Hightower Posted January 6, 2009 Posted January 6, 2009 Got in car this morning, started it up - no problems, away we go to work. Start driving and the car is struggling. Here's the details: 1.2 97' Clio RN Province The car sounds normal when revving with no gear (or when clutch is in). When trying to accelerate the car feel like it is struggling, steering becomes a tad jerky and it sounds like shit. When sat in traffic doing a steady 15mph in second gear the car was very jerky. Normally it will happily pull without touching the revs but today it was literally bouncing over the road. There's no warning lights appearing and the car doesn't usually suffer from problems with the cold. It may be 12 years old but its only got 71,000 on the clock (and yes the timing belt was changed 3,000 miles ago ) Any help appreciated, but I feel a call to the AA coming on here..... If you need more info just ask
Hightower Posted January 6, 2009 Author Posted January 6, 2009 I'm not too technical when it comes to cars - that's why I have AA cover and some good mates who can help out. The alternator was done a few months back. Gonna give my pal a ring in a bit (too early to ring him now!)
plexer Posted January 6, 2009 Posted January 6, 2009 Whats the rev counter doing when you are accelerating? sounds like clutch to me. Ben
bossman Posted January 6, 2009 Posted January 6, 2009 Management system unit could be faulty. This provides all fuel and power steering management control. Also could be the MAF (Mass Airflow sensor) or another sensor which has decided to give up. Call the AA and see what it is.
ahuxham Posted January 6, 2009 Posted January 6, 2009 Management system unit could be faulty. This provides all fuel and power steering management control. Also could be the MAF (Mass Airflow sensor) or another sensor which has decided to give up. Call the AA and see what it is. MAF, or any other sensor I've seen this problem far too much, it's a tiny filament that snaps, your Management System than detects the car is running really cold and starts automatic choke, than cuts it out as the car should be running warmer. So it constantly cycles the choke on the car since the sensor is shot.
Sirbendy Posted January 6, 2009 Posted January 6, 2009 mmm...could be clutch, yes. Or wet plugs/leads/distributor cap...IIRC, the older Clios (it's about the same age as my astra) had DIS ignition but still kept the cap. I know my 11 did. Dry rag, wipe over the HT leads (engine off). Pop them off the plugs, wipe plug bodies dry and put back. Make sure none of the leads are brushing against the engine block. Maybe undo 2 screws and pop the dizzy cap off (watch the springloaded carbon brush), dry inside that and refit. Blast the lost with WD40 or similar. If it's misfiring, it'll jerk. Mine surges after a cold start for 30 seconds or so until cylinder 4's hydraulic lifters wake up. The autobox damps it out though, especially in snow mode.
Hightower Posted January 6, 2009 Author Posted January 6, 2009 RAC to the rescue - will let you know their response. I thought about the clutch but it doesn't seem to be slipping, it certainly doesnt sound like its slipping (car revving and getting no where)
sidewinder Posted January 6, 2009 Posted January 6, 2009 I had a similar problem with my Hyundai Coupe when I had it, albeit not quite as bad as this. It would be jerky and lose power, even in higher gears Replaced the HT leads and it solved it
Sirbendy Posted January 6, 2009 Posted January 6, 2009 (edited) My first job in September after the main service is a full check of leads. Every plug off, blasted with cleaner and WD40, packed with lithium grease and reconnected. The HT leads come off, get cleaned and dried, then the plugs get checked and it all goes back together and gets a coating of spray HT sealer. Clean out the throttle body, grease all cables, battery out, earths dismantled and cleaned, regreased and redone, battery cleaned and back in. It's a couple of hours tops, but I've never had any electrical issues. IIRC, these splitfire plugs I'm running are 2 years old now. The HT leads are 5. I might change the plugs this year..heh. My money's on the HT side. Edited January 6, 2009 by Sirbendy
OutToLunch Posted January 6, 2009 Posted January 6, 2009 Sounds quite a lot like when my ignition coil conked out, but I'm not a car guru. When you get up to higher speeds does it feel a bit better?
Hightower Posted January 6, 2009 Author Posted January 6, 2009 Only took about 40 minutes to get through to them on their 'Emergency' helpline but there is now an engineer on route to sort it out. Will update when he has been.
ryanb Posted January 6, 2009 Posted January 6, 2009 i had the exact problem just before christmas. the car was okay once i got over about 40 mph but lack of power until that point. took it to garage and they had to replace two coils, costing about £160
OutToLunch Posted January 6, 2009 Posted January 6, 2009 i had the exact problem just before christmas. the car was okay once i got over about 40 mph but lack of power until that point. ... and before 40 it sounds like your cylinders have been replaced by a set of small overweight gnomes jumping on trampolines in a random order? I thought my engine was going to fall apart, luckily had a school bus driver handy to quiz and put my mind at rest!
krisd32 Posted January 6, 2009 Posted January 6, 2009 could be something a simple as a frozen clutch cable??? have you checked anti freeze and such lately??? just a couple of ideas.
Hightower Posted January 6, 2009 Author Posted January 6, 2009 Anti-freeze was topped up just before Xmas.
bossman Posted January 6, 2009 Posted January 6, 2009 @Hightower: Have you tried tickling the giggle pin?
Hightower Posted January 6, 2009 Author Posted January 6, 2009 First thing I tried Bossman - got a tiny bit of a laugh but that was about it.
webman Posted January 6, 2009 Posted January 6, 2009 Cut a hole in the floor and use your legs to propel the vehicle.
broc Posted January 6, 2009 Posted January 6, 2009 If the engine sounds ok in neutral, maybe its a drive shaft problem, CV joint perhaps?
Gatt Posted January 6, 2009 Posted January 6, 2009 And I thought I was having a bad day with my heater not working as it should.. (Clears windows but doesn't provide adequate heat to defrost fingers and toes!)
Hightower Posted January 6, 2009 Author Posted January 6, 2009 Cut a hole in the floor and use your legs to propel the vehicle. That's a brilliant idea - more so to the fact I'm going to a fancy dress party on Friday as Fred Flintstone! If the engine sounds ok in neutral, maybe its a drive shaft problem, CV joint perhaps :S Wish I knew what all that was. When I was 15 I went on work experience to a garage and hated it, so vowed not to bother learning about cars - I have friends who can help with that (and this forum ). Everyone has taken a different guess at what the fault is, but who is right? The winner gets a holiday to the moon (not at all funded by me or this forum). Find out who it is after 4!
plexer Posted January 6, 2009 Posted January 6, 2009 CV - constant velocity joint, it's the bit that allows the wheels to be turned to an angle and still turn via the driveshaft. Ben
Little-Miss Posted January 6, 2009 Posted January 6, 2009 ooh, i learn something new everyday.... Now if i would only take my driving test.....
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