My car has suddenly developed a lack of power, backfires and hard to start I have changed the plugs and leads today , changed the distributor cap and rotor about 12 months ago. Any suggestion would be of great help
Thanks
Damien
My first thought is to check the timing belt. If it has jumped the symptoms you describe make a lot of sense.
To check it, remove the upper part of the timing belt cover. Use a socket on the crankshaft bolt to turn the crank until the timing marks line up on TDC. The cam sprocket at the top of the belt should line up with its timing marks, or be 180 degrees out. If 180 out, you will want to rotate the crank another 360 degrees clockwise to verify the timing.
The good news is that the engine you have is non-interference; timing belt failure does not damage the engine. It also is not terribly hard to replace, which translates to more modest labor costs to replace. If the belt has jumped, it is not going to work at all very much longer.
Mike
Try unplugging the air mass meter and see if it improves.
Also if the car is '88 or earlier and has the original engine wiring harness, replace that.
The timing belt someone else suggested is also a good thing to check, they seldom slip, but if a tooth breaks off they could, and the symptoms will be very similar.
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