Reindeer Posted June 14 Report Share Posted June 14 Right. I suspect this may be a long one so I apologise in advance. My car is being rather strange. Half the time it drives beautifully with no issues. The other half of the time, she's a nightmare. The main symptoms are..... Uneven idle and cutting out. Lack of power. Especially evident at motorway speeds when the accelerator pedal almost stops working. Just loads of hesitation and power loss. She becomes just jerky and unwilling to rev. But.......as with yesterday.....after doing that for 10 mins. A 5 min rest and then start again, she's back to normal! No codes or warning lights present. I've chased the usual suspects and replaced..... MAF sensor. Brake pedal sensor. Clutch pedal sensor. Full ECU reset. Upstream o2 sensors. Throttle body clean. Spark plugs. We do have a spanner on but that is for the electric heat pump that would usually operate after shut off. Has anyone please got any other ideas? I want to love her but at the minute can't trust her for any journeys at all really. Thanks all in advance. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
21gg Posted June 14 Report Share Posted June 14 Its odd that it's not throwing a spanner or code? Coil pack is the only other thing I could think of. I'm not sure if you can read the afr from the ECU, that might show something. The O2 sensor caused some issues on mine and if you can get obd software that graphs the output then its sometimes easier to see and interpret rather than just a fluctuating reading. What about fuel pressure? Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Arregueti Posted June 14 Report Share Posted June 14 Throttle actuator / throttle body? I know it is different because yours does not throw a code, but mine threw a CEL light and traction control failure light recently after a very wet short drive. It drove well on the road but threw the light when I restarted it to put it in the garage. Idle would go crazy (up to 3000 rpms then down) with very limited throttle response (ie. It would not follow my input). I let it dry, restarted a few times a week later but the CEL continued (traction control light disappeared). Connected the OBD reader: it had two stored codes that read throttle actuator performance/range / forced Idle. Cleaned the codes and now works fine. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
EGTE Posted June 15 Report Share Posted June 15 air filter? Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Bruss Posted June 15 Report Share Posted June 15 Is there a crank position sensor that needs checking? Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Reindeer Posted June 15 Author Report Share Posted June 15 22 hours ago, 21gg said: Its odd that it's not throwing a spanner or code? Coil pack is the only other thing I could think of. I'm not sure if you can read the afr from the ECU, that might show something. The O2 sensor caused some issues on mine and if you can get obd software that graphs the output then its sometimes easier to see and interpret rather than just a fluctuating reading. What about fuel pressure? Fuel pressure is one that interests me......fuel pump is reasonably loud when you press the immobiliser button...not sure if they all slightly loud? Not found anyone else who has changed a fuel pump...... 7 hours ago, EGTE said: air filter? Changed that as well! 17 hours ago, Arregueti said: Throttle actuator / throttle body? I know it is different because yours does not throw a code, but mine threw a CEL light and traction control failure light recently after a very wet short drive. It drove well on the road but threw the light when I restarted it to put it in the garage. Idle would go crazy (up to 3000 rpms then down) with very limited throttle response (ie. It would not follow my input). I let it dry, restarted a few times a week later but the CEL continued (traction control light disappeared). Connected the OBD reader: it had two stored codes that read throttle actuator performance/range / forced Idle. Cleaned the codes and now works fine. I also keep thinking throttle body......but its a serious expense......so want to be more sure before buying one. What I don't understand is how it's so sporadic.....surely if a part had failed, then really it shouldn't work anymore, but there's times when the car is absolutely perfect! Thanks all so far. Its genuinely appreciated! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Bruss Posted June 15 Report Share Posted June 15 What I don't understand is how it's so sporadic.....surely if a part had failed, then really it shouldn't work anymore, but there's times when the car is absolutely perfect! Thanks all so far. Its genuinely appreciated! It is why I suspect a sensor somewhere, or its connections. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Arregueti Posted June 15 Report Share Posted June 15 Funnily enough, before the codes popped up, mine was sometimes struggling a bit to get pushing from low speed or out of a crossroad in second gear with some coughing, etc.. After the codes were cleared, it pulls much better now. They seem to have a character of their own, these things. I have had the brake pedal sensor greased, the MAF sensor cleaned and now this to fix similar issues, so they all seem to be "characterful" parts of the car and a likely source of annoyances. I am sorry I cannot be of more help. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
21gg Posted June 15 Report Share Posted June 15 🤣 I replaced the fuel pump on mine as the car stopped a couple of times before eventually refusing to start. It didn't throw any codes though. I would expect a knackered fuel pump to play up a bit but yours does sound if it's something else. You can pull the fuel pipe of the rail and put it into a container so see if it's pumping but if yours is running then I would say it is. Mine had corroded, presumably from when the GTEs were left to sat for a few years and it must have got condensation in the tank. Not sure how you can monitor fuel pressure though. If you do go down the fuel pump route drop me a DM before you spend £1200 or what ever it is on one from lotus. 😁 Just another thought, the fuel filter, it's on the pump in the tank, not external so could be this? Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
EGTE Posted June 15 Report Share Posted June 15 Good call on fuel filter too. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Reindeer Posted June 15 Author Report Share Posted June 15 Fuel pump and filter sound like the next logical steps! I think mine sat for a period of time at some point in its life so could have had some in tank corrosion as well...... Will PM you..... Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Popular Post Reindeer Posted June 24 Author Popular Post Report Share Posted June 24 Fuel pump and filter changed....... She's behaving well and feels better.. ..... Fingers crossed.......need to try a long drive really. Thanks all so far! 4 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
21gg Posted June 24 Report Share Posted June 24 Hows your head? 😂, glad its made a difference for the better! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Reindeer Posted June 24 Author Report Share Posted June 24 Yeah blimey! The fumes are intense!!!! There was some swarf at the bottom of the tank (not sure where that's come from) so had my head in it for a little while sucking bits out. I feel strange. Thanks for your help mate Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
21gg Posted June 24 Report Share Posted June 24 Out of interest what did the condition of the filter look like? I was surprised how small they are. You're more than welocme mate Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Reindeer Posted June 24 Author Report Share Posted June 24 Same as yours. Pretty dirty and almost black. Few bits of visible swarf but not blocked........ Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
trcm Posted June 24 Report Share Posted June 24 How much of a job was it out of interest ? Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Popular Post Reindeer Posted June 24 Author Popular Post Report Share Posted June 24 (edited) Not too bad actually. Rear seat base up. Undo 4 small bolts on access door. 4mm hex. Be careful not to round off! Unclip some connectors. Carefully undo about 8 10mm nuts. Don't lose washers or nuts! Slowly pull out pump and housing. Take to dining room table. Sprinkle petrol liberally around the dining room floor and table. Unclip bottom of pump housing. Pull out old pump. Cut off old pump connector and solder on new one provided with kit (most fiddly bit of job) Reassemble. No particularly difficult bits. You need a soldering iron and fresh air. Won't make any difference if tank empty or full. Theres a guide somewhere I saw. I bought the kit from Monkey Wrench Racing. Edited June 24 by Reindeer 3 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
21gg Posted July 7 Report Share Posted July 7 Hows it been? Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Reindeer Posted July 7 Author Report Share Posted July 7 Don't want to jinx her.....But she's been great again!!!! Let's see. Doing more miles next few weeks. Will update again end of the month. Thanks Gav 2 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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