2.3i Zetec Loss Of Power

[galaxya61]

This is my first post so I hope you can help!

 

We have a 1999 Galaxy Zetec 2.3i Petrol and have had a few problems of late.

 

Initially we had a problem with the Gal running on 3 cylinders (3rd failed) due to coil pack, replaced with new and this failed in 3 months, swapped with 1 and 4 cylinder coil pack and this coil pack failed too instantly ! Identified (3 coil packs later) as a duff plug lead

[insider]

Not convinced it is the MAF as it makes no difference when connected or disconnected

 

It could very well be the MAF then!

It should be very noticeable if you disconnect a good MAF.

[Willie Krashitt]

Running any petrol car with a misfire is highly likely to melt the catalyst, especially close coupled ones, unless you a/ didn't run it long enough for the cat to get hot (about 2 minutes) or b/ you were very lucky.

 

However, it is worth checking that the various hoses on the engine breather system are intact and not split, also that the HEGO sensor is working. Any diagnostic code reader will let you find that one out.

Also, could be worth looking at the throttle position sensor. If this is not working, there is no way of sensing throttle input, and acceleration will suffer. Again a code reader will tell you if it is ok.

[Pud]

Would say it's maf related.

 

Car should run rough with maf disconnected or even stall.

 

Makes sense that the power is down as the ecu cannot measure the correct airflow.

[galaxya61]

Thanks for everyones advice, I'm taking it to have it plugged in tommorow and at the same time an emission test which will check the CAT.

 

Thought it maybe running in Limp Home mode and we may have a sensor down?

 

Will post the results soon.

 

By the way, will VAG Com work with a 2.3i Petrol Galaxy or would it be recommended to buy the ELM327 diagnostic kit?

[galaxya61]

Sorry, forgot to ask this !

 

Is it possible to clean the MAF on the petrol model, I hear it's not worth it on the diesel model but not sure on the petrol version?

[insider]

By the way, will VAG Com work with a 2.3i Petrol Galaxy or would it be recommended to buy the ELM327 diagnostic kit?

VAG-COM will work for some of the other modules but won't read the ECU because it's Ford. The ELM327 should work though.

[galaxya61]

Thanks for the advice so far.

 

I took the Gal to my local garage and he confirmed the Hego sensor as fault. I also purchased an ELM327 kit and identified the Hego sensor as being faulty after clearing all the codes, running the engine and then checking again. The Hego (02 sensor) code came up. Having changed the sensor, all codes are clear yet we still have the same problem with lack of power.

 

Have fitted new plugs today and sort of new it would make no difference but have eliminated them now.

 

Currently have no trip codes showing, engine revs beautifully in neutral (no load), throttle position sensor reads OK, the Hego (02 sensor) seems to read OK. The MAF sensor seems to read OK as the value changes when you rev the engine up. The only thing when revving in neutral is that if you accelerate quickly then the engine briefly seems to show a lack of power / strangling. If you accelerate slowly then there is no problem. Presume this is related to the lack of power when accelerating under load?

 

The engine seems to run OK for a few miles when cold then when it warms up the lack of power and misfiring starts.

 

Not sure whether the reading from the MAF are Ok or not but it seems to make little difference when disconnected and after inspecting the MAF it was as clean as a whistle.

 

Really struggling to put my finger on this one... anybody got any more ideas?

 

Thanks

 

Ian

[Marshman]

Thanks for the advice so far.

 

I took the Gal to my local garage and he confirmed the Hego sensor as fault. I also purchased an ELM327 kit and identified the Hego sensor as being faulty after clearing all the codes, running the engine and then checking again. The Hego (02 sensor) code came up. Having changed the sensor, all codes are clear yet we still have the same problem with lack of power.

 

Have fitted new plugs today and sort of new it would make no difference but have eliminated them now.

 

Currently have no trip codes showing, engine revs beautifully in neutral (no load), throttle position sensor reads OK, the Hego (02 sensor) seems to read OK. The MAF sensor seems to read OK as the value changes when you rev the engine up. The only thing when revving in neutral is that if you accelerate quickly then the engine briefly seems to show a lack of power / strangling. If you accelerate slowly then there is no problem. Presume this is related to the lack of power when accelerating under load?

 

The engine seems to run OK for a few miles when cold then when it warms up the lack of power and misfiring starts.

 

Not sure whether the reading from the MAF are Ok or not but it seems to make little difference when disconnected and after inspecting the MAF it was as clean as a whistle.

 

Really struggling to put my finger on this one... anybody got any more ideas?

 

Thanks

 

Ian

 

Hi Ian,

 

Sounds similar to my problem, although I have been losing the power and the rev counter goes to 0. Was this the same as yours?

 

Thanks in advance.

[hondengines]

hi, had same issues, i had iregular running, coilpack had gone, so got one out a scarppy, lasted 2 weeks, other one whent! I replaced all coil packs and cables, expensive i know, and left the daft cover off the top, as these things are getting cooked on a daily basis, i could see hairline cracks on all the old coilpacks, i think they open up and fail after a short hot run,, Mine has been fine ever since (apart from the blown head gasket ive just replaced and the radiotor thats burst that im changing tonight, hayho, :ph34r:

[boxman32]

hi, had same issues, i had iregular running, coilpack had gone, so got one out a scarppy, lasted 2 weeks, other one whent! I replaced all coil packs and cables, expensive i know, and left the daft cover off the top, as these things are getting cooked on a daily basis, i could see hairline cracks on all the old coilpacks, i think they open up and fail after a short hot run,, Mine has been fine ever since (apart from the blown head gasket ive just replaced and the radiotor thats burst that im changing tonight, hayho, :wub:

HI,HOW DO YOU CHECK THE COILS?AS ARES IS RUNNING LUMPY,KEEPS CUTTING OUT AND EATING PETROL BIGTIME!! 85 MILES ON 30 QUID!!!!THATS ON A RUN!!!NEVER HAD PROBLEMS BEFORE..THANKS