I have had my Grande Punto for just over a year now and since I bought it, when accelerating around 3000rpm I will lose a lot of power.

This normally for me is fine as I normally just drive around town and not too far.

I used the motorway at the weekend and it happened again, but this time it was a problem. I had 4 people in my car and when coming to hills, I was being overtaken by lorries!
I couldn't get more than 55/60mph out of the car uphill and dropping gears was giving me no extra power and by the top of the hill I was doing roughly 40mph.

On flat road I can still get 70-80mph but that's with my foot flat to the floor.

The problem goes when I turn my engine off and on again, but I can't do that whilst driving.

Any ideas?

90 bhp I guess ?

If so: the turbo vanes stay in full open position, that results in the turbine not running fast in low speed / mid load condition. Once the engine revs-up / load increase, the exhaust gas pressure and quantity increase, so does the turbine and the air pump speed --> turbo effect.
When ECU requested boost pressure is reached, the vacuum actuator should move the vanes close, limiting the turbo efficiency hence its boost pressure.
If the vanes stay fully opened the max allowed boost presure is reached and the ECU goes in protected (limb) mode to protect the engine, limiting fuel injection, hence the power loss...
This is NOT TRUE if your car is 75 bhp

What is your skill level ? two left hands ? have you got some tooling ? access to underneath the car, etc... ??

Regards, Bernie

If someone helped You fix or understand your issue, hit the thanks button, it's free !!

Just saw your reply on your other post...

So it's a 75 BHP; this one is not equipped with variable geometry turbo but with a wastegated one.
It works a bit differently: when turbo pressure reach the set level a valve opens that divert part of the exhaust gas off the turbo, reducing its efficiency. If this valve (wastegate) does not open, the pressure reach the max allowed and the ECU goes in limb mode...

Regards, Bernie.

If someone helped You fix or understand your issue, hit the thanks button, it's free !!

Thanks for the info!

Would this be something I need to take it to the garage for or something simple I could do myself?

Bernievarian said:

Just saw your reply on your other post...

So it's a 75 BHP; this one is not equipped with variable geometry turbo but with a wastegated one.
It works a bit differently: when turbo pressure reach the set level a valve opens that divert part of the exhaust gas off the turbo, reducing its efficiency. If this valve (wastegate) does not open, the pressure reach the max allowed and the ECU goes in limb mode...

Regards, Bernie.

If someone helped You fix or understand your issue, hit the thanks button, it's free !!

Click to expand...

hmmm, I think if you ask if you can do it yourself, you probably don't :-(

I made a lot of explanations so other forumers could find some info in the future when browsing here.
If you don't feel confortable, bring the car to a mechanic, at least you know now what it MIGHT be so he shouldn't fool you (too much). It's quite rare that a turbo dies but that's bad mechanics first candidate for replacement. It would actually solve you problem since the seized / non working parts are replaced together with the new (or so) turbo so everybody's happy, but your wallet. Some (very) bad guys may also replace a broken hose (the one that opens the wastegate) and propose an "under the table" turbo replacement for half the official price !
Still, you could front lift the car, secure it on candles (safety firts) and inspect that hose and check if you can hand-move the actuator rod...

Regards, Bernie

If someone helped You fix or understand your issue here, hit the thanks button, it's free !!