Outer Limits 4x4 Board

I have a 94 Vitara with a 1.6l carby engine.

It is running fine then suddenly it's losing revs and power and almost stalling. It seem to come and go. Ihave pulled out the plugs they were black instead of the normal used plugs look. I cleaned them put them back and checked all the leads and disributor cap. Nothing odd looking with those.

It was going fine until the Missus took it to Perth and when she cam back and hit the gravel road she stoped to lock in the hubs (roads fairly rough) it satrted again thois time worse.

Any ideas as to what it might be. I thought it might be a fuel blockage but noe not to sure.

i had the same problem with mine also, but only every now and then. it was more so the rough roads that was doing it, like bad corrugations at speed, and just medium speed driving over rough-ish roads.

my plugs were also carbon fouled, but i'm thinking its because my vit was running a bit rich, and i also do a lot of slow slow stuff in some technical sections.

my problem was my leads were coming loose with all the vibrations, and was usually my number one lead. it would vibrate a bit loose, and not get spark, and sorta flood the cylinder. so if i was out on the track, i'd pull the main lead from the coil, turn the motor over a couple of seconds to clear the cylinders, make sure the leads were on properly again, and she'd start the first time again. i also changed the fuel filter above the tank at the rear, and i put another one in the engine bay just before the fuel pump. crystal clean fuel, if theres such a thing.

new plugs and leads, and new filter, including air filter. should be ok then, and if problems persist, dont hesitate to contact your local pocket emptying mechanic.

hope this helps.

- clogged idle jet

- fuel line blockage

- dirty air filter

- bad fuel

combination of the above?

-bad engine earth causing loss of spark/temporary rich mixture.

-loose electricals distributor/coil/ignition switch (heavy keys + old vehicle = worn lock/switch mechanism).

-EGR valve stuck/not functioning correctly.


Eliminate:
Fuel line blockage = starvation - Plugs would not be black.

Clogged idle jet = running ok when above idle (maybe a bit lean), shitful idle only- Generally would not be intermittent.

Ok once you've checked what everyone else has done, give it an italian tune up

Take it out to some back road and rev the hell out of it, all the way upto the redline - give it a good workout....

Oh, and i take no responsibility if it blows up

I WOULD BE CHECKING THE EGR VALVE....

these block up .. also check its hoses.
while your at it check the pcv valve (little bluish/purple)that goes from the manifold to your head...

make sure that the hose is not blocked and that the valve only breathes one way..

Check the CATALYTIC CONVERTER......it's prob stuffed like ours was..... been there done that with the power prob....on again, off again.
Especially as u seem to have checked everything else, like we did.
Put my money on that being your prob too.

PS Eugene reckons ...to check just undo the 2 front bolts and let the exhaust gasses bypass the CC.

Good Luck

So what was the problem, I'd be interested to know....even if I loose the bet.