Car Shuddering

Ah_Yeah

I recently got my car fully serviced, and since I've got it back, it's been shuddering in low revs/on acceleration. It feels like a misfire, and on a few occasions has almost conked out starting in first or accelerating in 2nd on low revs, which it never did before. On the docket it said spark plug wires needed to be changed, so I got these done, and it's still the same.

Any idea what this could be? It's fine once it goes over 2,500 rpm or so, if I accelerate really hard it's almost not noticeable, and I don't see any difference in fuel consumption.

It's a 03 1.3l Fiesta.

joujoujou

Check spark plugs condition, clean them up or replace.

Anyway - if it happened right after that full service you got, I'd go back to them and insist to fix that for free, as they broke it. :P

Ah_Yeah

joujoujou wrote: »

Check spark plugs condition, clean them up or replace.

Anyway - if it happened right after that full service you got, I'd go back to them and insist to fix that for free, as they broke it. :P

That's what I've been saying! Spark plugs were replaced and everything. They just keep saying it's a coincidence.

joujoujou

Spark plugs wires were mentioned. :P

Ah_Yeah

joujoujou wrote: »

Spark plugs wires were mentioned. :P

Oh I see, sorry the spark plugs were replaced at the time I got the car serviced, then when I got the car back it was shuddering so they said to replace the plug wires, and it's still the same since.

joujoujou

OK, next to check - throttle body and idle control valve.

Any unusual light on dash appears?

Ah_Yeah

joujoujou wrote: »

OK, next to check - throttle body and idle control valve.

Any unusual light on dash appears?

Nothing at the moment. About 6 months ago I got an engine management light on the dash and my previous mechanic (I've moved since) told me it was the catalytic converter after plugging it into an OBD, I was told to replace it for the NCT but otherwise it would be fine as the NCT is in February.

He cleared the error and I haven't had a light on since. The car is very well minded, I've replaced the water pump, engine mounts, fan belt and fan belt rolls this year so far. I don't do much driving in it, mostly city driving to and from work, and the odd 400km round trip Dublin-Limerick.

It's just strange that it happened only when I got the car back. I said it to them and they said it's a total coincidence.

joujoujou

I wouldn't believe them, tbh.

callaway92

Similar problem with same car ourselves. 03 Fiesta Ghia spec. Quite wobbly (especially noticable at passenger side) until you reach about 45/50 km/h. Only started a couple of weeks ago. Wouldn't mind knowing what the issue could be.

Ah_Yeah

joujoujou wrote: »

I wouldn't believe them, tbh.

That's what I'm thinking. I have been up the walls all week in work so haven't had a chance to go down to them but I'm going to drop in today. I give them good business. In fairness I don't think they're trying to fleece me as they didn't charge me for labour when they replaced the wires after the service as they said they should have replaced them at the time, but I'll still keep my wits about me.

So should I ask them to check the above or let them make their checks? Don't want to point out things they think they can get more money out of me for either

joujoujou

Above shows how difficult is to find really good and honest mechanician nowadays. Sad but true.

Fact is: you spent a sum of money for car to be working better than before, got it, and it's worse than before. It is unlikely to be a coincidence, but (obviously) miracle happens.

Hopefully they will be (at least) able to give you advice where to look for solution (what else to be check).

IMO (as mentioned before) throttle body + idle control valve as well as mass airflow sensor to be checked and cleaned.

Ah_Yeah

joujoujou wrote: »

Above shows how difficult is to find really good and honest mechanician nowadays. Sad but true.

Fact is: you spent a sum of money for car to be working better than before, got it, and it's worse than before. It is unlikely to be a coincidence, but (obviously) miracle happens.

Hopefully they will be (at least) able to give you advice where to look for solution (what else to be check).

IMO (as mentioned before) throttle body + idle control valve as well as mass airflow sensor to be checked and cleaned.

Thanks a mill for your help - I know a good bit about cars but when it comes to sensors and misfiring, that's where I fall down!

The fuel consumption is actually quite good so I'd be surprised if it was the cat that was the problem. I'll mention that to them. THanks a mill!

Anjobe

Did they replace the coil pack when they did the plugs and leads?

These seem to be the main source of problems in Ford petrol engines and the advice is usually to change the coil pack, plugs and leads all at the same time when there is a misfire.

stoneill

Air intake from the air filter - make sure all jubilee clips are tight.

Ah_Yeah

Anjobe wrote: »

Did they replace the coil pack when they did the plugs and leads?

These seem to be the main source of problems in Ford petrol engines and the advice is usually to change the coil pack, plugs and leads all at the same time when there is a misfire.

I don't think they did - they would have told me if they did, I'm sure. I'll ask them though!

stoneill wrote: »

Air intake from the air filter - make sure all jubilee clips are tight.

That's a good point and makes sense, as the air filters would have been changed with the service - the fact it's only happened since I got the car back would make sense!

Also, on that note, it hasn't given me any problems today, seems back to normal, and gives an intermittent shudder if the revs are low, but rarely. I drove it for about 30 mins up to 60km/h.

I'll still be bringing it to them, just interesting that the issue isn't consistent?

Ah_Yeah

Sorry mods if I'm dragging up an old thread, just didn't want to start a new one for (kind of) the same issue.

In the last week the revs go from 500 - 2500rpm in idle, so I brought it to the garage and they told me what I suspected - idle control valve. They cleaned it and now it only does it intermittenly. Could drive the car a few times and no issue with rpm, then the next time I drive it the rpm is faulty.

I also noticed that I have coolant leaking, there was smoke coming from the engine and a smell of burning today, but no change in temperature gauge and no coolant light. I let it cool down and the coolant was low so I put some water in. The smell of burning and smoke came from coolant sitting around the reservoir cap though, I could see it bubbling, and could see it spraying from the hose that connects to it. Apologies if I'm not explaining this well!

The car is absolutely falling apart, unfortunately I bought a lemon a year ago but I'll buy from a garage in future.

Any idea if I can just keep driving with this leak and top up the coolant until I get the car home to my own mechanic in Limerick (I'm in Dublin). I'd be driving home in 2 weeks time in the car.

joujoujou

Looks like headgasket's gone.

Ah_Yeah

joujoujou wrote: »

Looks like headgasket's gone.

Cant imagine so, as the car isn't overheating?

The smoke/burning is from coolant residue around the reservoir where it's leaking.

3qsmavrod5twfe

Ah_Yeah wrote: »

Sorry mods if I'm dragging up an old thread, just didn't want to start a new one for (kind of) the same issue.

In the last week the revs go from 500 - 2500rpm in idle, so I brought it to the garage and they told me what I suspected - idle control valve. They cleaned it and now it only does it intermittenly. Could drive the car a few times and no issue with rpm, then the next time I drive it the rpm is faulty.

I also noticed that I have coolant leaking, there was smoke coming from the engine and a smell of burning today, but no change in temperature gauge and no coolant light. I let it cool down and the coolant was low so I put some water in. The smell of burning and smoke came from coolant sitting around the reservoir cap though, I could see it bubbling, and could see it spraying from the hose that connects to it. Apologies if I'm not explaining this well!

The car is absolutely falling apart, unfortunately I bought a lemon a year ago but I'll buy from a garage in future.

Any idea if I can just keep driving with this leak and top up the coolant until I get the car home to my own mechanic in Limerick (I'm in Dublin). I'd be driving home in 2 weeks time in the car.

Bit of advise re coolant/antifreeze leaks, fix it asap (if its only the expansion tank you should be able to get one from a breakers cheapish; I got one for a mkIII Mondeo recently for €25). You'll either be inclined to top it up with water because you'll be in a hurry, and as we're in the throes of winter and the associated cold weather, the diluted down coolant/water mix may freeze, potentially leaving you with a stack of other problems (f'ed pumps, cracked/broken lines, and engine block leaks). Otherwise you'll be toping it up with coolant/anti-freeze and that'll eat into your wallet.