#1: Struggles to get to 70mph and beyond Author: juanfernandes, Location: LondonPosted: Mon Oct 31, 2011 10:09 am ---- My 1.4 8v 2006 struggles to get to 70 mph and past it.
I know its not a fast car anyway, I'm fine with that. But I think it shouldn't struggle to get to 70. When it was driven down to my house by the wife, she didn't notice any issues, but I didn't drive it on the motorway for ages after I had it.
So either something I have done has caused this or something needs to be replaced. What could be causing this?
I have 17" alloys - which I know will not be helping - I am planning to down grade, but need to know whether I should go down to 16s or 15s (I have a poll here).
Could it just be the alloys or spark plugs, fuel injectors?
Thanks in advance.
#2: Re: Struggles to get to 70mph and beyond Author: LeeThr, Location: North West WalesPosted: Mon Oct 31, 2011 10:36 am ---- When was it last serviced? And having 17's deffinatally wont do it any favours.
#3: Re: Struggles to get to 70mph and beyond Author: juanfernandes, Location: LondonPosted: Mon Oct 31, 2011 10:40 am ----
LeeThr wrote:
When was it last serviced? And having 17's deffinatally wont do it any favours.
Yeah I know the alloys aren't helping, but planning on sorting that soon
No change after the service, was last year, but I haven't driven it recently.
#4: Re: Struggles to get to 70mph and beyond Author: JordGJ, Location: Leeds / West MidlandsPosted: Mon Oct 31, 2011 11:19 am ---- come on, having 17s won't stop a 1.4 doing 70mph there will be something wrong with it
#5: Re: Struggles to get to 70mph and beyond Author: ukskater01, Location: sutton surrey/welwyn garden cityPosted: Mon Oct 31, 2011 11:23 am ---- There's definitely something wrong, my 1.1 gets to 70 easily. Best to get a full mechanical check once you have changed your alloys.
Whats your mpg like? As if it's bad then a full service should be the first thing to get done
Hope I've helped
#6: Re: Struggles to get to 70mph and beyond Author: LeeThr, Location: North West WalesPosted: Mon Oct 31, 2011 11:25 am ----
JordGJ wrote:
come on, having 17s won't stop a 1.4 doing 70mph there will be something wrong with it
It wont stop it, but it will slow down the rate of acceleration.
#7: Re: Struggles to get to 70mph and beyond Author: Rob2859, Location: HalifaxPosted: Mon Oct 31, 2011 11:29 am ---- service it, clean the intake and if its no better do a compression test and test the o2 sensors.
#8: Re: Struggles to get to 70mph and beyond Author: macca1411, Location: Westhoughton, LancashirePosted: Mon Oct 31, 2011 11:29 am ---- The wheels won't make much difference to the speed. The aspect ratio gives between 1 and 9 mph difference, depending on tyre size.
You should easily reach 70mph. My 1.4 wants to keep going past 70mph and gets there quick enough for the engine size.
Give it a good service, and even get any fault codes read. Last edited by macca1411 on Mon Oct 31, 2011 11:36 am; edited 1 time in total
#9: Re: Struggles to get to 70mph and beyond Author: dan_206, Location: Bury St EdmundsPosted: Mon Oct 31, 2011 11:31 am ----
LeeThr wrote:
JordGJ wrote:
come on, having 17s won't stop a 1.4 doing 70mph there will be something wrong with it
It wont stop it, but it will slow down the rate of acceleration.
Beg to differ. They would make hardly any difference. I had 17's on my 1.4 8v and acceleration and top end was exactly the same as with standard wheels.
#10: Re: Struggles to get to 70mph and beyond Author: JordGJ, Location: Leeds / West MidlandsPosted: Mon Oct 31, 2011 12:07 pm ---- i had 17s on my 1.1 and it could EASILY get to and beyond 70, him having 17s wouldn't make as much difference as he is describing
#11: Re: Struggles to get to 70mph and beyond Author: NICKST, Location: Little hulton (worsley)Posted: Mon Oct 31, 2011 1:35 pm ---- Is the throttle cable slack/loose?
#12: Re: Struggles to get to 70mph and beyond Author: JordGJ, Location: Leeds / West MidlandsPosted: Mon Oct 31, 2011 2:14 pm ----
NICKST wrote:
Is the throttle cable slack/loose?
thats not a bad shout
#13: Re: Struggles to get to 70mph and beyond Author: DanPug206, Location: BirminghamPosted: Mon Oct 31, 2011 2:18 pm ----
NICKST wrote:
Is the throttle cable slack/loose?
I adjusted mine and noticed a big difference on mine by doing this!!
#14: Re: Struggles to get to 70mph and beyond Author: greg.mitchell350, Location: Milton KeynesPosted: Mon Oct 31, 2011 2:20 pm ---- Possibilty of a blocked cat?
#15: Re: Struggles to get to 70mph and beyond Author: juanfernandes, Location: LondonPosted: Mon Oct 31, 2011 3:38 pm ----
JordGJ wrote:
come on, having 17s won't stop a 1.4 doing 70mph there will be something wrong with it
That's what I thought, it isn't helping, but it wont be the main cause.
#16: Re: Struggles to get to 70mph and beyond Author: juanfernandes, Location: LondonPosted: Mon Oct 31, 2011 3:40 pm ----
ukskater01 wrote:
There's definitely something wrong, my 1.1 gets to 70 easily. Best to get a full mechanical check once you have changed your alloys.
Whats your mpg like? As if it's bad then a full service should be the first thing to get done
Hope I've helped
Thanks. What does a mechanical check involve?
Have no idea on mpg - never bothered to check.
#17: Re: Struggles to get to 70mph and beyond Author: juanfernandes, Location: LondonPosted: Mon Oct 31, 2011 3:47 pm ----
Rob2859 wrote:
service it, clean the intake and if its no better do a compression test and test the o2 sensors.
Thanks.
Intake? What's a compression test?
#18: Re: Struggles to get to 70mph and beyond Author: juanfernandes, Location: LondonPosted: Mon Oct 31, 2011 3:54 pm ----
macca1411 wrote:
The wheels won't make much difference to the speed. The aspect ratio gives between 1 and 9 mph difference, depending on tyre size.
You should easily reach 70mph. My 1.4 wants to keep going past 70mph and gets there quick enough for the engine size.
Give it a good service, and even get any fault codes read.
Thanks.
Is there a way to know if it has an error code or is it just a case of getting them read to find out if it has errors?
#19: Re: Struggles to get to 70mph and beyond Author: NICKST, Location: Little hulton (worsley)Posted: Mon Oct 31, 2011 4:01 pm ----
NICKST wrote:
Is the throttle cable slack/loose?
If your cable is loose or slack it wont be opening the butterfly valve fully in the throttle body resulting in restricted power.
When it was serviced did they use Ngk plugs if so change them for bosch ones.
Is it in limp mode? (engine management light on)
#20: Re: Struggles to get to 70mph and beyond Author: juanfernandes, Location: LondonPosted: Mon Oct 31, 2011 4:27 pm ----
greg.mitchell350 wrote:
Possibilty of a blocked cat?
How would that happen? And how would I check?
Thanks
#21: Re: Struggles to get to 70mph and beyond Author: juanfernandes, Location: LondonPosted: Mon Oct 31, 2011 4:35 pm ----
NICKST wrote:
NICKST wrote:
Is the throttle cable slack/loose?
If your cable is loose or slack it wont be opening the butterfly valve fully in the throttle body resulting in restricted power.
When it was serviced did they use Ngk plugs if so change them for bosch ones.
Is it in limp mode? (engine management light on)
Thanks for that Nick. I don't know if they were replaced, if they were, then it was before I got the car, but i'll check them.
No not in limp mode.
#22: Re: Struggles to get to 70mph and beyond Author: Lee, Location: EnglandPosted: Mon Oct 31, 2011 4:35 pm ---- Shouldn't need to get beyond 70mph anyway....
....sorry couldn't resist, someone had too lol
#23: Re: Struggles to get to 70mph and beyond Author: juanfernandes, Location: LondonPosted: Mon Oct 31, 2011 4:40 pm ----
Lee wrote:
Shouldn't need to get beyond 70mph anyway....
....sorry couldn't resist, someone had too lol
thanks for that!
#24: Re: Struggles to get to 70mph and beyond Author: marc206, Location: Bourne, LincsPosted: Mon Oct 31, 2011 5:52 pm ---- my old 1.1 with 17s easily got up to 80 (eventually) so its not the alloys
#25: Re: Struggles to get to 70mph and beyond Author: juanfernandes, Location: LondonPosted: Mon Oct 31, 2011 6:11 pm ---- Thanks for all the advice everyone - some easy things I can try.
First I need to get the car back on the road, and then I will get to this issue.
Was reminded of it today, as I was in my friends BMW, on the M25. I haven't been able to drive my car for almost a year
#26: Re: Struggles to get to 70mph and beyond Author: Rob2859, Location: HalifaxPosted: Mon Oct 31, 2011 6:37 pm ---- To start with femove your air intake pipe. Buy some intake cleaner and spray it inside the air intake.direct through the butterfly valve (see number 1) Also make sure the valve opens all the way (you need an assistant or brick if you don't have any friends to press the accelerator to the floor (when engine is off mind) while you make sure the valve opens totally horizontally. Don't just pull the cable as its not the same effect. If it doesn't then pull the cable out a little bit and put the pin (see just above number 10) on the next notch or so on the cable.
#27: Re: Struggles to get to 70mph and beyond Author: juanfernandes, Location: LondonPosted: Mon Oct 31, 2011 6:41 pm ----
Rob2859 wrote:
To start with femove your air intake pipe. Buy some intake cleaner and spray it inside the air intake.direct through the butterfly valve (see number 1) Also make sure the valve opens all the way (you need an assistant or brick if you don't have any friends to press the accelerator to the floor (when engine is off mind) while you make sure the valve opens totally horizontally. Don't just pull the cable as its not the same effect. If it doesn't then pull the cable out a little bit and put the pin (see just above number 10) on the next notch or so on the cable.
#28: Re: Struggles to get to 70mph and beyond Author: Rob2859, Location: HalifaxPosted: Mon Oct 31, 2011 6:50 pm ---- No problem. Don't bother with a compression test if you don't have a tester. As others gave said give it a service as well. There is a how-to guide if you need it.
#29: Re: Struggles to get to 70mph and beyond Author: juanfernandes, Location: LondonPosted: Tue Nov 01, 2011 6:08 am ----
NICKST wrote:
NICKST wrote:
Is the throttle cable slack/loose?
If your cable is loose or slack it wont be opening the butterfly valve fully in the throttle body resulting in restricted power.
When it was serviced did they use Ngk plugs if so change them for bosch ones.
Is it in limp mode? (engine management light on)
Thought I'd get the spark plugs changed while I was at it - which Bosch ones should I get?
ECP.com lists - Bosch Super Plus and Bosch Super 4 - the latter being more expensive.
#30: Re: Struggles to get to 70mph and beyond Author: gazza82, Location: South BucksPosted: Tue Nov 01, 2011 7:06 am ---- I know Super 4's are recommended for 2.0 engine, not sure about smaller units.
Try www.carparts4less.co.uk ... same as ECP (same website apart from colours) but cheaper!! (don't know why!!)
Also intake cleaner is also known as carb cleaner (although there aren't many cars with Carburettors now). Don't use WD40!
#31: Re: Struggles to get to 70mph and beyond Author: juanfernandes, Location: LondonPosted: Tue Nov 01, 2011 7:10 am ----
gazza82 wrote:
I know Super 4's are recommended for 2.0 engine, not sure about smaller units.
Try www.carparts4less.co.uk ... same as ECP (same website apart from colours) but cheaper!! (don't know why!!)
Also intake cleaner is also known as carb cleaner (although there aren't many cars with Carburettors now). Don't use WD40!
Thanks, i'll see what other say and thanks for the link.
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