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Running a Little Lumpy This Weekend!

simonf1973

New Member
Morning!
Having a few little running problems with my Phase 2. It's an 04 with 18k miles.

Just wondering if the following will be solved with a service or whether it's something more?

It's pinking just a little when you start to accelerate. Disappears once the car is under load. But does it almost all the time very slightly when you are just dawdling along.
I run it on Shell V-Power and nothing else.

I've only had it 2 weeks so I'm not sure what the previous chap was REALLY filling it with!

Also, yesterday did about 10 miles. Parked up. Restarted after about 10 minutes. Car felt fine. Pulled up to the exit of the supermarket. Went to pull out onto the main road and only had very little power. Just enough to get up to about 5 mph and pull over to the left.
Turned off the engine, restarted and everything was back to normal again.

Had to go somewhere else for 10 mins for the next part of the journey so repeated the parking up, restarting after 10 mins exercise, and the same thing happened again.
Turning off and restarting seemed to cure the problem immediately.

Could this be fuel starvation? Or perhaps coils?

It wasn't kangarooing - There was just a lack of any useable power but in a consistent way.

Could this be linked to the pinking also?

The car's due a service (trying to find a local independent if anyone knows anyone near me (TN5 is my postcode)) and pretty sure it didn't get its' fifth year cambelt change last year. Both I want to get done next week and the car will be laid up until then, but would be good to know if anyone recognises the two problems above.

At least then I won't be disappointed when it still does it following service!

Cheers!
 
i would try a fuel filter first, sounds like it could be collapsing inside, this would explain it being intermittent, low miles says it should be clear but i bet its six years old! its a pain to get at so sometimes gets missed on a service. cheapish part, sits on top of the fuel tank, located under an inspection panel on the rear shelf behind drivers seat, about 2-3 hours if you do it yourself, take your time, and release the fuel pressure first. there is a schrader on top of the rear belt cover, oh, and do it cold!
 
We have the 'pinking' noise aswell. We recently cleaned out the CDA air filter and fitted a fresh air pipe to the N/S pod, new plugs and the pinking is still there. Having read what Spike has posted, any other probable causes anyone?

Edit. Spike, I've just read another topic of yours ref Knock sensor. Could this be worth looking at? Just to add, we don't have any dash warnings, yet!
 
REMEMBER: the dash light is only activated if a sensor goes out of range. to simplify, if the water temp sensor goes open circuit this will activate the mil (dash) light as will faulty wiring (plug off etc) , but if the sensor is giving the wrong data but is within its parameters no light, IE the temp of the water is 80c and the sensor reads -10c, well within its tolerance, so no light on , but obviously WRONG. this would cause serious overfuelling but no light or fault code, the fault code will only activate when the cat and lambda sensors are flooded and go out of range. the crappy mechanic will then put new lambdas in at great expense but the fault is still there.
the only way to find a fault like this is get it scanned for live data, you will screw the cats up with an intermittent misfire as well as a permanent one.
also read all the fault codes, the info is important and may save you some cash.
i am in nottm and will happily scan the vehicle for you but you would be better getting someone local so as not to drive the vehicle, if you are not too far pay my gas and ill come to you, (within reason!)
 
Weird - All sorted.

The engine light came on too yesterday. Took the car home, took all of the coil connectors off and put them back on one at a time with the engine running just to check the obvious.

Turned the car off. Turned it back on again. Light had gone out.

Then I thought "I wonder if...."....

Took the car to Tescos in Heathfield where the incline in the carpark never fails to cause the car to lose power as described in my OP, and hey-presto, the problem has disappeared!

What do you reckon to someone changing a coil under previous ownership and not pushing the connectors back on properly for fear of burning their little townie-fingers! :)
 
True. Either way, well pleased, particularly as it's now up for sale! If it's a coil it's simple enough, but fuel filters and pumps was all getting a bit scary. [smilie=icon_eek.gif]
 
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