Ford Puma hesitating under 3000RPM (is it shot?)
Discussion
Dear all,
I have a 51 plate 1.7 Ford Puma. I have had it for a couple of months and a half and it is usually a hoot. However, today I was about to drive to Bristol. It was low on fuel and felt like it was running out on the forecourt (I know it is lazy), lurching etc. Once full of £40 fuel, I expected it to be fine – not so. Maybe there is a blocked fuel filter or an injector – perhaps with sediment at the bottom of the tank. There is also a rumbly bearing noise which has been there since I got it (water pump, alternator or something more sinister?)
The problems I have are as follows:
- Hesitation and poor idle
- Low power when pulling away and under 3000RPM
- When bonnet opened there was a smell unlike any smell I know (not clutch, burnt oil, fuel, water or brakes)
- Could be condensation or could be head gasket (no mayonnaise in filler cap or on plugs) but a lot of white smoke from exhaust
Solutions tried so far are checking all leads and plugs, checking oil, checking water and disconnecting battery for 45 minutes and reconnecting – nothing has solved the problem. Just a minute ago when I reconnected the battery and started the car (needed input on accelerator to get it to start and idle), the orange engine warning light lit. I turned it off straight away and am now stumped.
The oil and water are checked weekly and are both fine. It isn’t driven hard until it is warmed up and is never used hard and stopped immediately, the last few miles are always a cool off period.
My question is as follows: What would cause hesitation under 3000RPM, kangarooing and so on?
Thoughts so far have included a blocked fuel filter or injector (doesn’t make sense if it is as normal higher up in rev range), AFM problem or maybe a VCT problem. Going to check leads, and pull the plugs to see if there is anything obvious. The engine is also a little noisy – there is a YouTube video of how it misbehaves to 3000RPM then springs into life http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=bHIgyP5Sl2Y&fea...).
Best,
Fred.
I have a 51 plate 1.7 Ford Puma. I have had it for a couple of months and a half and it is usually a hoot. However, today I was about to drive to Bristol. It was low on fuel and felt like it was running out on the forecourt (I know it is lazy), lurching etc. Once full of £40 fuel, I expected it to be fine – not so. Maybe there is a blocked fuel filter or an injector – perhaps with sediment at the bottom of the tank. There is also a rumbly bearing noise which has been there since I got it (water pump, alternator or something more sinister?)
The problems I have are as follows:
- Hesitation and poor idle
- Low power when pulling away and under 3000RPM
- When bonnet opened there was a smell unlike any smell I know (not clutch, burnt oil, fuel, water or brakes)
- Could be condensation or could be head gasket (no mayonnaise in filler cap or on plugs) but a lot of white smoke from exhaust
Solutions tried so far are checking all leads and plugs, checking oil, checking water and disconnecting battery for 45 minutes and reconnecting – nothing has solved the problem. Just a minute ago when I reconnected the battery and started the car (needed input on accelerator to get it to start and idle), the orange engine warning light lit. I turned it off straight away and am now stumped.
The oil and water are checked weekly and are both fine. It isn’t driven hard until it is warmed up and is never used hard and stopped immediately, the last few miles are always a cool off period.
My question is as follows: What would cause hesitation under 3000RPM, kangarooing and so on?
Thoughts so far have included a blocked fuel filter or injector (doesn’t make sense if it is as normal higher up in rev range), AFM problem or maybe a VCT problem. Going to check leads, and pull the plugs to see if there is anything obvious. The engine is also a little noisy – there is a YouTube video of how it misbehaves to 3000RPM then springs into life http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=bHIgyP5Sl2Y&fea...).
Best,
Fred.
UPDATE
Dear all,
Thanks for all of your suggestions. I have attempted the easiest and cheapest fix: the fuel filter change.
It has had a positive influence but the problem is not entirely solved. Before I explain how the car feels now, I felt it prudent to note the following:
I poured fuel from the “in” end of the old filter, it was grey brown and not clear like petrol usually is. Spurred on by this, I hacksawed the filter in half (see photo) and have removed the paper that was in contact with the saw blade.
With the new filter fitted, (clip remains undone as it is a pain to do back up) it revs more freely from much lower down the rev range when stationary. When moving, the car also has more power and stutters far less. However there is still a flat feeling below 3krpm and it idles very low with a lot of exhaust fumes.
Does this help anyone narrow down the problem?
My thoughts are that perhaps one of the injectors is blocked?
Happy new year.
Best,
Fred
Dear all,
Thanks for all of your suggestions. I have attempted the easiest and cheapest fix: the fuel filter change.
It has had a positive influence but the problem is not entirely solved. Before I explain how the car feels now, I felt it prudent to note the following:
I poured fuel from the “in” end of the old filter, it was grey brown and not clear like petrol usually is. Spurred on by this, I hacksawed the filter in half (see photo) and have removed the paper that was in contact with the saw blade.
With the new filter fitted, (clip remains undone as it is a pain to do back up) it revs more freely from much lower down the rev range when stationary. When moving, the car also has more power and stutters far less. However there is still a flat feeling below 3krpm and it idles very low with a lot of exhaust fumes.
Does this help anyone narrow down the problem?
My thoughts are that perhaps one of the injectors is blocked?
Happy new year.
Best,
Fred
Small update
The car is still in the garage with a suspected TPS fault. It could have been fixed today but the supplier sent the wrong part…piss.
I have a 57 plate focus 1.6 to visit the missus in hospital until the car is healed. Shortly after I get It back, I need to fit Fiesta ST brakes to the front as one of my callipers is binding up and it needs better brakes if I am going to change the callipers anyway.
Quick question, if I have the later (51 plate) servo, will the ST brakes be a wasted upgrade?
Best,
Fred.
The car is still in the garage with a suspected TPS fault. It could have been fixed today but the supplier sent the wrong part…piss.
I have a 57 plate focus 1.6 to visit the missus in hospital until the car is healed. Shortly after I get It back, I need to fit Fiesta ST brakes to the front as one of my callipers is binding up and it needs better brakes if I am going to change the callipers anyway.
Quick question, if I have the later (51 plate) servo, will the ST brakes be a wasted upgrade?
Best,
Fred.
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