I've recently got an 01 Sei sporting mpi. 70k miles, nice quiet engine, has really good low end torque and felt quite nippy but it's lost some power above 4k revs...

The cars in really good nic and had been 'serviced ' this year.

It feels like its holding back with full throttle and now it won't exceed 80mph... it seems to really struggle. Having had Spi Cinqs in the past it just doesn't feel right.

Any suggestions of what to check first?

I took the air cleaner off today and it seems a little better but not right. My standard Cinq was much faster on the motorway.

Is this just the mpi micro ecu setup?

I should add that sometimes power seems to fluctuate when accelerating?

I have checked the air filter and it is clean. Have put some Redex in to see if it helps at all...

Fuel filter I guess is another possible cause?

The fuel filter is inside the tank on those, not meant to be changeable.

It certainly doesn't sound right, given it's MPI you should be able to plug an OBD reader and look at what's going on. What were the emissions like on the most recent MOT, what's it like on fuel. I wonder if the cat has collapsed. Could be the MAP sensor.

Thanks arc. It seems spot on with fuel consumption. I had a Mk2 Punto 8v mpi 18 months ago also.

Will try the obd reader. There are no warning lights on the dash... if you can call the Sei clocks a dash!

The car hasnt got much history and the last mot cert is missing the emissions print out! which seems suspicious. hang on have I bought a broom yellow sporting mellon?

Its like driving a limping cento! Not as bad as running on 3 cylinders though.

purf said:

hang on have I bought a broom yellow sporting mellon?

Click to expand...

Yellow? Check.
Drives like a bag o' cats? Check.
Suspicious/non existent paperwork Check.


Yup, It's a lemon....

I don't think it's a lemon, these engines are getting on a bit and sometimes aren't well cared for.

Poking it with an OBD2 reader is a good start, not all faults are serious enough to throw the MIL on.

Missing emissions readout isn't that unusual either, it depends on the garage as to wether or not you get given one (the one I use doesn't, but others I've used before do).

arc said:

I don't think it's a lemon.

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Purf says it's a Mellon...
Mellons are green....

Ergo, Lemon.

I think that was auto correct. I definitely meant lemon. It's a nice clean car anyway...

I just have to find my obd reader...

Today I was faced with 5 broken cars. Fixed 4... well 2 fully and 2 partly including changing inner and outer track rods on the sei... which hasn't sorted the creaking steering. Omg electric steering? Wouldn't happen to a Cinq!


That's the only other fault the sei has.

Could be the pre cat lambda or the MAP sensor?

I found that unless something is catastrophically wrong the EML would never come on anyway.

If all else fails maybe check crank sensor? Im having a similar problem to you. Mpi sei no previous history but looks clean enough but on a warm day and the engine starts to get hot it struggles to idle properly and has even cut out completly once or twice. At the same time when its trying to idle the oil pressure light flickers but hold the revs up slightly and it goes.


Pheasey

I have another obd2 dongle as last one didnt work (ebay cheapie) will report back - if it works.. Still not a sign of the eml coming on. I suspect spark plugs so will check them this weekend. I have got my x1/9 going again, man is it fast compared to a poorly Sei!

Anyone recommend a good source for a bluetooth obd2 dongle. Last two from ebay don't work... fail to connect to ecu.

purf said:

Last two from ebay don't work... fail to connect to ecu.

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Probably a silly question, but....
...are you sure this is caused by the dongle being faulty, and not a dirty contact in the obd socket? One being bad yes, but two in a row?

Tried them on three cars. Reported 3/4 faults with the dongle. They were very cheap...

Amazon?
http://www.amazon.co.uk/s/?ie=UTF8&...vptwo=&hvqmt=b&hvdev=c&ref=pd_sl_6ncgxmt2f9_b

Cheap ones are very fussy which cars it will read, that's why I spend over £400 on mine!

Ok so iv ordered an Autel (MaxiScan MS309) OBD-II Code Reader. I have tried 4 cheap Bluetooth one's over the last few years and have had no luck... hopefully this one will work... Will report back.

I'm wondering about the exhaust/cat. It seems to make a hissing sound when accelerating gently which can be heard with the Windows open. Accelerating hard is too noisy to hear the hissing. With wot in third gear the power fluctuates, quite subtle like a strong gust of wind slowing the cars progress every second. Wierd description huh

The exhaust sounds ok generally. Too quiet even when it's idling. But it perhaps sounds a bit strained when booting it and its so slow! like its missing about 20hp!

Going to search obstructed cat symptoms.

No fault codes. it says 'inc' - inconclusive for o2 sensor probably as I haven't driven it with the reader plugged in yet.

The lack of power has been down to the back box. It has been making a loud hissing noise and on closer inspection has developed a thin 'slice' shaped hole on the side of it. Its all rusty inside and has obviously been restricting the flow... Its gradually given up over the last week and has gained noticeable power back now I have jabbed its insides with a long screwdriver!

Anyone got a nice Janspeed back box or something second hand?

purf said:

I'm wondering about the exhaust/cat. It seems to make a hissing sound when accelerating gently which can be heard with the Windows open. Accelerating hard is too noisy to hear the hissing.

Click to expand...

I know you've sorted it and sorry i didnt see this thread earlier. As soon as I read the bit above, I thought it's probably a small exhaust leak. Was going to suggest bunging the exhaust and checking it all over.
Sorry purf