Loss of power

[jupiter2step]

Driving home from work this evening I put the foot down on a country road, and.... virtually nothing. The speedometer crept up really slowly. Tried it again on a hill and I couldn't get above 50. Came home, switched off engine, and went for another short drive. Everything back to normal.

Car has been driving beautifully until now, but this evening it reminded me of my old x-type which had a nasty habit of entering into 'limp home' mode every so often. There is no malfunction showing on the computer. The only possible thing I can think of is that the fuel warning light was on (though there is a good 40 miles left in the tank, and I have let the tank go a lot lower in the past there was no problem).

Any ideas?

 

[Tinkerer]

Sounds like limp mode, check the EGR valve for carbon fouling and shut off if this is OK then check the MAF, after that you would have to get the codes read on STAR. Good luck.

 

[jupiter2step]

If there was an error code would that not up as a malfunction on the car computer?

 

[jaymanek]

No it wouldnt show... you may get the engine light but not necessarily.

 

[jupiter2step]

Cheers, does that mean a visit to the stealers or would an indy be able to read the codes?

 

[Tinkerer]

Indy should be able to do it providing they have STAR, some will do a quick read for free !

 

[jupiter2step]

My indy doesn't have STAR but has Bosch KTS - would that be an acceptable alternative?

 

[Tinkerer]

Sorry not familiar with these systems but STAR seems to be like star trek ............ goes where others have not been before ... or something like that. Perhaps you should negotiate 'no code - no fee'.

 

[BlackC55]

KTS is pretty good but the star is better

 

[2toast]

Have a star readout at an indy around £40-£50 best money spent
same symptons last year mine was acuaquator jamming would not have found that as no error code....dont waste money get a read out

 

[BlackC55]

£40-50! Most Indys will charge about £20 to plug in.

 

[Wilsonuk]

Driving home from work this evening I put the foot down on a country road, and.... virtually nothing. The speedometer crept up really slowly. Tried it again on a hill and I couldn't get above 50. Came home, switched off engine, and went for another short drive. Everything back to normal.

Car has been driving beautifully until now, but this evening it reminded me of my old x-type which had a nasty habit of entering into 'limp home' mode every so often. There is no malfunction showing on the computer. The only possible thing I can think of is that the fuel warning light was on (though there is a good 40 miles left in the tank, and I have let the tank go a lot lower in the past there was no problem).

Any ideas?

Hi, did you ever get an answer to why this is happening? This happens quite frequently to my E class, mostly when I have been cruising for 50+miles and then put my foot down to accelerate to over take or from a fuel fill up etc. Switching off then on again always fixes so I have never investigated further but I would be interested to see if you solved...

 

[jupiter2step]

Not yet. Phoned my indy and he said most likely cause was EGR, but to wait to see if it happens again before bringing it in. He said sometimes things just play up a little, especially in the winter time. So I'll wait and see. No point in pouring money down the drain if it's a problem that has disappeared of its own accord (hasn't happened since), but it's interesting to know I'm not the only one.

 

[Wilsonuk]

Thanks. I'll ask the garage to do one of the tests mentioned above next time its in for service and feed back to you...

 

[jupiter2step]

Just by way of an update. This problem has recurred twice since I first posted about it last December. Once in March, and again yesterday. I had a STAR reading after the first incident but nothing showed, and I'm not getting any malfunction messages on the computer. At the moment it's not a huge problem since it rarely happens and always seems to resolve itself when the ignition is switched off and on, but obviously I'd like to get to the bottom of it. Car is due a service soon and disc change, so I was wondering whether it was worth asking them to replace or clean the EGR at the same time - or is that throwing money away when I'm not 100% sure on the source of the problem?
All thoughts appreciated!

 

[jupiter2step]

By way of update for anyone who is interested... My hunch was right. New EGR required.

 

[st4]

By way of update for anyone who is interested... My hunch was right. New EGR required.

Good to know, often its the MAF. The 220cdi is not a troubled engine really, its very reliable and dependable.

 

[martyz]

Sounds like limp mode, check the EGR valve for carbon fouling and shut off if this is OK then check the MAF, after that you would have to get the codes read on STAR. Good luck.

By way of update for anyone who is interested... My hunch was right. New EGR required.

 

[zvibis]

i got same problem with my car.. its loosing power when i driving faster for 80-100 miles. but when turn engine of and than again on its ok drives well again..on diagnostic its showing ''charge pressure is too low''. but i dont now whats that. mechanic says maybe its turbo sensor or something .. maybe something else

 

[walsi]

Hi ya, its quite possibly a turbo reg sensor gone bad, they are not big money and are its quite a common failure and a two minute job to change

Martin