NOT AGAIN...Engine noisy, bumpy ride. No Power!!!

[Ashmyster79]

Second post already and only had my 3.2s FIVE DAYS!!!

I was driving to a Porsche specialist today over in Essex to have the fuel gague issues looked at. I decided as I have no history on the car I will have a full service done £490 and have the gague fixed. I don't know if the car needs a service but piece of mind tells me to get it done.

So roof down off I go for my half hour drive in the sun (yes the sun in Essex it's rare). As I got to the lights all was fine. I put it in 1st and pull away and the car starts to growl and bounce a little I get in to 2nd same again. 3rd, 4th etc. the car has little power although I am cautious to put my foot down and drive at 45-50 mph to the car garage. I no mechanic so don't know what it can be. Anyone had this problem before?

Is it a breathing issues, a spark plug not firing properly or cylinder?? I had a Renault Williams before and I remember the distributor cap was damaged and it kinda felt similar. As did my girlfriends peugeot before I replaced the air filter. I am hoping it is something simple buy any advice would be great

No oil loss or pressure. No visible leaks either. It's a 2002 3.2s

Thanks in advance. Sad face already

[shadrach74]

Check your Battery voltage. Sometimes a dead cell causes weird things to happen with sending units and electrics. Car will start normally under unstressed conditions but it can reek havoc on systems. I had the fuel gauge and traction control fail in my Lexus GS. All caused by a bad battery cell. New battery fixed all ailments.

Not sure about your power issue. Could be MAF related. Without software, you're at the mercy of your mechanic.

[Ashmyster79]

Come to think of it. I had a similar thing with my 350z before I had a blow out so it might be the tyres. It's vibrating on acceleration. I'm hoping its a tyre issue and nothing else. Anyone had this vibrating before and it been a tyre or something else?

I guess I am at the mercy of the garage where I left the car

[Top_Ramen]

Originally Posted by Ashmyster79

Come to think of it. I had a similar thing with my 350z before I had a blow out so it might be the tyres. It's vibrating on acceleration. I'm hoping its a tyre issue and nothing else. Anyone had this vibrating before and it been a tyre or something else?

I guess I am at the mercy of the garage where I left the car

Run your hands along the contact patch of the tires to feel for imperfections or a "waviness". if it anything but round then that's your culprit

[healthservices]

Originally Posted by Ashmyster79

Come to think of it. I had a similar thing with my 350z before I had a blow out so it might be the tyres. It's vibrating on acceleration. I'm hoping its a tyre issue and nothing else. Anyone had this vibrating before and it been a tyre or something else?

I guess I am at the mercy of the garage where I left the car

Word of warning, try not to act totally clueless when dropping off a car at a garage. Garages that prey on uneducated consumers will sense this and will take total advantage of them.

[Ashmyster79]

Originally Posted by all_mota

Run your hands along the contact patch of the tires to feel for imperfections or a "waviness". if it anything but round then that's your culprit

Thanks guys. Come to think of it I don't think it is a tyre issue. When I was putting the roof up stationary at the garage I revved it a little and it rumbled and vibrated then so it can't be the tyres as the car was not rolling.

Acceleration vibration and a lumpy sounding engine like its firing off 3 put of 4 cylinders maybe???

[Ashmyster79]

Originally Posted by healthservices

Word of warning, try not to act totally clueless when dropping off a car at a garage. Garages that prey on uneducated consumers will sense this and will take total advantage of them.

Yes I get this. I'm not totally clueless. I used to get my hands dirty just not on these cars. I don't mind paying if it gets fixed I guess although there is a limit.

I guess the problem is that unless you are driving it then it is hard to diagnose on a forum. Everyone has a different view/angle. We are at the hands of the mechanics unless your fully competent at doing the job yourself

Thanks for the tips though. Appreciated. :-)

[Heiko]

Sounds like a misfire issue... could be a single coil acting up.... any CEL on? Usually if a coil causes misfire the CEL will flash (if the light is still working)...
If you got a code reader see if there's any stored codes for misfire...
H

[Ashmyster79]

Originally Posted by Heiko

Sounds like a misfire issue... could be a single coil acting up.... any CEL on? Usually if a coil causes misfire the CEL will flash (if the light is still working)...
If you got a code reader see if there's any stored codes for misfire...
H

No lights or anything flashed up. I will keep reading on here and go to the garage with my findings and give them some possibles. Engine mount seems a popular theory.

[Heiko]

You said the "car has little power", so if it begins to shake and rattle under load, I would say its a coil... I've seen some take a few minutes of driving before it spits a code. If it was still accepting proper throttle response and power I would say its something else....

[Ashmyster79]

Originally Posted by Heiko

You said the "car has little power", so if it begins to shake and rattle under load, I would say its a coil... I've seen some take a few minutes of driving before it spits a code. If it was still accepting proper throttle response and power I would say its something else....

I have to admit. When I say no power that could be because I was to cautious to give it more throttle so felt like there was nothing there. I just did not want to risk blowing something by putting my foot down harder.

[RandallNeighbour]

It could be a number of things related to emissions, coil packs, spark plugs... best to just let someone diagnose it and know we're all feeling bad for you on day five of ownership!

I dumped so much freakin' money into my car the first two years it was pitiful. Every time I drove it something else broke or start rattling or squeaking or leaking!

It gets better though. After I spent $25,000 more on a $15,000 Boxster it has become a very dependable car. OUCH!

[Ashmyster79]

Originally Posted by RandallNeighbour

It could be a number of things related to emissions, coil packs, spark plugs... best to just let someone diagnose it and know we're all feeling bad for you on day five of ownership!

I dumped so much freakin' money into my car the first two years it was pitiful. Every time I drove it something else broke or start rattling or squeaking or leaking!

It gets better though. After I spent $25,000 more on a $15,000 Boxster it has become a very dependable car. OUCH!

Hi mate. Thank you for the kind words. Let's just say this is boxster number 2 and 5 years later I am having déjà vu. I know all about spending all the money I have on these cars and it being in the garage every other week. Last one was a total engine rebuild. Oil and water mixing in the engine overheating and blowing up left right and centre. This one seems to be going the same way. The only thing in my favour is this one was cheapest so I expect to pay a bit on it. But won't go to your level. That must be one hell of a love affair you have with your car :-)

[RandallNeighbour]

Not a love affair. Just too afraid to dump it and realize my losses!

[shadrach74]

Misfires cause CELs almost immediately. I'm not suggesting an "Italian tune up", but it might be a good idea to triumph over your fears and give it some gas! These cars have very flat torque curves and actually feel slower than they are, even when they're running well. Go drive it for an hour, if you have no CEL, its unlikely you'll hurt anything.

[Tucker2]

Coils are an easy DIY.....

[Ashmyster79]

Thanks everyone. I will wait and see what the mechanic says. Car is in now so should find out next week.

[trimer]

Motor mount issue?

[Ashmyster79]

UPDATE:

Garage just called. The car is miss firing but no error codes are coming up. They said it is probably the coils and spark plugs. They are going to do this and minor service for £800

Not ideal but don't really have much choice although I know doing it myself would have been cheaper. Still need to sort out the fuel gague issue. Hopefully the plugs and service with coils fixes the issue. Common problem I was told

Thoughts?

[san rensho]

Diagnosis makes no sense. If its a misfire of the plugs or coils, you will at least get codes, if not a CEL. I would look first for a vacuum leak or bad fuel pump. Or possibly a bad MAF sensor. All of those problems can result in bad running without throwing codes.