Running problem, yet again...

1. Nathan-HxC Established Member Joined: Aug 2010 Bath, South West Posts: 1081 16v VTR

   #1 24th July 2011, 16:35

   My car's running like shite.
   Idling erratically, popping like fuck when down-shifting, it pops like 2 or 3 times everytime I down-shift, and it has a huge lag between when I put my foot down and the power is delivered.
   If I pull off from the lights, it almost stalls and I have to really rev the fuck out of it to prevent it from stalling :/
   
   Last time it did it I took it to a garage, they said they changed the spark plugs and it was all fine then for a while, but surely the spark plugs couldn't of gone within 2 months, could they?
   
   Any ideas at all as to what my problem is?
2. Nathan-HxC Established Member Joined: Aug 2010 Bath, South West Posts: 1081 16v VTR

   #2 24th July 2011, 19:32

   Is this a spark plug and/or coilpack related problem?
   
   On idle the car sounds a bit like a dirt bike, as if it's being revved slightly every other second, and it's just real slow to react when I put my foot down :/
3. user_20080 Saxperience Hardcore! Joined: Dec 2007 smurfland. Posts: 17346 Ex saxo owner.

   #3 24th July 2011, 19:43

   Try & source a coil pack 1st try that.
   
   Steve.
4. Nathan-HxC Established Member Joined: Aug 2010 Bath, South West Posts: 1081 16v VTR

   #4 24th July 2011, 19:53

   Quote:

   Originally Posted by stevo67 Try & source a coil pack 1st try that. Steve.

   I'll give that a try, I can't see it being the spark plugs again as they were new like 2, at the most, months ago!
   Cheers mate.
5. Cam Saxperience Post Whore Joined: Nov 2010 Kent Posts: 8439 Gen 7 Celica 190.

   #5 25th July 2011, 03:14

   mine was the same mate turned out to be the map sensor
6. Callum_T L-plater Joined: Jan 2011 Posts: 41 Citroen saxo stateside 1.1 (5dr)

   #6 25th July 2011, 08:59

   Quote:

   Originally Posted by Nathan-HxC My car's running like shite. Idling erratically, popping like fuck when down-shifting, it pops like 2 or 3 times everytime I down-shift, and it has a huge lag between when I put my foot down and the power is delivered. If I pull off from the lights, it almost stalls and I have to really rev the fuck out of it to prevent it from stalling :/ Last time it did it I took it to a garage, they said they changed the spark plugs and it was all fine then for a while, but surely the spark plugs couldn't of gone within 2 months, could they? Any ideas at all as to what my problem is?

   As stated, it could be the leads/coil pack. I could be wrong, but it could be the lambda sensor that has failed, therfore the ECU is reciving wrong signals about air/fuel ratio. This can cause the reduced reaction and maby over filling the cylinders with fuel, leaving it to burn in the exhaust?
   The lambda will sense the amount of O2 particles within the emissions, sending constant signals to the ECU on whether to run rich or lean. If this is sending the wrong signals, your car could be running either too rich (too much fuel) or too lean.
7. Nathan-HxC Established Member Joined: Aug 2010 Bath, South West Posts: 1081 16v VTR

   #7 25th July 2011, 15:23

   Thanks for the replies guys, a garage has diagnosed it as a faulty coilpack, so I'm gonna replace that first as Steve suggested and go from there, I'll keep in mind the above replies.
8. Callum_T L-plater Joined: Jan 2011 Posts: 41 Citroen saxo stateside 1.1 (5dr)

   #8 25th July 2011, 16:55

   Quote:

   Originally Posted by Nathan-HxC Thanks for the replies guys, a garage has diagnosed it as a faulty coilpack, so I'm gonna replace that first as Steve suggested and go from there, I'll keep in mind the above replies.

   Well done steve!!!
9. Nathan-HxC Established Member Joined: Aug 2010 Bath, South West Posts: 1081 16v VTR

   #9 26th July 2011, 18:00

   Bump.
   
   Changed the coil pack today and it's not changed a thing, it's still running bad
   The garage that diagnosed it as the coil pack also said my lambda sensor had a fault, could that be the cause?
10. Cam Saxperience Post Whore Joined: Nov 2010 Kent Posts: 8439 Gen 7 Celica 190.

    #10 26th July 2011, 18:29

    have you tried map sensor because mine was doing the same changed it and it sorted it
11. REVO_OTE L-plater Joined: Jul 2011 Hampton Posts: 89 02 Ice Grey Saxo Furio/VTR

    #11 26th July 2011, 18:42

    So, you've tried the plugs and coilpack,
    
    I would say replace the lambda sensor as i suspect by the symptoms you described its overfueling, ie popping and lack of power,
    
    You could also try the MAP (manifold absolute pressure) sensor (as previously said) which could also contribute to overfueling due to the incorrect air readings,
    
    Lambda sensor i reckon is your best bet.
    
    Good luck, hope you get it sorted!
12. Callum_T L-plater Joined: Jan 2011 Posts: 41 Citroen saxo stateside 1.1 (5dr)

    #12 26th July 2011, 19:37

    Yh, if ur lambda has a fault it will cause the following symptoms. Get it changed as this can cause unhealthy running.
13. Nathan-HxC Established Member Joined: Aug 2010 Bath, South West Posts: 1081 16v VTR

    #13 27th July 2011, 01:42

    Before it had the running problem it was definitely overfueling, I'd get really bad MPG, is this even more so pointing towards a faulty lambda?
    I'm going to change the lambda sensor over and if it still isn't solved the MAP sensor will be next.
    Thanks for your replies guys, really appreciate it
14. chinkostu Saxperience Post Whore Joined: Aug 2008 The wrong carpark Posts: 5152 Xantia 1.9TD

    #14 27th July 2011, 08:51

    Lambda sensor. i had this in a 1.1, used to die on the motorway unless i was gunning it!
15. Callum_T L-plater Joined: Jan 2011 Posts: 41 Citroen saxo stateside 1.1 (5dr)

    #15 27th July 2011, 10:32

    Yh a lambda will defo cause overfueling, Like i sad in the other post, It will cause your engne to run too rich or too lean. RICH (too much fuel)
    Good luck!!
16. Nathan-HxC Established Member Joined: Aug 2010 Bath, South West Posts: 1081 16v VTR

    #16 27th July 2011, 10:33

    Quote:

    Originally Posted by chinkostu Lambda sensor. i had this in a 1.1, used to die on the motorway unless i was gunning it!

    Was it the same symptoms as I've described?
17. Nathan-HxC Established Member Joined: Aug 2010 Bath, South West Posts: 1081 16v VTR

    #17 28th July 2011, 19:41

    Car is now fixed!
    It was down to a faulty lambda sensor! Bastard things!
    
    Cheers all