Engine no power and rough idle

[mjac62]

Hi All.... newbie to the site
I have a 2000 w/V8 AWD and all of a sudden it started running horrible if not at all. Will start but then very rough idle, and when trying to drive feels like I'm pulling 10 tons of sandbags ! NO power. Takes forever to get to 20mph foot to the floor. A friend of mine had a handheld code reader and said something about transmission ? I cant remember what he said he was going to investigate and get back to me. My question ,, is there something that I should check right away related to the tranny that would control engine idle ? Any other suggestions besides burning the truck ? Thanks

 

[mjac62]

no ideas ?

 

[yavapaires]

I would be checking for a vacuum leak.

 

[alohamonte]

not sure. post the code from the computer/reader. i have heard that bad mass air flow sensors can screw up the transmission operation - which might be why youre getting a transmission code.

quick test is to disconnect the MAF and see if it idles any better. If it does, MAF is shot.

 

[mjac62]

The codes were just pending codes, no none really stored. No check engine light . Changed plugs and idle smoothed out. disconnected MAF sensor and idled real bad and coded. Reconnect and all well again.
I am beginning to think its the tranny itself. I checked the tranny fluid level and the stick was dry, I added slightly over a quart and now level good when hot, but problem still there.
When attempting to drive It takes forever to get past 20mph then slowly increases speed and once rolling up to around 40 goes pretty good, but still lacks power. When going ,if i put in neutral the RPMS shoot up and engine smooth.
From a complete stop just crawls. It's my 20 yr old daughters truck I handed down, of course well maintained by me, and ran great. I don't think she ever did anything to it, BUT OF COURSE SHE KNOWS EVERYTHING !

 

[alohamonte]

so the idle is fine now? its just boggy when driving?

have u checked out that thread about tightning up the throttle cable? mine felt weak until i took the slack out of the cable (twist tie method at the accelerator)

i also had some boggy feeling because my auto hubs were shot and permanently engaged the front wheels. really smoothed out accel/deccel when the hubs were replaced.

i've also read posts about brake grab/caliper issues but i havent had them myself.

 

[mjac62]

After looking at everything I found that a fuse #13 ( mini 15amp) in the engine compartment fuse box was blown. I didnt have a spare so I put a jumper wire across it and it ran perfect, went to the store got a new 15a fuse and when i put in gear it blew again, so i put in a 30 amp and drove perfect all the way home. The manual shows this fuse is for O2 SENSOR, EGR VAC REGULATOR, EVR SOLENOID, CAM POSITION SENSOR, CANISTER VENT SOLENOID So now I guess I have to figure out which one of those are pulling that much current to blow a 15 a fuse, At least rules out the tranny and other major components.

 

[dave63]

In the meantime, your 20-year-old daughter won't be prime speeding ticket material.