Losing power or just getting used to it!
Discussion
Hi all,
It is now 6.5 months since I pick up my Chimaera 450. The car has behaved virtually fautlessly and has already covered a healthy 10,000 miles with me behind the wheel. The last few time I drove the car I had this un-explicable - and frustrating - feeling of not accelerating hard enough. It doesn't surprise me anymore, or rather it has become predictable. It is possible for such a car to loose some power or is it just me getting used to all the torque and craving more power?
It is now 6.5 months since I pick up my Chimaera 450. The car has behaved virtually fautlessly and has already covered a healthy 10,000 miles with me behind the wheel. The last few time I drove the car I had this un-explicable - and frustrating - feeling of not accelerating hard enough. It doesn't surprise me anymore, or rather it has become predictable. It is possible for such a car to loose some power or is it just me getting used to all the torque and craving more power?
quote:
Hi all,
It is now 6.5 months since I pick up my Chimaera 450. The car has behaved virtually fautlessly and has already covered a healthy 10,000 miles with me behind the wheel. The last few time I drove the car I had this un-explicable - and frustrating - feeling of not accelerating hard enough. It doesn't surprise me anymore, or rather it has become predictable. It is possible for such a car to loose some power or is it just me getting used to all the torque and craving more power?
Oh dear. It looks like to could be 5 litre time!!
Roms,
I take it that in 10,000 miles its been serviced? Cars may lose a bit of power towards the end of a service cycle but in this case it does seem to be you getting used to it rather than the car losing power. I have to say that after 8 months with mine I am not as blown away by it, however, its now away for a 4 day holiday in Henley and they have given me a courtesy Micra (some courtesy!) so I am hoping that after that time I will be back up to speed so to speak.
To avoid the expense of buying a Tamora/Tuscan/Cerbera I would suggest driving something like a diesel Serena for a couple of months and leave the Tiv alone, that should sort it!!
Matt.
I take it that in 10,000 miles its been serviced? Cars may lose a bit of power towards the end of a service cycle but in this case it does seem to be you getting used to it rather than the car losing power. I have to say that after 8 months with mine I am not as blown away by it, however, its now away for a 4 day holiday in Henley and they have given me a courtesy Micra (some courtesy!) so I am hoping that after that time I will be back up to speed so to speak.
To avoid the expense of buying a Tamora/Tuscan/Cerbera I would suggest driving something like a diesel Serena for a couple of months and leave the Tiv alone, that should sort it!!
Matt.
This is a slippery slope, I've had my 4.5 Cerbera 4 months and 6.5K miles, I know what you mean about the power thing - I'm sure your'e just getting used to it; at least I hope that what it is for me. Once 420bhp isn't enough where do I go? Tuscan R - not sure about those rear lights and 'only' an extra 50hp!
Sometimes symptoms can be slight, or they can be very obvious. In slightly slipping scenario the engine will rev more freely while you feel like you not going as fast as it should.
If its really bad you'll notice it! Car will be bouncing off its limiting well before you expect it. This is more noticeable if you do it while in a higher gear. Try flooring it in 4th gear at like 30 or 40MPH, the power will be too much for the clutch to handle so it should slip. You can also try putting the handbrake up and trying to drive off in 2nd. If the revs fly upwards but you aren't going anywhere, then slipping clutch. If it just stalls clutch should be okay.
If its really bad you'll notice it! Car will be bouncing off its limiting well before you expect it. This is more noticeable if you do it while in a higher gear. Try flooring it in 4th gear at like 30 or 40MPH, the power will be too much for the clutch to handle so it should slip. You can also try putting the handbrake up and trying to drive off in 2nd. If the revs fly upwards but you aren't going anywhere, then slipping clutch. If it just stalls clutch should be okay.
quote:
The problem when you always drive the same car it is hard to notice any subtle change in its behaviour.
You can get a pretty good indication of the overall power level by timing the in-gear acceleration in one of the higher gears, using a plain old stopwatch. You get a much more accurate idea, and also get to see changes in the power curve from worn cams and so on, if you use an accelerometer like the AC22. If £160 feels like too much to pay for one of these gizmos, perhaps you could find someone willing to lend you one from time to time?
Cheers,
Peter Humphries (and a green V8S)
Hi Peter (GreenV8S). By the way, thanks for the advice on the Diff 
It still hasn't been done, but thats due to the parts arriving from Japan, not Bernie's fault. I owe you a drink.
Where can I get one of those gizmos? I think the price is okay but what does it do exactly and how do you use it?
My Supra went through a period where it wasn't always feeling on top of its game from one day to another. Turned out to be an electrical glitch, which was resolved with the loss of £900 odd and two months messing about.
It still hasn't been done, but thats due to the parts arriving from Japan, not Bernie's fault. I owe you a drink. Where can I get one of those gizmos? I think the price is okay but what does it do exactly and how do you use it?
My Supra went through a period where it wasn't always feeling on top of its game from one day to another. Turned out to be an electrical glitch, which was resolved with the loss of £900 odd and two months messing about.
Right I've had the same thing happen to me, i've had my Chimaera 500 from two months and it's feeling slow!!!! Well not any more, I let my girlfriend drive it and I got to sit in the 'wrong side' and holy **** it's still very very fast and she wasn't pushing it, just me getting used to it!
BTW when i got back in oh yeah FUN was had!
Have fun and drive safe.
Damo
500 Chimaera (Somerset)
BTW when i got back in oh yeah FUN was had!
Have fun and drive safe.
Damo
500 Chimaera (Somerset)
quote:
Where can I get one of those gizmos? I think the price is okay but what does it do exactly and how do you use it?
www.race-technology.com/ do three products in this area. The AP22 is probably the best bet for this sort of thing and costs about £160. I've also got the DL90 GPS logger which does a lot more but costs more too. Remember to mention Pistonheads if you contact them!
Cheers,
Peter Humphries (and a green V8S)
quote:I suspect the Tuscan R will feel a LOT faster, since it's 250kg lighter, and has well over 100bhp more (450+ versus 350-)
This is a slippery slope, I've had my 4.5 Cerbera 4 months and 6.5K miles, I know what you mean about the power thing - I'm sure your'e just getting used to it; at least I hope that what it is for me. Once 420bhp isn't enough where do I go? Tuscan R - not sure about those rear lights and 'only' an extra 50hp!
danny
Im convinced my griff has lost power, however ive had a tuneup and the dealer says all is fine. I think my problem is i never get in a low enoyugh gear to overtake etc so it takes a little to wind her up. Out of interest if you were doing 60 and you wanted to over take quick what gear would you drop down too. I often use 4th but am thinking 3rd would be a better option. Any thoughts.
quote:
Out of interest if you were doing 60 and you wanted to over take quick what gear would you drop down too. I often use 4th but am thinking 3rd would be a better option. Any thoughts.
That's nicely in the power band in third, and it'll pull up to ninety ish which should be ample. Fourth is really too tall if you're going for max acceleration at those speeds, but fine if you're just pottering.
Right, an update for those who care:
Took the car to David at The Garage, he immediately identified a misfire: I was running on 7 cylinders instead of 8. Mixed feelings.. on the one hand I am pleased to see I am not mad, on the other I hope it is not going to cost a bl33din' fortune.
Just had a call from David, apparently the fuel injector of this cylinder is screwed... but compression and sparks are fine for all 8 cylinders. It is just the case of waiting for a spare now. Castle Combe doesn't look to good - doh!
Cheers
Romain
Took the car to David at The Garage, he immediately identified a misfire: I was running on 7 cylinders instead of 8. Mixed feelings.. on the one hand I am pleased to see I am not mad, on the other I hope it is not going to cost a bl33din' fortune.
Just had a call from David, apparently the fuel injector of this cylinder is screwed... but compression and sparks are fine for all 8 cylinders. It is just the case of waiting for a spare now. Castle Combe doesn't look to good - doh!
Cheers
Romain
Funny how these things happen in groups - mine's been a bit lumpy recently (but seems to have plenty of power). A garage just suggested I might have dirty/blocked injectors.
Anyone else ever have this? What's the cheapest way to get them taken out/cleaned (or replaced if necessary). I'm going on a 2,500 mile trip around Europe on Thursday in it so it'll have to wait until after that ... I wonder how good fuel injector cleaner is ...
T/.
Anyone else ever have this? What's the cheapest way to get them taken out/cleaned (or replaced if necessary). I'm going on a 2,500 mile trip around Europe on Thursday in it so it'll have to wait until after that ... I wonder how good fuel injector cleaner is ...
T/.
Gassing Station | Chimaera | Top of Page | What's New | My Stuff