d22 power issues

[bognoel]

hi guys 2003 zd30 having power issues when towing
the temp gauge bounces from hot to cold and loose all power, have replaced the thermostat and still the same issue so does that mean the sender is buggered and if it is then why the lack of power

 

[Dave]

Have you had the cooling system pressure tested and a compression test of the cylinders.

Sounds like a cracked head or blown headgasket.

Whats the oil like ?

 

[tweak'e]

how fast is the temp changing?
just to be clear is it going too hot then dropping back to normal or is it going from normal down down to cold, or going from way to hot to stone cold on the gauge?

ecu will cut fuel if to hot.
if its overheating it could be anything from partly blocked radiator to fan starting to fail.

 

[bognoel]

oil is fine and have no cracked head etc as the engine its self is only new
the temp drops from normal to low especially when its revved or under strain

 

[Dave]

What Tweake said, whats the fan clutch like ?

Who installed the fuel pump on the motor ?

If the timing is out, it will be low on power and overheat.

 

[bognoel]

fan and pump ok
timing could be an issue but runs fine with no load on the tow hitch
is there a sender that tells it its too cold to run at full power

 

[bognoel]

have fixed the netural position switch through this forum so thanks guys and this is just the next thing that will go wrong

 

[Dave]

I say the fan clutch. I am assuming the water pump is new.

How is the radiator.

 

[tweak'e]

the temp drops from normal to low especially when its revved or under strain

doesn't sound like its overheating. sounds more like a sensor issue or poor earth. could be a gauge problem.
certainly an odd one, i've not heard of temp gauges going down when under load.