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[platty]

Hello chaps, having a slight problem with the Meega. When driving around town, short trips etc. - the engine is fine - drives spot on.

When I'm on a motorway journey the car drives fine until I stay at a constant speed for a length of time (say cruising at 70mph for 5 minutes). Then If I put my foot down in top gear, it is absolutely gutless - makes a lot of noise but there is nothing propelling me forward.

After a few close shaves (overtaking etc.), I finally found out that if I dip the clutch and let the engine idle for just a couple of seconds - this restores her to full power and will launch off again as it should.

When the power is low, I have tried to listen whether the turbo is spooling up - but as it only happens on higher speeds (50+) its hard to tell.

Anyone had anything similar or any ideas? It never gets any worse, and always restores back to how it should be when I dip the clutch.

TIA Platty

[TheBoy]

i'd love to do a live data on that (and my mum lives in fordham), but borderline if tech2 will read it. does it have a maf sensor?

[platty]

does it have a maf sensor?

Err... TBH I don't know - any direction as to where it will be situated on this motor?

TIA Platty

[TheBoy]

does it have a maf sensor?

Err... TBH I don't know - any direction as to where it will be situated on this motor?

TIA Platty

where big pipe leaves top of airbox, is there a leccy connection?

[platty]

Yes! It does have a electrical connection, as soon as the pipe leaves the box - I'm guessing this is a mass air flow sensor?

[Entwood]

I know nowt about the diesel miggy's but I had a very similar problem with a Ford Granada some years back .. most frustrating it was in and out of garages loads with no fault found.

It eventually died on me on a motorway run, went from gutless after a long steady cruise to dead and would not restart... called out the AA chap, who had a thought and dived into the injection system where there was a small, and not in the Haynes book - or apparently the Ford knowledge base - a small in-line fuel filter, this was partially blocked with what looked like tissue/paper stuff, cleaned it out and all was fixed.

His reasoning was something like this .... under constant throttle setting the fuel flow through the filter is also constant and becomes "smooth",  the debris was then "coating" the filter such that it was become blocked so on extra fuel demand none got through, the act of lifting off (and in your case - dipping the clutch) changes the fuel flow, disturbs the debris and fuel then flows again... normal driving constantly changes the fuel flow so the blockage doesn't build up.

My suggestions to you are simple .... check all the filters you can and look out for paper-type contamination.

Probably no where near the mark... but worth a thought ??

[platty]

Thanks for your help. I don't know of any other filter other than the main diesel one, which i always change when I do the oil... It is a very strange problem, and does it as regular as clockwork.

The meega was on form last night and really shifting as I approached a roundabout - but on the exit it just died as mentioned previously. This is a new one, as normally if you keep it on the boil it is fine - it only plays up when you cruise at a low throttle position for a while.

Its almost as though something is sticking, and by dropping the revs to idle, this un-sticks it? I can't imagine what though?

Any ideas more than welcome, Platty

[TheBoy]

Yes! It does have a electrical connection, as soon as the pipe leaves the box - I'm guessing this is a mass air flow sensor?

yes MAF, so tech2 should read it.

[TheBoy]

Thanks for your help. I don't know of any other filter other than the main diesel one, which i always change when I do the oil... It is a very strange problem, and does it as regular as clockwork.

The meega was on form last night and really shifting as I approached a roundabout - but on the exit it just died as mentioned previously. This is a new one, as normally if you keep it on the boil it is fine - it only plays up when you cruise at a low throttle position for a while.

Its almost as though something is sticking, and by dropping the revs to idle, this un-sticks it? I can't imagine what though?

Any ideas more than welcome, Platty

Does it ever happen on cruise?

Has anyone ever followed you and say you brake lights flicker?

[Marks DTM Calib]

No cracks in the fuel filter housing top.....

[platty]

Nope, I had been asked that by someone else so I cleaned and checked it and it appeared to be fine... I have checked all of the fuel system in the engine bay, as that my first thought was fuelling.

I'm not much of a turbo man, but there is a chance it is not on boost when it has these dead moments - likely to be anything to do with the turbo?

[TheBoy]

Nope, I had been asked that by someone else so I cleaned and checked it and it appeared to be fine... I have checked all of the fuel system in the engine bay, as that my first thought was fuelling.

I'm not much of a turbo man, but there is a chance it is not on boost when it has these dead moments - likely to be anything to do with the turbo?

Is it just flat, or is it going to idle (or would coast to idle if moving)?

[platty]

When it has a flat moment, it will still accelerate, but I would say at about 10% of its normal power - the engine just loses all its grunt. So I dip the clutch just until the engine idles, then get back on it again - and it storms off!!

[zirk]

Fuel pumb presure??, allowing the engine to idel, ie no great use of fuel and allowing the preasure to get back to normal for a short time?

[Marks DTM Calib]

Check the waste gate on the torbo is free to move...I wonder if its sticking open slightly..