Problems today with power delivery and idel?
Discussion
Took the car to work today and first think I noticed from cold it was ticking over around 1500, Its been doing this the last couple weeks then once warm it settles down to about 900.
This afternoon the idle has started to go up and down from 800 to around 1300 and the engine hunting in low reves.
Worse of all now this afternoon I had a sudden loss of power.
I normaly don't drive using more than half throttle but ive found this afternoon I was have to floor the throttle to get it to go and it was still underpowered.
At one point it was like flicking a switch and full power returned but not for long.
I cleaned the stepper motor last week witch didn't really make and noticeable difference.
Any ideas where to start with this?
Thanks
This afternoon the idle has started to go up and down from 800 to around 1300 and the engine hunting in low reves.
Worse of all now this afternoon I had a sudden loss of power.
I normaly don't drive using more than half throttle but ive found this afternoon I was have to floor the throttle to get it to go and it was still underpowered.
At one point it was like flicking a switch and full power returned but not for long.
I cleaned the stepper motor last week witch didn't really make and noticeable difference.
Any ideas where to start with this?
Thanks
Well had a good look around the car and found the throttle linkage about to fall apart think anther few miles and I'd have ground to a halt.
Just held together with a self tapper about to fall out
All back together and all the problems fixed apart from the smell of petrol on start up.
Just held together with a self tapper about to fall out
All back together and all the problems fixed apart from the smell of petrol on start up.
Sounds like overfuelling but could be a small fuel hose leak. Carefully check the 2 rubber hoses under the bonnet which enter the engine bay from below on the offside (drivers side) close to no. 8 cylinder exhaust manifold. they run behind the plenum as flow & return for the fuel rail. They can be a bit awkward to get to but are prone to cracking and failing which can be disastrous !!!!!.
It's better to initially check the fuel lines from above as they are easy to see. I would wrap some blue paper or similar around them and turn ignition on and prime the fuel pump to pressurise system, any leaks should show themselves as dampened paper, don't start the engine though !
It's probably easiest to check for overfuelling (or rich mixture)the old fashioned way by pulling a spark plug or two and check condition. If you are happy to start the car after checking the fuel lines then let it idle for a few seconds then switch off, then remove a couple of plugs and see if they are wet, in my opinion that would indicate overfuelling. If that is the case then it could be down to several causes, ECU water temp sender, air flow meter fault, lambda sensors (if present continuously after initial running),fuel regulator, an ECU fault etc.
It might be worth resetting the ECU and trying again to see if things improve, this is not a permanent fix as any problems will return in time but it might help narrow things down a bit.
It's probably easiest to check for overfuelling (or rich mixture)the old fashioned way by pulling a spark plug or two and check condition. If you are happy to start the car after checking the fuel lines then let it idle for a few seconds then switch off, then remove a couple of plugs and see if they are wet, in my opinion that would indicate overfuelling. If that is the case then it could be down to several causes, ECU water temp sender, air flow meter fault, lambda sensors (if present continuously after initial running),fuel regulator, an ECU fault etc.
It might be worth resetting the ECU and trying again to see if things improve, this is not a permanent fix as any problems will return in time but it might help narrow things down a bit.
If I understood it correctly, the priming/starting routine puts a shot of neat fuel into the cylinders to start the car, so you are quite likely to smell fuel on start up. It depends on how much you can smell, and for how long.
Following Richard (and 68 others) around the lanes of Rutlandshire in April, I was feeling sick from inhaling petrol and exhaust fumes from about the third mile, and it was noticeable that there was neat fuel being shoved out of the exhausts of most cars on firm acceleration.
Similarly, following Phazed around a race track, one notices the swirling exhaust fumes and the smell of fuel every time he accelerates.
These cars generally overfuel under pressure IMHO, as the alternative, running lean, is risky.
Which is not to say you don't have an issue, just that the only issue might be standard over-fuelling.
Following Richard (and 68 others) around the lanes of Rutlandshire in April, I was feeling sick from inhaling petrol and exhaust fumes from about the third mile, and it was noticeable that there was neat fuel being shoved out of the exhausts of most cars on firm acceleration.
Similarly, following Phazed around a race track, one notices the swirling exhaust fumes and the smell of fuel every time he accelerates.
These cars generally overfuel under pressure IMHO, as the alternative, running lean, is risky.
Which is not to say you don't have an issue, just that the only issue might be standard over-fuelling.
QBee said:
Following Richard (and 68 others) around the lanes of Rutlandshire in April, I was feeling sick from inhaling petrol and exhaust fumes from about the third mile, and it was noticeable that there was neat fuel being shoved out of the exhausts of most cars on firm acceleration.
I didn't realise you ever got that close Anthony 
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