Bogs down after 45 minutes

[melsdesk]

I'm hoping someone out there can help me. I have a 96 Discovery and am trying to keep from making a trip to the dealer.

I take it to an independent car service that specializes in imports, they do a good job fixing something when you tell them exactly what to fix but knowing what to fix is the problem.

They have now replaced my fuel filter and replaced my valve seal gasket - it didn't help.

After driving for about 45 min, the vehicle starts slowing down, as if I am letting off the gas and now it will start sputtering. The last time I drove it the service engine light came on and started flashing and I couldn't get it over 10 miles per hour. In general it feels like it has lost horsepower.

The mechanics said that they can hook it up to the computer again and it should give some codes this time. They said that when the service engine light blinks it means the engine has experienced a mis fire. They assure me that it is not the catalytic converter but they say it could be that part of the muffler has collapsed. He said he could do a back pressure test on the muffler. He said when air gets into a combustion chamber it has to get out somehow and when they were running it, it back fired several times.

I will probably bring it back to them for a 3rd time, they of course said they were limited as to what the computer shows them because they are not the dealer. I'm just worried about them fixing it again and me paying them again and finding out that it's not fixed again. They did replace a sensor a couple of years ago, I believe it was an oxygen sensor.

 

[Talon2Discovery]

When was the last time you changed your plug wires? I know bad spark plug wires will cause your car to sputter and in extreme cases, prevent it from accelerating. I say replace some of the cheap and easy things first before you bring it back to a shop.

 

[melsdesk]

Thanks so much ! I'll try that first and tell you what happens.

 

[Moose]

Could be Vehicle Speed Sensor starting to go. Starting with plug wires and spark plugs is an easy and relatively cheap solution that is also probably an update you need anyway...

 

[joey]

Take a spin at night, when it starts to act up, look at the CATs, I will bet they are glowing red and you will find that they are bad.

 

[melsdesk]

I've been told the spark plugs and wires are fine, still having them checked though. Am taking the rover today to American Import Services, they are going to hook it up to the computer tomorrow.

I am having them check the spark plugs anyway. Hopefully it will throw a code that will end the mystery, they say it should this time because the service engine light flashed indicating an engine misfire.

May be a sensor.

The catalytic converter was glowing red !! but they are telling me this is a symptom and not the problem.

Will update everyone on status, thanks so much

Melissa

 

[joey]

If he cats are glowing red, they are bad.... O2 sensors going bad will **** cats in a matter of months... bad fuel, plugs wires... all could cause the O2 sensors to go bad, but the cats are gone if glowing.