Slow To Accelerate

[Guest refue11er]

Hello to you all. I was hoping that someone might be able to offer advice with a problem that has just surfaced with my car. I have a 2.0L DOHC 1995 model Galaxy. In the last 2 days it has become apparent that there is a distinct loss in power/acceleration. Basically it takes an eternbity for the car to get up to speed - it gave my wife a scare when she pulled out onto teh main road and was almost run down by a Lorry that was in her words "miles away when she pulled out on it". Initial investigation showed a 'breather pipe' had come off the exhaust manifold gallery. I have replaced this pipe but the problem still exists. I am intending to put it in a garage for a fix but would like some background information before they start to try and baffle me with (*&&*(*& , before gving me a mortgage sized bill for repair. The lack of power is in all speeds and all gears, however, when i tested it after the pipe fix, i noted that in 1st gear, and with constant high revs applied, there appeared to be a small sensation of jerking as if the missing power was trying to cut in.

 

Any help/advice would be greatfully appreciated as i am at the end of my knowledge base on this one - the engine compartment does not seem to conform to what i remember an engine as being or look like.

[Ivor_E_Tower]

Sounds like fuelling problem - dirty or blocked throttle body/injectors? Before sticking it into a dealer, consider something like Home-Tune or Tune-up where you can talk to the technician as they analyse and test for faults. You may be surprised at what you learn about the condition of the engine!

[johnb80]

When you say breather pipe do you mean a metal pipe that goes from the exhaust manifold to the inlet manifold via a valve ? If so my guess would be that this is the EGR system and the pipe has been blown off with excessive back pressure in the exhaust which *COULD* be caused by a blocked CAT.

 

Regards - JB

[Guest refue11er]

The breather pipe in question was a metal one from teh exhaust - there is a 3/4 inch gallery tipe tube fed from each prot of the exhaust as is exits the engine(ie manifold) which then feeds of various ways. One of these pipe feeders branches into two 6 inch staright pipes which have 2 rubber hoses off them. It was one of tehse rubber hioses that was perished and disconnected from teh metaal pipe - hence mny initial thoughts of ah ha that will be the problem. I replaced teh rubber house, but unfortunately still have the very flat acceleration. With no lad on the engine an acceleartor press appears to have the normal rate of increase etc - it seems that with the engine loaded, ie in gear, there is very little torque being produced and hence a distinct lack of acceleration.

The thoughts on the cat have got me worried - 8 mths ago i noticed a rattle in teh exhaust aroiund the cat section. It passed MOT etc and it was suggested that imight want to change it. However, the rattle appears to have gone - so maybe teh cat has been partially blocked by the offending loose bit :blink: seeems i am going to be taking out the 3rd morgage after all. However, anyway i can check the hypothesiss that the system has been sooted up and is causing fuel mnagement problems?

[Guest Andyjflet]

Strange I know but have you checked the MAF sensor to, may eb they try and charge u for one of those to in the garage, might be a good idea to check it yourself first, see the search tab and endless threads about MAF sensors

[Guest refue11er]

Thanx for teh advic e- have just collected car (which now works fine) after it had cat replaced. Apaprently the insides of cat had collapsed and were partially blocking the exhaust causing back pressure affecting engine performance. Not bad - 80 for invest and cat change and 144 for new cat.