High idle and loss of power.. Suggestions?

[pillapow]

Evening all, My T5 has recently developed a strange fault, It initially idled perfectly at 850rpm and performed superbly.

Few days ago, once warm, it idled at 900rpm and it feels like 150hp rather than 300hp.

Now, its got progressively worse, it is idling (once warm) at 1000rpm and the performance is even less.

Its sluggish, it feels strangled and held back, the exhaust is more boomy and sounds like a Fiat Punto 1.2 with a Big bore, it feels like there is no boost.

I have also noticed, when planting the throttle and getting nowhere fast, upon letting off the throttle for a gear change i can hear what sounds like a slow dump valve letting off pressure, (not a quick "psst", but a long "pssssshhhhhhhhh" this noise has only started happening since this fault occured.

Im stumped because since owning it up until a few days ago it has been excellent.

I've OBD2'd it and its giving me nothing.

Over the last few days, the idle has been progressively increasing and the performance decreasing, have had a look round the web and cant find anything similair, obviously the two symptoms are connected.

Thanks for your help guys. I knew the ME7 was a little troublesome but the comfort of the P2 option outweighed the prospect of a P1 with throttle cable.

[JamesT5]

The 'pssssssh' sound you describe sounds like a boost pipe that has worked its way partially off. Check the I/C to ETM pipe and the connections on the charge pipe at both ends. Failing that it could be a vacuum leak so check your vacuum hoses.

[Jamest5r]

You got a split /loose pipe somewhere

[JamesT5]

Further thought, the high idle could be due to the ECU not getting the right readings or confusing ones because unmetered air is getting in, that's my logic anyway.

[M-R-P]

As above, you have a big air leak mate, check all the big pipes (even the maf to turbo pipe)

[pillapow]

Thanks for the suggestions guys, I have just been and picked up a set of car ramps so i will be able to pull it apart tomorrow, I couldnt do much as my trolley jack split a seal! I'll check all the pipework and connections, boost pipes and intercooler etc. Cheers.

[LeeT5]

Thanks for the suggestions guys, I have just been and picked up a set of car ramps so i will be able to pull it apart tomorrow, I couldnt do much as my trolley jack split a seal! I'll check all the pipework and connections, boost pipes and intercooler etc. Cheers.

You don't need ramps. All of the pipes are accessible from under the bonnet.

What car? S60 T5?

[merc85]

maybe worth checking the exhaust system, could be a Partially blocked cat or silencer.

[pillapow]

You don't need ramps. All of the pipes are accessible from under the bonnet.

What car? S60 T5?

Its an X reg V70.

maybe worth checking the exhaust system, could be a Partially blocked cat or silencer.

The exhaust is 6 months old, it is a custom system with 200 cell cat.

[M-R-P]

Its an X reg V70.

Still, all but one pipe is accessible from above mate.

[pillapow]

Still, all but one pipe is accessible from above mate.

ok fair enough, i'll keep it grounded!

[pillapow]

Couldnt work on the car today due to the weather but i did about 20 mile in it food shopping etc..

Few more surprises, pulled the maf plug when engine was warm, engine struggled for a few seconds and cut out, replaced plug and read codes, gave a p0121, idle was very lumpy after that for a minute or so but when revving, it sounded good, then it idled at 1500rpm for about 2 mins, then settled down, back to 950rpm and sounded boomy and crap when revving, scanned codes, nothing showing. Its all noise and no get up and go at the moment.

I checked the vac line from manifold to brake servo, quite a new pipe and no signs of splitting or wear. Sprayed some WD40 around the turbo and intercooler pipes, no change in engine sound.

Revving is laboured and laggy, not responsive like it used to be.

[JamesT5]

Couldnt work on the car today due to the weather but i did about 20 mile in it food shopping etc..

Few more surprises, pulled the maf plug when engine was warm, engine struggled for a few seconds and cut out, replaced plug and read codes, gave a p0121, idle was very lumpy after that for a minute or so but when revving, it sounded good, then it idled at 1500rpm for about 2 mins, then settled down, back to 950rpm and sounded boomy and crap when revving, scanned codes, nothing showing. Its all noise and no get up and go at the moment.

I checked the vac line from manifold to brake servo, quite a new pipe and no signs of splitting or wear. Sprayed some WD40 around the turbo and intercooler pipes, no change in engine sound.

Revving is laboured and laggy, not responsive like it used to be.

P0121? That's 'Throttle Position Sensor "A" Circuit Range/Performance' which basically translated means "you've got an upset Throttle Body". I got that code last week when my ETM to Intercooler Pipe was loose so I'd check there first for splits, or pipes loose at either end.

Let me know how you get on mate.

[M-R-P]

P0121? That's 'Throttle Position Sensor "A" Circuit Range/Performance' which basically translated means "you've got an upset Throttle Body". I got that code last week when my ETM to Intercooler Pipe was loose so I'd check there first for splits, or pipes loose at either end.

Let me know how you get on mate.

That code also pops up if the maf isn't getting good airflow. I'd start with the inlet pipe from the maf to the turbo, it's probably split or come off the compressor housing.

[pillapow]

That code also pops up if the maf isn't getting good airflow. I'd start with the inlet pipe from the maf to the turbo, it's probably split or come off the compressor housing.

There was no codes before i pulled the maf connector, only after i had pulled it did it give the p0121, after all had settled etc and a ignition cycle, rescan and no code, i assumed the removal of the maf connector caused this code to show up.

Sorry, i also forgot to mention earlier, when the car eventually decides to idle at 1000rpm when warm, if i rev while stationary to say 2000rpm, 3000rpm or even 4000rpm, the engine will come down from the rev as normal but when it gets to 1500rpm, it sort of revs ever so slightly whilst on its way down to the 1000rpm idle.

Sorry if i sound confusing, i can video record what its doing if needed.

Thanks for the help.

[graemewelch]

There was no codes before i pulled the maf connector, only after i had pulled it did it give the p0121, after all had settled etc and a ignition cycle, rescan and no code, i assumed the removal of the maf connector caused this code to show up.

Sorry, i also forgot to mention earlier, when the car eventually decides to idle at 1000rpm when warm, if i rev while stationary to say 2000rpm, 3000rpm or even 4000rpm, the engine will come down from the rev as normal but when it gets to 1500rpm, it sort of revs ever so slightly whilst on its way down to the 1000rpm idle.

Sorry if i sound confusing, i can video record what its doing if needed.

Thanks for the help.

A video would be great help. Wear abouts are you

[graemewelch]

when i read boomy the turbo is the first thing i thought of. if the turbo isnt spinning it wont kill the sound and ill go loud. mind you im probobly miles off what is wrong.

[JamesT5]

MAF sensors don't always show up on a code reader unfortunately mate. Sometimes a session on Vida will tell you more and this will cot about £45 if you don't have the setup at home.

[graemewelch]

if the intercooler is shot youll noticed its bowed and is oily at the bottom. very hard to miss. its a bumper off job to remove the intercooler. my first job would be checking all the accessable parts.

[pillapow]

Evening folks, spent 6 hours on the motor today, removed all boost pipes, removed etm, checked everything, checked all vacuum lines, pretty much gave it a good going over, cleaned and refitted the etm, (could do with a new gasket tbh, will do that asap. Cleaned all mating surfaces etc and put everything back together, tried to remove intercooler, got rad loose etc, fan out and realised its connected to the air con pipes, so didnt go further than that.

3 things i noticed, one was some carbon/oily residue around the outside of the turbo, same with the etm to intercooler joint at the intercooler side, lastly, i think this is the map sensor/ unsure? the one pictured, there is a split in the housing and there was some sort of putty around it, i removed the putty to investigate. I have taken pictures of what i thought could be the culprit for my problems.

Didnt manage to get a video of the idle as i started on it early and didnt want to be working on a hot engine.

After refitting etc, double checking everything was secure and connected, car fired up fine, ran brilliant, gave me full power, did some hard runs, felt like the problem had re-appeared albeit not as bad.. Let the car cool for two hours as i was replacing brakes on a fiesta for a family member, (oh how easy) lol.

Fired it up, drove home, plenty of kick, feels like full power. So again, its got me stumped.

Its definitely running better however its still raising the idle to 1000rpm when the engine is fully warmed up, seems to run better when the engine is cooler.

Any suggestions guys? Thanks in advance. (Here are the pics)