Underpowered tb42 auto!

[coolummatt]

Hi all. Can anyone help me. I have a 96 tb42 auto. I've only had it a couple of months now and I have notice some times on the beach it can be a little underpowered in soft sand. Even in first gear with my foot flat it doesn't want to rev over 2000 rpm. It has not been to much of a problem yet but adding a camper trailer at 750kgs im a little worried im going to get stuck.

Also today I picked up my new camper trailer. Seems to tow really well on the hi way until I get to a hill the it just dies in the arse quickly. Is this normal?

Thanks.

[taslucas]

Gday mate, the tb42 should rev way higher than that. Is it dual fuel? If so, does it do it on both fuels?
I would check the ignition and fuel side of things to make sure everything is in good working order. Points, rotor button, distributor cap, leads, spark plugs, coil and timing should all be checked. Also check the fuel filters. There will be one in the engine bay and usually another one closer to the fuel tank. If they are clogged the engine will lose power. Look for any vacuum hoses that may have come off (around carby and intake manifold, and also the vacuum advance to the distributor). Also wouldn't hurt to inspect the carby for anything obvious problems and give it a good spray with crc or similar to lube up all the linkages.

[coolummatt]

I should have mentioned its an efi. Also it drives fine on the road and will rev all the way to red line with no problems. It only seems to be in deep boggy sand that it wont rev.

[coolummatt]

Oh sorry its petrol only

[93patrol]

what tire pressure are you running in the soft sand as this can restrict the car from accelerating, also i would put an injector cleaner through it easy enough to get from car shops and some service stations, and as lucas said check all fuel filters ans when was the last time the air cleaner was checked??

for added measure i would take the air intake hose off and clean the throttle body with some carby cleaner you might find it to be a bit dirty with carbon and such best to do this whilst its running

[coolummatt]

Thanks I will have a look at that today. I run about 25psi on the beach

[92GQ]

Thanks I will have a look at that today. I run about 25psi on the beach

What size tyres are you running at 25psi?

[taslucas]

Even on 35s at 25psi it should rev past 2000rpm in first?

[coolummatt]

Im running 32 AT

[93patrol]

But if it's a hungry beach it's still going to struggle go down to between 15-18 psi you'll find it a lot easier and you won't put so much pressure on your drive train

[Clunk]

Does it do the same in all gears, or do you just leave it in drive?

[taslucas]

But if it's a hungry beach it's still going to struggle go down to between 15-18 psi you'll find it a lot easier and you won't put so much pressure on your drive train

It should still rev higher even if that means it spins the wheels and gets bogged, it should still be revving higher than 2000rpm


Does it do the same in all gears, or do you just leave it in drive?

OP said it was doing it in first.


Ok, its efi so disregard everything i said about a carby but id still look at all the other things

[Clunk]

^^^^^^^^ couldnt see for looking

[93patrol]

It should still rev higher even if that means it spins the wheels and gets bogged, it should still be revving higher than 2000rpm


not to offend or upset you Lucas but from my experience and granted i have a td42 and manual if your trtying to push the sand along on a beach that is very boggy without the correct tyre pressure you will lose revs and struggle even to get the tyres spinning to get bogged down, where i have the advantage of clutching it and slipping the clutch to force the revs up you guys have to rely on the auto to kickback but it can't in 1st.

again Lucas this is not ment to offend mate i hate the way text comes across

[taslucas]

Yeah he's also talking about it loosing power on a hill. I tend to think it needs a bit of a tune up.
I suppose the easy question is: does it rev out higher on non beach driving?

[coolummatt]

Yeah he's also talking about it loosing power on a hill. I tend to think it needs a bit of a tune up.
I suppose the easy question is: does it rev out higher on non beach driving?

Yeah it drives fine on the road not towing. And revs out with no problems.

[taslucas]

Yeah it drives fine on the road not towing. And revs out with no problems.

Ahhhh well then it doesnt sound like and engine tune up problem. Its time to get some advice from the sand drivers amongst us. 93Patrol, you're up!

[Bulbous]

Sand can be a bit of an unknown quality. Sometimes it's really easy, other times the car just will not pick up. the really soft stuff just eats power.
25 PSI is far to high for sand, tires are hard and just cut into the sand, then they have to try and fling it out of the way. Any attempts to steer will just sap more power.
I suggest that you deflate to at least 14 PSI. Then see how it goes, if it still feels a bit weak then just drop the pressure a bit more.
You'll know when you get the pressure right, because the car will actually start going where you steer it without slithering all over the place.
I do all my sand driving with 10 PSI in the rear / 13 in the front. That pretty much goes anywhere, and still has enough pressure to keep the tire on the rim. It also means that you can deflate quite a bit more for those really tricky bits.

[coolummatt]

Ok well it sounds like I need to play with my tire pressure a bit. Thanks for all your he last guys