Feels like 1st gear all the time?

Fittle

My car (02 opel) has had a thorough service just over the summer - passed nct etc. Just over the past two weeks however, no matter what gear I'm in, I feel like I'm driving in first gear. It's like I have no power and it's taking alot longer for the car to build up speed in 3rd or 4th - it does get faster when I put the foot down, but still even sounds, and feels like I'm driving in 1st.

Any ideas on what the problem could be, before I bring it to my mechanic and he tells me it's gonna cost me a fortune (I always think I'm being ripped off when I go to a garage because I know nothing about cars and I'm female, but that's just me!)..

Thanks.

pixbyjohn

Is your clutch slipping, therefore the engine revs up faster but speed doesn't increase

Fittle

I don't think so, nothing on the car feels any different (the clutch, gears etc). I have noticed that sometimes in first, when I rev to move off, it jumps a bit quicker than it would have previously, but then when I move up in gear, its taking forever to build up some power. Sorry, hope that makes sense.

Matt Simis

An old test for a slipping clutch is to sit in the car with the handbrake on, put it in first and see what happens. It should (assuming your handbrake is good) stall then cut out relatively promptly. If the Rev's increase or it flutters for a while then cuts out, the clutch is gone.

Do that first to rule it out.

kildare.17hmr

It sounds like your clutch is gone

Fittle

Right, I'll do that on the way home from work thanks.

And if the clutch is gone, what's the damage

Fittle

Any of you know the cost of a new clutch for opel corsa???

Anan1

Find out whether it's the clutch first.;)

BlackWizard

And best not do it while driving home. Pull in someplace safe with lots of room on front of the car.

It might not even be the clutch. Could be any type of sensor not supplying the right fuel or air mixture. Maybe it's horribly misfiring too

ronkmonster

I had a problem with my previous car that sounds like yours. I think it was the something wrong with the clutch cable rather than the clutch. Couldn't get up to speed quickly and I think it was maxed out at 50Mph

Fittle

That's exactly what's happening to it rockmonster - happend to me two weeks ago (for the first time) on the M50:eek: Couldn't get up past about 60....

Thanks for info guys - I'll get to the mechanic this week (need car to get to school/work)...

Dori_Rory

Is it a diesel and does the service light come on in the dash. (small car shape with a spanner in it)

If it is your clutch when driving up hill or in 4th gear when you put your foot to the floor does the car rev up high and then the revs come back down when the clutch engages again...?

It also could be your air flow meter and its in "limp" mode.

aliveinside

It could be the ignition coil in your engine
It went in my previous car .a 99 astra
It a small metal coil at the top of the engine common enough problem in opels .
About 80 to 120 for the parts and then labour an hours work at most .

Veloce

aliveinside wrote: »

It could be the ignition coil in your engine
It went in my previous car .a 99 astra
It a small metal coil at the top of the engine common enough problem in opels .
About 80 to 120 for the parts and then labour an hours work at most .

Yep the coils are a common enough issue on some of the opels. So is the fuel pump going manky / failing. Although that doesn't sound like the issue your experiencing.

Ratchet

Matt Simis wrote: »

An old test for a slipping clutch is to sit in the car with the handbrake on, put it in first and see what happens. It should (assuming your handbrake is good) stall then cut out relatively promptly. If the Rev's increase or it flutters for a while then cuts out, the clutch is gone.

Do that first to rule it out.

wouldn't do that on 1st

you drive car in 3rd and then floor it......if revs go up and car is not moving ....clutch is gone

Matt Simis

Ratchet wrote: »

wouldn't do that on 1st

you drive car in 3rd and then floor it......if revs go up and car is not moving ....clutch is gone

Woops, you are correct, a higher gear than first should be used for test, unless the clutch is entirely gone (which presumably would be obvious beforehand).

BostonB

Maybe its not running on all cylinders, there could be a fouled spark plug or something?