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Technical Reduced Engine Power

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Technical Reduced Engine Power

Robnw67

Robnw67

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Mar 21, 2012
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Location
Preston, UK
Hi - I have had my 500 for just over 100 miles, so still a bit new to it. Does anyone know if the engine management system reduces the available power from the engine during the first few hundred miles? I know that I am making an unfair comparison with my old car (Ford Focus 2.0 diesel) but my Fiat seems to have no oomph whatsoever. Even compared to an ancient Datsun Cherry and a decrepit 1300 Cortina, my fiat seems woefully underpowered. I have tried changing gears at different times and burying my right foot in the carpet - but that doesn't seem to do very much.

It's a bit galling to have little 1.0 Citroen C1's flying past me on a dual carriage way and me desperately hoping that I can coax this car over 55mph! :eek:

Will things inprove with more miles?:eek:
 
Robnw67 said:
Hi - I have had my 500 for just over 100 miles, so still a bit new to it. Does anyone know if the engine management system reduces the available power from the engine during the first few hundred miles? I know that I am making an unfair comparison with my old car (Ford Focus 2.0 diesel) but my Fiat seems to have no oomph whatsoever. Even compared to an ancient Datsun Cherry and a decrepit 1300 Cortina, my fiat seems woefully underpowered. I have tried changing gears at different times and burying my right foot in the carpet - but that doesn't seem to do very much.

It's a bit galling to have little 1.0 Citroen C1's flying past me on a dual carriage way and me desperately hoping that I can coax this car over 55mph! :eek:

Will things inprove with more miles?:eek:
Click to expand...

What model are you driving?
 
Thanks for the replies. I have a 1.2 Lounge and the fuel consumption seems to be settling between 46 and 48mpg - so kinda what I was expecting.

There aren't any unpleasant signs. There are no failure indications on the warning panel. The engine seems to be running very sweetly, no roughness, no pops or bangs.

It all seems to be fine except that it just doesn't seem to want to pull in any gear.:yuck:
 
Robnw67 said:
Thanks for the replies. I have a 1.2 Lounge and the fuel consumption seems to be settling between 46 and 48mpg - so kinda what I was expecting.

There aren't any unpleasant signs. There are no failure indications on the warning panel. The engine seems to be running very sweetly, no roughness, no pops or bangs.

It all seems to be fine except that it just doesn't seem to want to pull in any gear.:yuck:
Click to expand...

You got the slowest engine in the range. What did you expect? Any car with 69 hp and around 1000kg of weight will not light the world!
 
Robnw67 said:
Thanks for the replies. I have a 1.2 Lounge and the fuel consumption seems to be settling between 46 and 48mpg - so kinda what I was expecting.
Click to expand...

Why not go back & test drive another 1.2 (it doesn't matter which model as all 1.2's use the same 169A4000 engine). You've got enough experience with your own car to be able to recognise straight away if there's a significant difference.

Also the 1.2's performance drops noticeably when the A/C compressor is running & if you need to overtake something quickly or get up a long hill it may be worth switching it off temporarily.
 
Well I've had several 1.1 Fiestas (both mk1, mk2 and mk3) and they were significantly better that what I have now. Hence my surprise.:eek:

I haven't been using the AC plant with this recent cold spell, just cold air from outside.

Maybe I'll try giving it a quick blat down a motorway and see if that loosens the old girl up.;)
 
Tell me about the ac! When i have it on at high piwer the low torque as it is 1.4 barwly moves at low revs!
 
Take it back in and see what the garage says. also time your self from 0-60 and see how long it takes. then compare it to the technical spec. i know it might not be exact but you will know if its 5 or 10 seconds out that there is a problem.

also this might be a completely silly thought but the hand break isn't sticking or on is it? i mean the car free wheels fine?

something simple like that could hamper the acceleration and the speed.

let us know of any news.
 
Yeah, something definitely isn't right by the sounds of it.

The 1.2 isn't slow by any means - yeah, it ain't fast either, but I promise you that it can get up to 30-40mph (giving it sufficient beans!(y)) in no time, even early on whilst the engine is tight. So if it isn't pulling in any gear then that sounds like a problem.

On a separate note, what sort of revs are you doing when you tend to change up?
 
There doesn't seem to be a problem with the handbrake - the car freewheels fine.

I usually change up around 2500 to 3000 revs. Am I doing this too early? It's years since I drove a small petrol engine so my technique may be all wrong.:worship:
 
Robnw67 said:
There doesn't seem to be a problem with the handbrake - the car freewheels fine.

I usually change up around 2500 to 3000 revs. Am I doing this too early? It's years since I drove a small petrol engine so my technique may be all wrong.:worship:
Click to expand...


Change at 8000 revs, and if you are feeling brave take it to 9!
Jokes aside, stop driving your car like a diesel!
 
Robnw67 said:
There doesn't seem to be a problem with the handbrake - the car freewheels fine.

I usually change up around 2500 to 3000 revs. Am I doing this too early? It's years since I drove a small petrol engine so my technique may be all wrong.:worship:
Click to expand...

That's plenty particularly on a 1.2 8V.
 
ahmett said:
Change at 8000 revs, and if you are feeling brave take it to 9!
Jokes aside, stop driving your car like a diesel!
Click to expand...

Is this the point where I chirp in and say "shoulda bought the diesel". A/C has nil effect on performance (IMHO) and its general performance for the size of vehicle is great.
 
alexh365 said:
Is this the point where I chirp in and say "shoulda bought the diesel". A/C has nil effect on performance (IMHO) and its general performance for the size of vehicle is great.
Click to expand...

A/C definitely affects the performance of the petrol engines.
From the 1.2s that I drove they needed about 8,000 miles before they started to 'perform'.
 
agree that is quite low change revs.

i have a 1.7 diesel and i change at around 3000 - 3500

so for a small petrol you do have to rev the ******** of them for them to go anywhwere. especially if its the vauxhall 1.2 engine haha
 
Robnw67 said:
There doesn't seem to be a problem with the handbrake - the car freewheels fine.

I usually change up around 2500 to 3000 revs. Am I doing this too early? It's years since I drove a small petrol engine so my technique may be all wrong.:worship:
Click to expand...

Haha! No you're doing fine with it, don't worry!(y)

Definitely one for the dealer I reckon (unless an extended journey does the trick). It will never be a particularly fast car but the symptoms you describe don't sound right at all. The 1.2 can easily deal with speeds up to 65-70mph, if it doesn't feel like it's pulling properly then it would suggest another issue.
 
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