# Doesn't have power

**URL:** <https://community.cartalk.com/t/doesnt-have-power/3207>\
**Category:** Maintenance/Repairs\
**Created:** [August 16, 2007, 6:49pm UTC](https://community.cartalk.com/t/doesnt-have-power/3207 "2007-08-16T18:49:44Z")\
**Posts on this page:** 6\
**Page:** 1

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**Author:** ![tooter](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/t/c37758/32.png) [@tooter](https://community.cartalk.com/u/tooter)\
**Post date:** [August 16, 2007, 6:49pm UTC](https://community.cartalk.com/t/doesnt-have-power/3207/1 "2007-08-16T18:49:44Z")

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Ok this KIA runs good, starts good, rides good, has no miss in the engine. But when it hits a hill it loses power which it didn’t do before. The plugs and plug wires has been change and alot more has been done but it loses alot of power when climbing a hill like from 60 mph down to 30 mph.

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**Author:** ![Joseph\_E\_Meehan](https://sea1.discourse-cdn.com/cartalk/user_avatar/community.cartalk.com/joseph_e_meehan/32/21_2.png) [@Joseph\_E\_Meehan](https://community.cartalk.com/u/Joseph_E_Meehan)\
**Post date:** [August 16, 2007, 8:47pm UTC](https://community.cartalk.com/t/doesnt-have-power/3207/2 "2007-08-16T20:47:03Z")

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My guess is a clogged Cat Converter.

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**Author:** ![barky2](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/b/45deac/32.png) [@barky2](https://community.cartalk.com/u/barky2)\
**Post date:** [August 17, 2007, 1:17pm UTC](https://community.cartalk.com/t/doesnt-have-power/3207/3 "2007-08-17T13:17:40Z")

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If the fuel filter wasn’t included in the many things that have been done then you might consider trying that.

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**Author:** ![andrew\_j](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/a/91b2a8/32.png) [@andrew\_j](https://community.cartalk.com/u/andrew_j)\
**Post date:** [August 17, 2007, 4:58pm UTC](https://community.cartalk.com/t/doesnt-have-power/3207/4 "2007-08-17T16:58:51Z")

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Is the check engine light illuminated? Also what is the year/model?

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**Author:** ![87\_Ranger](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/8/f14d63/32.png) [@87\_Ranger](https://community.cartalk.com/u/87_Ranger)\
**Post date:** [August 17, 2007, 6:16pm UTC](https://community.cartalk.com/t/doesnt-have-power/3207/5 "2007-08-17T18:16:44Z")

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As Joseph mentioned the symptoms fit with a posible clogged cat & testing for that possibility is simple enough:

From the instructions that came with my 20 buck vacuum gauge:

1. Note gauge reading at idle

2. If gauge reading increases over 10 hg as engine speed is increased to approx 2500 RPM’s the exhaust system is not restricted.

3. If the reading drops toward zero as RPM increases, either the exhaust system is restricted or an overactive EGR valve is causing the problem.

You can do this simple little test yourself, or have your mechanic do it.

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**Author:** ![tooter](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/t/c37758/32.png) [@tooter](https://community.cartalk.com/u/tooter)\
**Post date:** [August 18, 2007, 12:32am UTC](https://community.cartalk.com/t/doesnt-have-power/3207/6 "2007-08-18T00:32:27Z")

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the check doesn’t come on. it’s a 2001 sportage. also the inverter was remove 3 years ago