam on a hill it may be starving for fuel.Had a motor home that would run like a scared cat on the flat but couldnt climb a hill. ran real smooth too. I found a pin hole in the fuel line , it was sucking just enough air to lean it out so it couldnt wind upon a hill but ran fine otherwise. same as a plugged fuel filter
.

[Spadinator]

I agree with Gaston.....try the fuel filter....My Nissan 4X4 truck (175,000 miles) would do great on the flat but any type of hill it would peter out. Found the fuel filter almost completely plugged as well as the muffler plugged. Changed both and now it runs great.

[AmyH]

Wow! I knew you guys would have some great suggestions for me! Thanks soooo much. I am going to be talking to my mechanic tomorrow to run these suggestions by him. I really love this truck, it holds a lot of sentimental value for me, so I would love to get it working right if possible. I am just not quite ready (emotionally) to let it go.

Thanks again guys, you totally made my day.
Amy

[Micro469]

Do a compression check. I had a ford Ranger run great but up hills really died. After I ended up blowing the engine, (Mechanic couldn't figure out the problem) They found out the head gasket was leaking, and something about oil was getting in the cylinders. When it finally went, She was smoking like a chimney... Trying to get it back to repair shop before it died... got a $100.00 ticket for excessive pollution... didn't make it.....

[doug hodder]

Amy...Micro brings up a good point...my 91 Toyota with a V6 had a recall on the head gaskets...I think they got it cured, but they went...it died on me and I got them replaced courtesy of Toyota and they threw in a timing belt to boot...Doug

[dhazard]

Fuel pump?

[Kevin A]

I agree that the exhaust system should get checked. as for the fuel filter, that should have been replaced as part of the major tuneup. Those two items would be the first and easiest things to check. If those turn up negative I would have to agree with Doug and Micro about the possibility of blown head gaskets. Toyota did have a recall on the 3.0 V-6, I'm not certain it's still in effect. Our local toyota dealership sent many of these heads to our shop to be surfaced during that recall.
Another possibility (one I see quite often on these engines) is exhaust valve and/or seat failure. Essentially what happens is the the valve beats into the seat reducing the valve lash which could contribute to the power loss you are experiencing with your truck. The remedy is a valve job and cylinder head resurfacing. With the mileage you mention, you might consider rebuilding the complete engine, particularly if you wish to keep the truck.
Let us know what you find out concerning the exhaust sytem and the fuel filter. Hopefully it will be something relativity simple.