I was towing a heavy trailer up a steep hill yesterday when the truck suddenly lost power and started to make a loud noise, almost like a huge boost leak or like you just blew a hose off your air compressor. On quick inspection I couldn't see anything visibly wrong and the truck would idle fine. I don'tknow what my EGT was at the time. When this occured I was at about 2200 rpm in second gear. I had to leave the trailer and go get my '05 which towed the trailer up the hill without a problem. My '96 will run fine now unless I give it more than about 1/2 throttle. If I go above 1/2 it starts making the noise, power dropps and I start to get alot of black smoke out the tail pipe.
I have towed heavier loads up steeper hills on many occasions with this truck and never had a problem. I don't let the truck lug down when pulling and I also don't hold it to the floor to get up the hill as fast as possible... Any ideas on where to look first?? Thanks!

 

It sounds like a boost leak. Black smoke = less air. Im guessing you went to half throttle at idle? But at idle IM guessing its making enough boost to push air through a leaking boot. Have you check all of your boot elbows?

Chris

 

sounds like one of your boots popped off put it back on and make sure all the others are on good and tight

 

Mine did the same thing. I have had it happen to 2 others and it was always the lower boot on the I/C on the passenger side. They are not very tight from the factory. Check all of your boots and I'll bet thats what it is.

 

Thanks, it was the boot on the inlet side of the intercooler. I'm glad it wasn't anything major!!

 

thats a good feeling to get that figured out i bet ^. now put the workhorse back to work, lol