No Idea!!

Babalas · 03-13-2009, 12:36 AM

The Tank(01, petrol,Carnival), starts and idles fine. No noises, no warning lights.
Drive off under light acceleration and it will shift gears ok. If I try to accelerate there is a rattling noise from the engine bay, at times it sounds like a loose exhaust.
On the motorway it will not get to 100km/h. IT behaves as if it is stuck in gear. I have not really paid much attention to the revs yet, but I dont think it got over 2000. If I press the accelerator whilst it is struggling, it compounds the problem causing it to drop to a lower Gear.
There are no warning lights at all, temperature is normal, even after crawling the 30mins home. Oil and coolant are in the correct places with no mingling.
Dealers say, after a test drive that "its pinging, its running lean, it may be a sensor, maybe not, book it in".
What do you guys/girls think. I had thought gearbox/transmission.
IS there a sensor that can do this if faulty?

Babalas · 03-13-2009, 01:23 AM

I have just checked again. It does not go much over 2000rpm in drive(foot to floor). At idle 3000max.
Any ideas??

ron1004 · 03-13-2009, 01:55 AM

Failure of the sensors would make it run that bad - if some sensors like the O2 and MAF etc. go bad, the ECU goes into limp home mode, and failure of other sensors (Crank position etc.) would mean dead in the water.

I suspect that the timing belt may have jumped a tooth or two - when last did you change the TB?

If the onset of the problem was gradual, then it may be a choked fuel filter.

PS. Does your nick mean "hang-over"?

Babalas · 03-13-2009, 03:36 AM

It has been gradual. I thought I had some bad fuel. The timing chain was done +/- 50000km back with the short motor.
There have been problems with the O2 sensor, check engine light would come on. dealer had a fiddle on numerous, $$$ occasions. Allegedly changed on the last occasion. Have not seen that check engine light in about a year.
I had a peek at the intake, see pics

I will do a search on this limp home mode and check fuel filter once I find it...

Babalas = hang over. The way I feel around this engine......

Thanks for the input

ron1004 · 03-13-2009, 05:06 AM

There's something contaminating that throttle body - this could be from the exhaust gas recirculation (EGR) valve that may be stuck open, or the crank case is getting over pressurised , bad positive crankcase ventilation PCV valve or worn piston rings allowing excessive blow-by.
With the engine running open the oil filler cap and check for pressurisation when pumping the throttle.

PLP · 03-13-2009, 10:11 AM

My understanding is that whenever you floor gas (one gear) it will not go - it will die... on idle it will not go over 3krpm. Right?
Did you check fuel filters?
I would exclude at this point transmission. Other sensors (O2 or others) if faulty, would light engine warning light.

This what I would do.
Follow fuel lines and check all filters, check the tank itself (it may have some dirt deposits). You may also try some fuel/tank cleaners.
I had similar situation with my friends car. It just did not run. Turned out to be bad fuel and dirt (like mud) in the tank. All filters were clogged.

Once you clean them, check fuel pressure.

One more thing - cold start - any problems?

ron1004 · 03-13-2009, 11:06 AM

Another not yet mentioned possibility is the exhaust choked - plugged CAT converter?

Babalas · 03-13-2009, 09:09 PM

My understanding is that whenever you floor gas (one gear) it will not go - it will die... on idle it will not go over 3krpm. Right? Not exactly.. When I floor the gas, in gear, there is a nasty rattling / ticking in the engine bay. It does not die. At idle it did not go over 3000rpm. It has not died at any stage ..yet!!
There is a lot of gunk around that throttle area as well as the pipes leading to/from it. Crud, similar to that seen, when the sleeves did their thing and the oil/water got together. There was some H2O in the gas line i disconnected.

I cleaned up some and had the battery disconnected for an hour. It started and revved to about 4000 in park, in drive under light gas was good. Gears changing and revs around 2500. Seemed normal again.
Tried to push it up a slight incline and the ticking was back with a vengeance followed by revs around 2000 only. Limping again I think, Am I right?

PLP + ron1004, I will follow your suggestions and report back. I hope it is not the motor again.

PLP · 03-13-2009, 09:47 PM

did you say you had found water? in gas lines?
could it be you have some water in gas tank? I do not know about Carnival, but at least in Rondo is so called servicing hole (what ever they call it). It is located under hte rear seat and you can access the tank and fuel pump.
Try to do that and see how much water and sludge you have there.

To get rid of water, add some ethanol or methanol (purest you can get 95%). It will "bind" water and let it dissolve in gas. And then will be burned.

It will not remove any mud you have though...

It does not sound like a motor problem. If it was motor it would not get better.

Babalas · 03-14-2009, 01:38 PM

It does show some signs of recovery. See pics.
Tail pipe= Blue.. There are pics of Plugs red, Front 3 only. I have no idea how to remove the rear three. under the intake. ?? gaskets needed and intake removal?.
Fuel filter clogged with Crap / Crud.. Removed filter, flushed with meths... Difficult at first, Lots of Lung power needed to shift fluid then, the evil came out, and kept coming after 100ml flush.
I will change this filter. Unfortunately, order in part, so Monday or Tues, but I bought a $4 filter, will try when the sun comes up..