VP lacking power and making small backfire noises.

[kristianmaaten]

Hi all, hope I can find some help here, Im restoring a VH sle and have been reading up heaps on the VH pages, lots of great stuff over there.
My current problem is with my VP, I'm sorry I'm a little naive as to makes and models I'm sure its a VP Calais but have attached a photo just in case.
It runs on ULP, no gas, was serviced 10,000 ks ago and has had the usual problems with a car nearing 20, the indicator stick was wonky, electric mirror's stopped working, and the tail lights have driven me nuts, Ive been through like a million globes, things like that.

About 2 weeks ago I was out on the road, doing 100 about an hour into a 3 hour mostly free way trip and the steering wheel began to vibrate, the engine also made a few popping sounds, like little backfires and the engine light also came on, it stopped after about 10 seconds and I thought nothing more of it.

About 3 days ago I started my car to drive to work and since then its been doing it non stop, sounds like its struggling to breath, little backfire noises, completely losing any power for a split second when it backfires, stalling when reversing out of the driveway and just a general slugishness.

Ive done some reading here and have come to the conclusion that it could be my pod air filter, last time I had a service the guy asked me when was the last time I reconditioned my pod filter? my answer of course was, never, again sorry for being so damn naive.

Does that sound like it could be the problem and if so, should a newb like me try to clean a pod filter or should I just spring $40 for a new one on ebay?

[Warranty Void]

It could be the pod filter, try taking it off (for a couple of kays only) and you'll know fer sure. The problem sounds like over-fueling in any case, so intake problem, oxy sensor or temp sensor.
Maybe visit the wreckers and get the proper air cleaner bits anyway.
As far as the tail lights go, VN-VP have 2 little looms at the tail lights (1 each side) that lose connections due to corrosion at the join from the wire to the metal bracket. They are a piece of piss to replace and Rare Spares have them in stock. Do yourself a favour and replace them.

[zskinner]

Just another thought..... maybe your cat converter or muffler? When my cat converter blew I had kind of similar problems if I remember correctly

[zskinner]

Actually better yet do an error check, if your engine light came up it should have entered an error code into your ecu