3.0si - 100k - not feeling itself

[RyanB88]

3.0si seems hesitant. At first I thought it was because I've been driving my 118d and used to the instant turbo shove. But when accelerating from 1-4K revs it seems sluggish and lacking the pickup and not wanting to rev properly. Then whenrev matching on the downshift, it's almost like the accelerator is still stuck down after I've come off of it. On tickover I did notice the revs drop to about 500rpm ish once Aswell, which it's never done before

Any ideas? Just generally seems sluggish and not itself today...

[Silverzedtom]

I can't say it's going to solve your problem but id definitely start with a throttle pedal reset. Do a quick search as the sequence is on here.

Do you have Carly or another diagnostic tool?

Once the easy ones out the way (throttle reset), I'd be checking the MAF sensor and the air intake as a whole for leaks. Soapy water or plumbers leak detector spray should do it.

[RyanB88]

The throttle feels... very unresponsive. So when dipping the clutch to downshift and rev match it doesn't respond very well, and same as when it's in neutral

Just plugged Carly in and no fault codes

[groovy_hippy]

Mine behaved like that when the eccentric shaft sensor was on its way out...started gradually as you say, with strange behaviour of the revs. Ultimately finished off with the car having to be persuaded to start, and then running on less than all 6 cylinders, sounding like a lawnmower and coughing and spluttering like mad until it'd warmed up. Not ideal... I don't remember it picking anything up on the codes until it got really bad...

However, it could be something with the air intake as Silverzedtom says. I'd check all that out first before jumping to expensive conclusions for sure!

[RyanB88]

Mine behaved like that when the eccentric shaft sensor was on its way out...started gradually as you say, with strange behaviour of the revs. Ultimately finished off with the car having to be persuaded to start, and then running on less than all 6 cylinders, sounding like a lawnmower and coughing and spluttering like mad until it'd warmed up. Not ideal... I don't remember it picking anything up on the codes until it got really bad...

However, it could be something with the air intake as Silverzedtom says. I'd check all that out first before jumping to expensive conclusions for sure!

Thanks for your post - how much did the eccentric shaft sensor cost to replace? What mileage was yours on when that broke?

[Danderton]

I'd also consider changing out the ignition coil packs.

I had hesitant acceleration, but wasn't getting any consistent error codes so wasn't sure if it was the coils or which one it would be but based on experience of other cars I've had similar issues with it was my first place to start. So ordered 6 new ignition coils and replaced them all, instantly solving the problem. Cost was aprox £100 for all of them, and the peace of mind knowing they've been replaced.

[groovy_hippy]

Ah good point, coils could also be at fault. Reason i didn't suspect coils was the lawnmower effect went away after it'd warmed up, and error codes weren't constantly saying coils, just that the sensor was having trouble and there was a misfire.

Cost me about £800 for the job...the sensor is about £400 plus you need a new gasket and odd 'bits', and the labour involved is to take the top of the engine off and reassemble I think..I believe you can DIY but you'd need to be confident in taking your engine apart! My indy said that you need a special tool to do it, but I'm always a bit skeptical about that sort of thing...

[RyanB88]

I've just drove 50 miles motorway/fast roads and it was definitely upto temperature, symptoms were there from cold to warm engine ...

[RyanB88]

Are the coils an easy DIY, any special tools needed?

[mr wilks]

When was the air filter last checked or changed ?

[RyanB88]

I'll take a look at the air filter condition tomorrow. I've got to use the car all week for work so as long as it keeps working I'll be fine, even if very sluggish . I think it would struggle to out accelerate a diesel focus right now

Best way to describe it is it feels like it's down by 100bhp or so and the throttle is laggy and takes a second or two to react to any input, it won't Rev match very well at all,
plus tickover is a bit lumpy

Has happened on a cold engine and warm engine, short journeys and long journeys, no difference. Has only happened today but no fault codes

So I'm thinking:

Start with checking the MAF/ air filter/ leaks in the breathing system

Spark plugs and ignition coils

[Danderton]

No special tools needed for the coils. If I remember right just remove the engine cover and the coils are easily accessible. Unplug the old and pull them out, then install the replacements by doing the reverse.

May want to do then one by one to ensure the leads stay in the same order.

Dan

[RyanB88]

Thanks for everybody's help and to you dan too

I've just nipped out quickly with the lights on, so the dashboard was obviously lit up too. Not sure if this is related but I assume it must be. When I gave the car WOT at 2500rpm the dashboard lights switched off/dimmed for about 2 seconds. I'm now thinking ignition coils more likely?

[mr.tourette]

Thanks for everybody's help and to you dan too

I've just nipped out quickly with the lights on, so the dashboard was obviously lit up too. Not sure if this is related but I assume it must be. When I gave the car WOT at 2500rpm the dashboard lights switched off/dimmed for about 2 seconds. I'm now thinking ignition coils more likely?

or battery...these cars are very sensitive to weak batteries and can manifest problems in odd ways...worth giving it a full charge first see if it helps at all

[Scooba_Steve]

Have a look at the alternator too.