Update. Changed the MAF for a brand new Bosch one. No difference! Removed the throttle body and gave it a clean, made the car idle smoothly but still no increase in power above 4000rpm. Is there anything else I can have a look at?

I don't think there is a leak in the exhaust as I cannot hear it blowing anywhere even when I put my hand over the end of the exhaust. Could it be the CAT or Lambda sensor?

where abouts in bristol are you? which Bravo is yours?

maybe its not under performing, happy to meet up sometime and compare it to the Marea

cornholio said:

Is there anything else I can have a look at?

Click to expand...

lambda is next on the list, it can cause very similar problems to a faulty maf.

I live in Midsomer Norton but work in Bristol (Filton). I have a Grigio steel grey HGT with 6 spoke 16" alloys. It's got a knackered front bumper from when I hit a deer, the deer came off worse though. .

cornholio said:

I live in Midsomer Norton but work in Bristol (Filton). I have a Grigio steel grey HGT with 6 spoke 16" alloys. It's got a knackered front bumper from when I hit a deer, the deer came off worse though. .

Click to expand...

i work down in Avonmouth but live in Patchway just round the corner

have to let me know

my e-mail is [email protected] let me know when you finish work in the evenings and i will try and pop around.

Cheers,

Rob

Checked the Lambda sensor by connecting a multimeter to the black wire and checking the voltage output whilst driving. It reads just over 1 volt during acceleration and 0 when coasting. At idle it varies between 0.2 volts and 0.7 volts. Is this normal?

yes thats normal

Update:

Had the timing checked and it was slightly out on the inlet cam. Had new cambelt and aux belts as well as a new tensioner whilst the timing was adjusted. Still made little difference to the power though. Still lacks power through the rev range but runs as sweet as a nut, no mis-firing etc.

Any other ideas?

do a compression test

200 psi on all cylinders, double checked at the garage as well.

Going to try another new bosch MAF (for free) to see if it is another dodgy MAF, doubt it though.

Back pressure check to be carried out next week to see if there is something not quite right in the CAT.

IT'S FIXED!

Yesterday the exhaust broke where the manifold bracket attaches to the downpipe (near the Lambda sensor). The bracket that is welded onto the manifold sheared off. Think it was something to do with hitting a massive pothole at the weekend. Anyway, took the car to a local garage who welded the bracket back onto the end of the manifold. £30 later the car is running like a dream and pulls really well now.

I think there must have been a fault all the time with the manifold meaning that air was leaking into the exhaust just in front of the Lambda sensor, making the lambda sensor send the wrong signal to the ECU.

So £500 and many hours of scratching my head later the car is sorted following a £30 weld!

Thought you said the exhaust system had been tested for pressure?

We put a pressure probe into the Lambda sensor port to check the pressure in case the cat was blocked.

Ahh ok.

Drove it to work this morning and it was the first time i could pull away from other cars from roundabouts.

happy days

i cant wait for that fealing lol mine is still waiting to go to garage lol