Loss of Engine Power!!

[robd]

Hi, I'm trying to spruce some life into my Mk1 at the moment but it seems to be lacking engine power! When I accelerate & can feel vibration in the accelerator pedal & the engine feels like its lacking power, its kind of like stuttering but not(if that makes any sense)!! I originally thought it could be the clutch slipping but have looked in the Haynes manual & it says to check the following..

Timing
Fuel system, e.g. Injectors, dirty fuel filter
Throttle Body Sensor(I think)
and a few other things I can't remember!!

I just wondered if anyone has experienced this before & could suggest something definitely worth checking that might help?

I was thinking about changing the oil, oil filter & fuel filter in the next couple of wkends & was also thinking about removing the injectors & trying to clean them as apparently you can lose loads of power when the injectors are dirty!

Hope that all makes sense & someone can help.

Thanks

Rob

[Ste2]

vibration in pedal seems strange - but I am no expert.

I have just had a problem with 'intermmitant' power loss in my mk2

Turned out I had a misfire due to 1 damp plug. So if I were you I would look at the plugs & leads to check that they are secure & look for any dirt / moisture on the leads AND in the holes/plugs. Worth replacing them as a service item if they have been on for a while.

Anyhoo thats an easy enough quick check for starters, if its not that - then I dont know but at least you can write that off.

[jimi]

#1 on my checklist would be Plugs, then Distributor cap, Rotor arm, HT leads.
Your vibration sounds like a misfire. Is the "Check" engine light coming on ? if so have you checked the ECU for fault codes ?

[robd]

Hi Guys, thanks very much for the suggestions. The engine light doesn't come on. I recently changed the plugs but I did notice there was some oil so I think the Cylinder Head(cam cover) gaskets have gone, I have got new ones & was planning on changing these soon. Do you think if any oil got onto the plugs it could be causing an issue?

It didn't look like it was covering the plugs or on the tip...just there was some oil that I could see inside where the plugs go.

I will get a new dizzy cap & rotor arm & try these & see if I can see any damage or grime. Other thing I was thinking was maybe there was an issue with the fuel that's being delivered & thats making it seem like its lacking power, think I will change fuel filter too....will be like Christmas for my car now!! lol

[Ste2]

as you have just changed them they might not be sitting quite right (or have let damp in - so just give them the once over...

[paff]

I'd agree with Jimi's suggestion.

Rob I might have a dizzy cap and rotor at the unit, will have to check but am sure there was a set on the shelf. I might also have a set of Ignition leads (secondhand but were fine when removed) so we might be able to swap them for diagnosis.

Mine is actually doing something very similar at the moment when cold altho I havn't had a chance to take a look yet, am betting on leads with mine tho.

[robd]

Hi guys, thanks very much, haven't had a chance to look into it again yet but will try all suggestions, do you think it would be worth checking the ignition timing? Also on a side note is it possible to manually advance the ignition timing?

Hey Paff, that sounds cool & thanks very much for the offer, would I able to experience the V6 then as well?

[paff]

you'll be able to sample it a litte, at least the noise (all 128decibels of it), can't drive it too much tho cos the replacement radiator I've got has got a hole in it :(

[paff]

oh, another thing, checking the timing.....
do you have the gear to do it, it not I have a fairly decent timing gun that ya can try.

Ah yep you can manually advance the timing if you required.

[Station]

Have you washed the car recently?
I did today! I got water on the engine and it went down past the HT lead seals into the spark plugs. Dried them and it's fine.

Did it two days ago as well when my coolant tank exploded.