Hey peoples, My zed seems to be pulling recently, a noticeable lack of power. It's a 1990 TT auto, and I'm wondering where is the obvious places to start. I have datascan 1.5, but I'm not sure what I should be looking for? Should I get myself a compression tester and check the compression? I know this symptom could be a number of things, but I want to know where you would start... Cheers, Shane.
check the tech section on how to make a boost leak tester. see if a hose has popped off or is cracked etc. also i was having this problem when my PTU was stuffin up. could also be that.
No error codes but... Took her for a short drive today on the datascan, and gave it a bit of a push on a backroad to see what the numbers might tell me. It had extremely slow uptake on the revs; less a zed and more a 120Y! Definitely laboured to get up to 6000 revs. Saw the temperature go into the mid eighties as I brought it home. Pulled into the garage and it was reading 90degrees and smoke was coming out of the bonnet. Opened the hood and it seemed to be smoking from the entire rear half of the plenum. I checked the radiator for hotspots and the hoses to see if there was any heat difference but couldn't find any. The radiator afterwards seemed to have full coolant. I'm fearing the worst...blown gaskets. If the heads have to come off again, it's the third time I've blown the heads in four years, and the worse thing is, I'm a pretty sedate driver!
Doesn't sound like you have a cooling problem. Was it oil leaks from exhaust cam covers causing the smoke? You'll need to do more comprehensive testing, compression, boost leak, etc to find the cause of low power. No error codes?
no error codes. yeah, I got detonation sensor circuit error-code. Now this would mean I'm in permanent safety boost from what I recall reading, but should have no bearing on smoke issuing from my engine, and I'm sure is not causing the retarded acceleration! I'll look to check the wiring/bypass it later on. I've had a boost leak before, and the car ran pretty roughly, where as this time it idles and runs smoothly enough, just struggles to gain revs quickly. Does this really sound like a boost issue? The smoke could have been coming from the cam covers, what would that indicate? <he asks, dreading the answer>
Fix the code 34 and see how she goes then Check air filter is clean too! Cam covers leaking oil requires a plenum pull to fix. Not a major job in itself but other work can be carried out at same time: cooling hose bypass, EGR removal, injectors cleaned etc.
plenum pull... Thanks for the advice gentlemen, you can always count on this forum. I'll try and fix the code 34 this weekend, and check the air filter. I must admit, I'm pretty new to mechanics and a plenum pull makes me nervous...it'll easily be the biggest thing I've done under a bonnet! I'll do a fair bit of reading & preparation before I start, and if it is necessaary I'll give it a chip the first week of the new year. So lets say I get the plenum off...I'm not sure what do i need to do to fix the cam covers/find the leak; are we talking a gasket has gone there?
First thing is to actually source the oil leaks. Put your hand down the back of inlet & exhaust cam covers (adj. firewall) and feel for oil... use a torch and look around etc. Inlet CC's leak at the VVT solenoid and new gaskets are a good idea although sealant is req'd around the solenoid itself. Exhaust CC's leak at the rear half-moon seal and use sealant only. Upper plenum gasket, PCV & IACV hose kits from Coz, fuel, vacuum and water hose (local supply) are required. Refer Tech articles. Suggest you ask for assistance with the plenum pull... host a tech day and put on a bbq perhaps?
