Strange accelerating problem on Fiesta

InsomniaCalls · 29 Jan 2007 at 18:32

Hi Guys,

Driving home from work today and the acceleration felt really slow and heavy - like I was accelerating with a touch of braking or something.
The engine seems a lot quieter too and I can barely hear it.
It was fine this morning.

I'll get it checked out by a garage if it continues but does anyone have any ideas what this could be?

`98 1.25 Fiesta (Zetec engine).

TIA
Si

Noni Juice · 29 Jan 2007 at 19:14

Left the handbrake on?

InsomniaCalls · 29 Jan 2007 at 19:15

212 said:
Left the handbrake on?

Nope.

Felt similar though.

Noni Juice · 29 Jan 2007 at 19:16

I did while driving around once (Im a new driver). I was like hmmm, this car is slow!

Enfield · 29 Jan 2007 at 19:21

Does it rev properly out of gear?

InsomniaCalls · 29 Jan 2007 at 19:32

I turned the engine back on after I was home and it was louder idling in neutral than it had been in gear.

Matt-Page · 29 Jan 2007 at 19:37

Faulty / Leads / Plugs? Fuel blockage? Redex and new plugs / leads.

I had a similar problem with my J Reg Orion, but that was a CVH engine. Bag of **** that was i can tell you.

Sonea Fifer · 29 Jan 2007 at 20:09

Possibly a problem with the Cat? - I've heard of that situation before, motor feels really laggy and wont pick up properly

InsomniaCalls · 30 Jan 2007 at 17:56

Thanks for the advice so far.

Enfield said:
Does it rev properly out of gear?

Just checked properly (the problem is still there) and it revs a lot easier out of gear.

When I'm in gear (particularly first) it feels like something is pushing back (or upwards) on the accelerator pedal when I'm trying to rev. Like there's a football stuck under the pedal in the way. I can floor the accelerator but its hard work.

Does that give anyone any more ideas?

Cheers

sigma · 30 Jan 2007 at 18:00

Throttle cable? try following it from behind the pedal and into the engine bay to see if it's caught on something.

Edit : hmm just re-read your last post, sounds like it wouldn't be the cable

InsomniaCalls · 16 Feb 2007 at 18:59

Just had it checked out by a relative who's a mechanic and he reckons it's a borked clutch.
He's gonna get a price for me at some point on a new one but I thought I'd ask here anyway.
Anyone have a rough idea on the cost of a clutch for a MK4 Fiesta?

Dogbreath · 16 Feb 2007 at 20:30

I found the root cause of the poor acceleration:

InsomniaCalls said:
`98 1.25 Fiesta (Zetec engine).

Seriously though a very quiet engine coupled with lack of power points to a blocked exhaust silencer or catalytic converter.

A knackered clutch will cause the engine revs to rise when you try to accelerate, but the car won't get any faster, or at least only accelerate very slowly. It certainly won't make the engine any quieter though.

acharris · 16 Feb 2007 at 23:33

I would say that it sounds like either the accelerator cable is sticking somewhere between the back of the pedal or the engine or mayve the TPS (throttle position sensor) which reads the throttle response is playing or as is said, could be the cat is gone and blocked the gasses. Deffo don't sound like clutch, as it would freely rev, esp pulling off and 2nd and would not feel heavy.

Matt-Page said:
I had a similar problem with my J Reg Orion, but that was a CVH engine. Bag of **** that was i can tell you.

I had an H reg orion 1.6 EFI Ghia with the CVH, oil burning and breather pipes blocking up were always fun on the CVH engines, the oil cap kept blowing off one day due to so much back pressure in the engine. I would never have an CVH engine again.

Anthony

-Mike- · 17 Feb 2007 at 02:01

acharris said:
I had an H reg orion 1.6 EFI Ghia with the CVH, oil burning and breather pipes blocking up were always fun on the CVH engines, the oil cap kept blowing off one day due to so much back pressure in the engine. I would never have an CVH engine again.

Anthony

Completely OT, but I loved my CVH'd XR2

InsomniaCalls · 18 Feb 2007 at 19:28

Turns out it was actually the brakes.
I've no idea if I remember this right but he may have said something about the caliper (or something similar) having seized and the breaks were getting stuck.
Anyway - lots better now.