mchristyuk
Junior Member
- Messages
- 668
Hi Guys,
I'd welcome some thoughts and suggestions on my current "blip" with my 3200. It is running sweetly, but is down on power. I'll try and list as clearly as possible what has happened, and what I have done since having the car in my ownership. If anybody has any suggestions as to what could be the problem I'm all ears!
1) On purchase I did a full service, oil/filters/plugs.
2) Dodgy throttle pedal pot was causing the car not to go to full throttle. Fixed.
3) Started getting CEL's pointing finger at lambda sensors and knock sensors.
4) Replaced knock sensors.
5) Flushed fuel system with Redex.
6) Battery + Throttle pedal reset.
7) Checked Pierburg valve and cleaned connectors.
Since doing all of this I'm not getting the lambda sensor CEL's anymore. In fact I have no errors at all in the computer.
Things I've noted..
1) I can hear the turbos spooling up.
2) There's no oil in the air intake system anywhere.
3) Not losing any oil or water.
4) Once warmed a little the engine sits a perfectly constant 900rpm at idle.
5) When hot oil pressure is just under 4bar at idle.
Potential pointers..
1) If I've been trundling around town for a while, then the first time I give it "the beans" and wide open throttle I do get a little bit of black smoke, but then no more after that. My previous 3200 was the same in this regard so I'm guessing that it's just some unburnt fuel or something and a characteristic of the engine design.
2) I get quite a loud "deflated whistle" (think R2D2 passing on!!) from the turbo system when I back off the throttle at lower speeds after giving it quite a bit of throttle. When releasing the pedal I here a typical "psst" kind of dump valve sound, but there's this second longer whistle that I never remember my previous 3200 doing.
3) The engine just feels flat between 3k and 5k rpm, when it hits 5k you get a second kick in the back like you would on a variable valve time engine.
My previous 3200 was a pre-OBCD2 year 2000 car (Gen 1?) and my current one is a 2001 OBCD2 (Gen 2?) car which does seem to have subtly different plumbing under the bonnet.
So.. I'm guessing I either have an air leak somewhere.. OR.. the lambda sensors are playing up, but not enough to log an error?
So, to recap, it's running perfectly.. no misfires, smooth, responds well, revs to the redline, but feels flat between 3k and 5k RPM... just doesn't go like a 400bhp Italian car ought to! I did a rough 0-60 test on a dry road in sport mode.. had no ASR flashing and only did it in around 7 seconds. Not very scientific but it ought to be a darn sight better than that!
The fact I can hear the turbos and there's no oil in the intake system, nor is the smoke pouring out anywhere leads me to believe they are alive and well and doing what they should be doing. The whistling and lambda CEL leans me towards a leak or a sensor issue. However I don't have any CEL's currently and the whistling only occurs when lifting off...
So.. over to the experts??!
Cheers
Mark
I'd welcome some thoughts and suggestions on my current "blip" with my 3200. It is running sweetly, but is down on power. I'll try and list as clearly as possible what has happened, and what I have done since having the car in my ownership. If anybody has any suggestions as to what could be the problem I'm all ears!
1) On purchase I did a full service, oil/filters/plugs.
2) Dodgy throttle pedal pot was causing the car not to go to full throttle. Fixed.
3) Started getting CEL's pointing finger at lambda sensors and knock sensors.
4) Replaced knock sensors.
5) Flushed fuel system with Redex.
6) Battery + Throttle pedal reset.
7) Checked Pierburg valve and cleaned connectors.
Since doing all of this I'm not getting the lambda sensor CEL's anymore. In fact I have no errors at all in the computer.
Things I've noted..
1) I can hear the turbos spooling up.
2) There's no oil in the air intake system anywhere.
3) Not losing any oil or water.
4) Once warmed a little the engine sits a perfectly constant 900rpm at idle.
5) When hot oil pressure is just under 4bar at idle.
Potential pointers..
1) If I've been trundling around town for a while, then the first time I give it "the beans" and wide open throttle I do get a little bit of black smoke, but then no more after that. My previous 3200 was the same in this regard so I'm guessing that it's just some unburnt fuel or something and a characteristic of the engine design.
2) I get quite a loud "deflated whistle" (think R2D2 passing on!!) from the turbo system when I back off the throttle at lower speeds after giving it quite a bit of throttle. When releasing the pedal I here a typical "psst" kind of dump valve sound, but there's this second longer whistle that I never remember my previous 3200 doing.
3) The engine just feels flat between 3k and 5k rpm, when it hits 5k you get a second kick in the back like you would on a variable valve time engine.
My previous 3200 was a pre-OBCD2 year 2000 car (Gen 1?) and my current one is a 2001 OBCD2 (Gen 2?) car which does seem to have subtly different plumbing under the bonnet.
So.. I'm guessing I either have an air leak somewhere.. OR.. the lambda sensors are playing up, but not enough to log an error?
So, to recap, it's running perfectly.. no misfires, smooth, responds well, revs to the redline, but feels flat between 3k and 5k RPM... just doesn't go like a 400bhp Italian car ought to! I did a rough 0-60 test on a dry road in sport mode.. had no ASR flashing and only did it in around 7 seconds. Not very scientific but it ought to be a darn sight better than that!
The fact I can hear the turbos and there's no oil in the intake system, nor is the smoke pouring out anywhere leads me to believe they are alive and well and doing what they should be doing. The whistling and lambda CEL leans me towards a leak or a sensor issue. However I don't have any CEL's currently and the whistling only occurs when lifting off...
So.. over to the experts??!
Cheers
Mark