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[star_whites]

Hey All

Just a quick one, hopefully.

Since having my head gasket re-done my 2.0 auto has been rather down on power, especially when you accelerate hard and slow at reaching 60+.

On checking all hoses and replacing/cleaning throttle body/breathers I have noticed a clicking noise as iff a tappet was noisey, however this appears to be coming from around the injection manifold area. Do you think that this may be the reason for the power drop?? Do I need to remove this and fit a new gasket??

Any advice would be greatful as supposed to be taking it to Stafford on friday and will be a nightmare on the motorway

[Marks DTM Calib]

Your car worries me as I have little confidence in the quality of the jobs done on the headgasket.

The preferred approach would be to carry out a vaccum test to see what the manifold vaccum is like and go from there.....a ticking on the inlet side is either going to be an injector or worse....manifold gasket is more likely to result in a hiss.

[Markjay]

....and also try listening again, if you can attribute the ticking to the exhaust manifold, your'e in better shape... but that will not explain the power loss though.

[star_whites]

Well Ive just bitten the bullett and taken the old girl to see my Brother who I dont get on with so well anymore. Hes had a look at her and had a listen and play around. He found the following:::

1. Bottom drivers side link arm seized/knackered. (New one on order to fit tom night)

2. Powersteering pump bearings on way out, too much play in wheel and leak underneath!

3. Powerloss, he recommends a steady run on friday, oil change, injector cleaner as he thinks a possible blocked injector and see what shes like following the run.

If thats not sorted it, we are going to remove both the injection manifold, injectors and exhaust manifold and replace the gaskets on all!

Following that a pressure test and see how she goes!

[Marks DTM Calib]

I would do a vac test on the engine before removing any parts willy nilly and replacing them.....remember the more things you do to an engine without diagnosing the cause first results in more unknowns in the pot.

On the power steering pump, there should be some fore and aft play but, no other...make sure the oil isnt from a pipe.....

[star_whites]

No Mark, the bearings in the pump are def shot. You can hear it whistling and grinding away to themselves and there is clearly too much play. Already got a replacement which should be changed (weather permiting) on thursday.

Knocking was antiroll bar support strut as we thought. Now changed and is back to a smooth ride.

Also power appears to be coming back slowly. Once Ive dropped it in sport mode once or twice there appears to be more power, so it appears the blocked injector theory may be correct and will see what shes like after the run on friday to Stafford.

As for the compression test I dont have the facilities to do it, so I would have to take it into a garage, and at the moment its not something I want to pay out for. Maybe next month if its still an issue.

[star_whites]

Well power steering pump changed and refilled/bleeded and much better. GOt new aux belt as well but as usual halfords sold me the wrong part. Got new one now from another supplier.

Also decided to change plugs as I realised that the ones fitted by the mechanic were not the ones supposed to be fitted. Decided on Bosch Super 4s this time and appears to be better. Also put injector cleaner in the fuel and can already see the difference. Also dropped the cheap oil the mechanic fitted and put in genuine vauxhall 10 40, and a new filter. Engine sounds much smoother now so hoping for the best.

Still appears to loose power at the top end bettween 3-4 gears. It appears to be a bit flat. Wondering if its possible to stretch the accelerator cable, cause if I really push the peddle then it appears to respond and gear down when required but when I say push I mean try and push it through the floor.

[TheBoy]

Well power steering pump changed and refilled/bleeded and much better. GOt new aux belt as well but as usual halfords sold me the wrong part. Got new one now from another supplier.

Also decided to change plugs as I realised that the ones fitted by the mechanic were not the ones supposed to be fitted. Decided on Bosch Super 4s this time and appears to be better. Also put injector cleaner in the fuel and can already see the difference. Also dropped the cheap oil the mechanic fitted and put in genuine vauxhall 10 40, and a new filter. Engine sounds much smoother now so hoping for the best.

Still appears to loose power at the top end bettween 3-4 gears. It appears to be a bit flat. Wondering if its possible to stretch the accelerator cable, cause if I really push the peddle then it appears to respond and gear down when required but when I say push I mean try and push it through the floor.

good news

Can't you adjust cable, or is it too long already?

[Cav9_4]

Hi,could your power loss be due to valve timing?...just wondering with you having head gasket done..Wayne

[star_whites]

I have adjusted it with the clip prior to attaching to throttle housing but its taking up the already taking up the slack. Im just wondering if the cables stretched and when I put foot down its not fully opening the throttle??

Its just one thought of many as to what the problem is. Im changing aux belt prior to leaving for stafford tom lunchtime. I now know the injector cleaner is working as when I changed the plugs it had cleaned all the cabon away and they had turned orange lol

Have to say it runs much smoother. Also got tracking done, and just for her a new air freshner lol

[star_whites]

Is the valve timing adjustable?? I thought It set itself up??

[TheBoy]

Is the valve timing adjustable?? I thought It set itself up??

If cambelt hasn't been fitted properly, the inlet and/or exhaust may be a tooth (or more) out...

[ians]

I was just thinking its worth whipping the cam cover off just to check the timing is spot on.  Straightforward on 2.0.

[star_whites]

Well Im back from my wet weekend in Stafford and to be honest although the lack of power she drove great. Found that she cruised nicely at 85 but dies at every hill when doing 70. Wasnt too bad going down as never got above 45 so it didnt struggle at all.

Now going to see if I can find a garage to check the timing for me.