Average 25mpg

[willywagga]

Hi any help appreciated, I've had the car for over a year and I know somethings wrong. Very slow response from a stationary position, have had the MAF changed did not improve anything, tried another MAF which was slightly worse. Getting around 20Mpg around town and an absolute best of 36 Mpg long distance open road driving. I know the car should be doing much better.

I don't know where to start, my last experience of a mechanic left me

[jkspoff]

Whats the mileage ? It might seem obvious but check your tyres pressures first of all.

Make sure it has the correct oil in it 505.01 spec.

Drive at a steady constant speed below the level of the turbo cutting in.

The cold weather will heavily effect fuel economy (booster heater/electrics etc).

You usually won't get any better than 35mpg around town (use 6th gear when possible).

Also check:

• Could be another duff MAF ?
  
• Sticking Turbo Vanes
  
• Vacuum hoses
  
• Air filter
  
• Clean out turbo
  
• CAT might need replacing
  

Just a few suggestions.

Edited January 31, 2009 by jkspoff

[marcostig]

crumbs if i had to pay for repairs of

[sepulchrave]

crumbs if i had to pay for repairs of

[seatkid]

As sepulchrave says. much more info is required.

 

Info about the car engine, transmission, mileage, history (servicing and repairs) - Are you sure it hasnt been modded?

 

Background info - did you buy a sick car or did the mechanic make it sick? What did he (supposedely) do or fix? If it was cambelt or water pump, then could simply be a timing problem. Was it a dealer or independant garage?

 

Whats your driving style?

 

more despcription of symptoms, i.e. starts first time? does it smoke? Is it rough or smooth? Strange noises, smells. Lack of power (e.g. struggling to maintain motorway speeds) could be turbo related, though that shouldnt hurt economy so drastically. Any other problems, e.g. cooling water loss

 

Have you checked brakes for binding, particularly the back brakes - they have a tendency to stick on due to the parking brake design. Jack up the rear end with the brakes off (secure the car in gear and use blocks to stop car moving!!) and check you can move the wheels easily by hand.

A simpler check I use is to drive around gently for a mile or two - try to use the brakes as little and gently as possible. Then (carefully) check the disc temperatures (if you can reach them though your wheels), a binding disc will be stinking hot - watch out you dont burn your fingers! The rears should be lukewarm/cool...

 

You should get 40mpg easily on a long run, and over 30mpg around town.

[jkspoff]

The modding could be a good thing to check, although not sure how, as I had my previous Galaxy re-mapped, and although it was like sh#t off a shovel, the mpg was effected.

[willywagga]

Thanks for all the replies. It's a 2001 Alhambra SE 1.9Tdi pd engine. When I bought it it drove very nicely, started overheating, brought it to a mechanic. Replaced the timing belt, water pump etc. He called me to tell me that the cam shaft was worn and would need a new one, I gulped hard and said ok, head needed skimming etc. Got the car back but it just did not feel right: dead, non responsive, for instance sometimes when I press the accelerator there would be no response at all. I brought the car back and after 3 weeks of b*****t he refitted the old cam but the car is still very dead especially from a stationary position. Both myself and my wife use the car and we're fairly moderate drivers, much of our driving is urban and we get about 250 miles out of a tank, which I know is brutal. I tried driving the car without the MAF but it was much worse. When I bring the car to a different mechanic I feel i'm just gonna be fleeced, and my car still wont work. How do I go about cleaning the turbo, if you think that might be the problem. Mileage is around 90000mls. There's a brief cloud of whiteish smoke when the car starts first thing in the morning, lasts 5 seconds. Thanks for everything.

[seatkid]

I would hazard a guess and say the camshaft position sensor was not working - either its incorrectly fitted/adjusted or damaged or maybe disconnected. Another possibilty is the basic timing is out - the cambelt is not correctly fitted.

 

You need to have a diagnostic scan, to check for sensor faults and have the timing checked. A main dealer has the equipment to do this - I think they usually charge

[willywagga]

Thanks Seatkid, I think that is the only option for me at this stage.

I will make enquiries tomorrow and let you know how I get on.