loss of power :(

[smilerbaker]

Picked up the elan in thursday and drove it back to switzerland on fri, about 4 hours into the drive across germany I lost a whole wad of power, before it was happily going along at 170+ kph then the top speed went down to 110kph and no more very hard work going up hills.

took it out again today and sometimes it was ok, but most of the time I still had massive power loss, really slugglish etc.

no engine warning lights have come on, and the engine sounds pretty sweet, just no power.

I dont have an elean scan, I can also hear occasionally an exhaust knocking type noise, would a lose / leaking exhaust cause this? I can't get under the car to take a look.

The car was perfect thurs and 500km into germany, there was no bang or noise, iirc it happened around the same time I downed a gear to get past a lorry.

help!!!!

[mark675]

you might of blown a boost hose off, or the wastegate might of stuck open, a few things to check till one of the more experienced fixers see the post

[smilerbaker]

ta, I've had a good look and can't see anything hanging off

Also need to say I know nothing about the lotus engine, so and pics / links will be needed

[Jackonicko]

Is the engine warning light working at all?

Does it flash a 12 in paperclip mode?

[smilerbaker]

sorry, newbie, paperclip mode?

[HJ2]

When losing power, did you look at the boostgauge? Did it show any boost?
If not, or very low, i would try this first!

http://wikilec.9600.org/index.php/Wastegate:_Releasing

or: do a search on the forum: Wiggle (Watstegate wiggle that is )

Oh, and you can find the paperclip here as well:

http://wikilec.9600.org/index.php/Check ... t_Problems

Check the Wiki (link o top of the page) for a whole lot more knowledge of your great car
Good luck!

[M100 TWO]

what is the state of the exhaust system?

[Jackonicko]

see:

http://wikilec.9600.org/index.php/ALDL

I just wonder whether you've been getting overboost/boost creep.

[Jackonicko]

When you lose power are you limited to 4000 rpm?

Do you lose power after accelerating fairly hard?

[smilerbaker]

When losing power, did you look at the boostgauge? Did it show any boost?
If not, or very low, i would try this first!

http://wikilec.9600.org/index.php/Wastegate:_Releasing

or: do a search on the forum: Wiggle (Watstegate wiggle that is )
Good luck!

the turbo guage seems to alway be on the first mark, I assumed its faulty, i recall reading on here its a common fault??

will do the wastegate wiggle tomorrow.

the exhaust system looks ok (by me lying on the floor lol) but there is a definate rattle comming from that area

[smilerbaker]

When you lose power are you limited to 4000 rpm?

Do you lose power after accelerating fairly hard?

no I don't think its limited to 4000, it will get upto around 110kph then if I totally floor it I'll start to lose speed (only a few kph) hills are the real killer

[HJ2]

if the wiggle didn't do the trick; Check if the pre-cat is not cloaked with the remains of the contents of it.
check petrol filter as well

What is the general state of the maintenance of the car anyway?

[smilerbaker]

if the wiggle didn't do the trick; Check if the pre-cat is not cloaked with the remains of the contents of it.
check petrol filter as well

What is the general state of the maintenance of the car anyway?

full service history, and had the belts changed a couple of weeks ago, needs a bit to cosmetic tlc but seems ok

thinking about it I'm not limited to 4k revs as I've had to rev the nuts off it to keep any speed up

[HJ2]

OK, Wiggle first then. Is it an S2?

[smilerbaker]

yes s2, just did the paperclip, just repeated 12 the whole time, which I guess is good news

[GeoffSmith]

It shows you weren't getting any ECU related problems. As said before, possibly stuck wastegate, clogged exhaust or lack of boost. You can check the latter by taking the pipe off the airfilter dustbin (that goes to the turbo intake) and blowing - it should hold pressure. Then go and look in a mirror and see how oily it was!

[Jackonicko]

It could be a faulty boost gauge. But are you actually getting any boost?

[smilerbaker]

It could be a faulty boost gauge. But are you actually getting any boost?

boost gauge shows .25 bar all the time the ingnition is on (but engine not running) yes I was getting boost

[smilerbaker]

It shows you weren't getting any ECU related problems. As said before, possibly stuck wastegate, clogged exhaust or lack of boost. You can check the latter by taking the pipe off the airfilter dustbin (that goes to the turbo intake) and blowing - it should hold pressure. Then go and look in a mirror and see how oily it was!

sorry not with you, take the pipe off the box and blow down it?

[GeoffSmith]

It shows you weren't getting any ECU related problems. As said before, possibly stuck wastegate, clogged exhaust or lack of boost. You can check the latter by taking the pipe off the airfilter dustbin (that goes to the turbo intake) and blowing - it should hold pressure. Then go and look in a mirror and see how oily it was!

sorry not with you, take the pipe off the box and blow down it?

Yep!