NewB with questions

[Chief11789]

Hey guys, I got a 95 Bronco EB with a 5.8EFI 351 with 93k. I have power problems, especially when going up hills and passing. I gave it a tune up and changed the fuel filter, but it still has problems. It doesnt have a real strong idle, it sounds sputtery, and when I hit the gas hard it just doesnt want to gallop. What else can I do to help my power situation? I heard my injectors could be the issue, would a clean help me out? Im also looking into aftermarket upgrades, but being a broke college student its not easy. What are my best bets for upgrades that will help my HP and torque? Thanks in Advance!

 

[Broncobill78]

Hey guys, I got a 95 Bronco EB with a 5.8EFI 351 with 93k. I have power problems, especially when going up hills and passing. I gave it a tune up and changed the fuel filter, but it still has problems. It doesnt have a real strong idle, it sounds sputtery, and when I hit the gas hard it just doesnt want to gallop. What else can I do to help my power situation? I heard my injectors could be the issue, would a clean help me out? Im also looking into aftermarket upgrades, but being a broke college student its not easy. What are my best bets for upgrades that will help my HP and torque? Thanks in Advance!

Well, without overstating the obvious, do you have any idea just HOW many issues could be in play here ? The quick & simple question is whether or not the processor is throwing any codes at you. If so then you're cool, the computer has probably done your job FOR you and everyone can go home. If not then unfortunately you're about to get your hands dirty and start learning about how trucks work. I can't even *begin* to list the number of places & ways a modern engine can lose power. What do the plugs look like ? What's you're fuel pressure running ? When was the last time you had it tuned & timed ? This CAN be worked thru but you'll have to be able to answer or help answer a number of questions. General power loss can be attributed to SO many things that it takes more than 2 or 3 questions to narrow it down. Or, at least it does for me. Maybe someone else will have an easy answer. Not to be an ass, I'm happy to spend weeks working it thru with you, just be willing to track down the answers and help US to help you. I'll scan & post every damn page of the factory manuals, just be willing to help us with answers. At 93K it MAY just be an engine with tolerances that stacked up on the minus side and it's tired, truth be told it's hard to expect great numbers from an American V8 with 100K. They're certainly better than they were 20 yrs ago when a ring-job every 30K was routine, but still, you can't expect 300hp from a 100K engine, not a stock engine anyways. If you're dealing with a stocker than it may simply be in it's twilight. Now that's not to say that it doesn't have another 30+K in it but you just can't expect it to have the ponies it did at 20K. Rebuild it with modern parts and sure, you're looking at 320HP but don't expect it to BE 320hp for much more than 10 or 12 years, that's just the nature of V8's. Once again, anyone who disagrees is welcome to say as much, I'm simply posting my *opinion* and we ALL know what those are worth. Lord knows there are plenty here who disagree with *anything* I have to say.

 

[Chief11789]

Broncobill78; Im about as ignorant as it comes to cars, granted that I know the basics. I just gave it a tune up and changed the fuel filter, it had the original plugs in it before. I have not timed it, and I dont know how to check my fuel pressure. Everything is stock. Again Im a beginner with this, and my dad doesnt know much about cars besides simple maintenance. Any and all help is welcomed.

 

[zach351]

i have to agree with everything that broncobill has said. although it may be somthing simple. if u dont want to do your own work then take it to a machanic seing that ur in collage maybe you have a guy on campus that could help u out.

 

[aqua_wonder]

When the truck is in park does the idle surge up and down? When you drive the truck and stop at a light does the idle drop down low? Do you stall out?

 

[Chief11789]

Aqua Wonder, When started it runs at 1500rpm till it warms up then it drops down n jumps between 800rpm and 1200rpm. It doesnt really drop low at stop lights, usually staying at about 900rpm. I know the computer went a little haywire once, luckily i was in an empty parking lot; it wouldnt shift out of first and it was jumpy on the throttle. I just shut it off, and it started to work like normal. Im home every weekend, and have the time to work on it, I just dont know what to do. Dont get me wrong, I want to do the work, Im just ignorant as to how.

 

[crazyhorse85]

HEY DUDE DON'T KNOCK YOUR SELF...THAT'S WHAT WE'RE HERE FOR IS TO TRY AND HELP YOU GRT THROUGHT IT...BUT ONE THING AT A TIME...BB78 CAN REALLY HELP...SO HANG IN THER AND WE'LL ALL HELP AS MUCH AS WE CAN...GOTTA KEEP THEM BRONCOS RUNNIN.... B)

 

[Chief11789]

HEY DUDE DON'T KNOCK YOUR SELF...THAT'S WHAT WE'RE HERE FOR IS TO TRY AND HELP YOU GRT THROUGHT IT...BUT ONE THING AT A TIME...BB78 CAN REALLY HELP...SO HANG IN THER AND WE'LL ALL HELP AS MUCH AS WE CAN...GOTTA KEEP THEM BRONCOS RUNNIN.... B)

Thanks for the confidence booster Crazyhorse85!

 

[Broncobill78]

Hey Chief, Lemme ask this. I know you're *already* in school and from the few semesters I was able to hack i DO remember that your time is really at a premium but is there a local voke school ? I've lived in Mass, Maine, Texas, Tennessee, Louisiana, California & Florida and everywhere I've gone there's been a local voke school that offered adult Ed night classes. I know it can be a bitch when you spend 7 or 8 hrs a day in class and have plenty of work to do afterwards but if you DO have access to a local Adult Ed/Evening school thing then give it some serious thought. I learned bodywork this way. The local Voke school offered classes 2 nights a week for 12 weeks. Bring in your project and you had a qualified instructor not only teaching you but looking over your shoulder and *helping* you. Mechanical classes are a bit different but I'll tell ya up-front I'd be hard pressed to come up with a better way to learn what you need to know at this stage of the game. You can either teach yourself or you can look for assistance. Don't get me wrong, I have more time than money so it doesn't bother me one bit to sit here for 3 or 4 hrs helping someone out, shit, I'll PM ya my cell # I get so bored. But that's not always the best way for YOU to learn. Give the idea some thought and look around. If not shoot me a PM, I'll give ya my cell and we'll do what we can /emoticons/[email protected] 2x" width="20" height="20" />

 

[Shadow_D]

Hey Chief...

When you say "It doesn't have a real strong idle, it sounds sputtery," does it sound kinda wet?

Do you see black smoke from the tailpipe when you get on it and it starts to run a little better?

BTW:

to the Zone!

 

[Chief11789]

BB78, you know that is a really good idea. Ill ave to look into Im not sure, but that is a really great idea; I never even gave that a thought. Class is a bitch, and the worse part is that most of the work is done outside of the classroom.

Shadow, thanks for the welcome! It doesnt sound wet, and no black smoke. It just jumps around rpm wise at idle and doesnt sound strong.

The more and more I talk to you guys, the more I think its just an old engine, thats just dirty. Like I said before, the comp has gone haywire before but it fixed itself when I restarted. I think what Im gonna do is clean the injectors and check the timing and Ill go from there.

Thanks again guys, and Ill keep you posted! Any other tips are appreciated!!!

 

[Broncobill78]

To follow up on Shadow's comment what do your *plugs* look like ? Learn to read your plugs and you'll be able to assess your engine in a heartbeat.

I dunno if you have something like a Harbor Freight store nearby but a cheap $20 compression tester probably wouldn't be a waste of your $$$. Ck'ing all 8 cylinders AND the plugs will tell you a whole LOT about the overall condition of your engine. If you have a couple adjacent cylinders that are 20% or so off from the rest then you start figuring things out real quick. You *don't* need $2K in tools to diagnose your truck. there are a lot of cheap ways around these issues. Just stay onboard & keep asking questions.

 

[ironranger433]

To follow up on Shadow's comment what do your *plugs* look like ? Learn to read your plugs and you'll be able to assess your engine in a heartbeat.
I dunno if you have something like a Harbor Freight store nearby but a cheap $20 compression tester probably wouldn't be a waste of your $$$. Ck'ing all 8 cylinders AND the plugs will tell you a whole LOT about the overall condition of your engine. If you have a couple adjacent cylinders that are 20% or so off from the rest then you start figuring things out real quick. You *don't* need $2K in tools to diagnose your truck. there are a lot of cheap ways around these issues. Just stay onboard & keep asking questions.

a vac. gauge is really cheap and can also be a valuable tool, good luck

 

[BroncoJoe19]

Hey guys, I got a 95 Bronco EB with a 5.8EFI 351 with 93k. I have power problems, especially when going up hills and passing. I gave it a tune up and changed the fuel filter, but it still has problems. It doesnt have a real strong idle, it sounds sputtery, and when I hit the gas hard it just doesnt want to gallop. What else can I do to help my power situation? I heard my injectors could be the issue, would a clean help me out? Im also looking into aftermarket upgrades, but being a broke college student its not easy. What are my best bets for upgrades that will help my HP and torque? Thanks in Advance!

Chief,

Your engine is computer controlled, just as BB78 mentioned above, the computer may have stored diagnostic information for you to help you figure out your engine's problems.

What you need to do is to get that information out of the computer. Fortunatley it is easy to do, and does not require any special equipment, all you will need is a little piece of wire and the ability to count to ten. Fair enough?

Look at post number 7 in this thread for instructions on how to check for codes.

http://broncozone.com/forums/index.php?s=&...ost&p=73721

Let us know how you make out.

Your truck is newer so you do NOT even need a volt meter.

Good luck

BroncoJoe19

 

[Shadow_D]

If this has an EGR valve, that could be part of your problem. I know when mine was "looping" it was partly caused by a faulty EGR valve.

 

[Rednek]

my bronco has the same problem. i have a 6" lift and 37" tires though. if it has big tires it would be wise to change Diff gears.

 

[Chief11789]

Redneck, it is completely stock. No big tires, maybe in the future.

 

[walnuts75]

Hey guys, I got a 95 Bronco EB with a 5.8EFI 351 with 93k. I have power problems, especially when going up hills and passing. I gave it a tune up and changed the fuel filter, but it still has problems. It doesnt have a real strong idle, it sounds sputtery, and when I hit the gas hard it just doesnt want to gallop. What else can I do to help my power situation? I heard my injectors could be the issue, would a clean help me out? Im also looking into aftermarket upgrades, but being a broke college student its not easy. What are my best bets for upgrades that will help my HP and torque? Thanks in Advance!

93k is not bad at all for a '95. Mine is a '95 and it has 170,000+ and it still the original stock engine. And it runs just as strong as my dad's '98 F-250 5.4L V8. The power in your truck should still be there. An engine with 93k is not going to be that tired. I've seen tired engines before. In addtion to the fuel filter, did you change or clean out your fuel lines as well? It is possible for gunk to buildup on the inside of the lines. Just something else to think about along with what everybody else suggested. Definately check the codes though.

 

[dhpt99]

Cleaning the injectors would be something good to do. It may not completely solve your problem but it can be helpful. >-