Car struggling up hills ?

aaabbbb

Have a 09 1.0L Toyota Yaris runs perfect, recently NCT'd with flying colours, no real issues ever except a slight problem with the throttle about a 7/8 months ago that would sporadically prevent the car from starting but that was fixed and has been no trouble since.

However, on a recent family trip to Clare and even more recently at the weekend driving up to Kilmashogue Forest it was noted that the car really struggles up hills and can be near impossible to get it up the hill sometimes. Like you can have your foot to the floor and be in 1st but not have the car move at all (it actually rolled backwards a few times while doing this ). At first I thought it was just my driving as we live beside the sea,relatively flat land so would never do anything more than the usual hill start and wouldn't be used to mountain roads. But my Mum and Uncle also encountered the same difficulties while driving the car so I've ruled this out.

Just wondering is there something possibly wrong with the car that'd be worth getting it looked at ? or is it just the car isn't powerful enough to get up steep hills without severe difficulty ?

kumate_champ07

prob just not powerful enough, the Yaris also has a very slow 0-60

dazdrog

clutch slippage from a nackard clutch? does it rev high while you get no power on a hill?

aaabbbb

dazdrog wrote: »

clutch slippage from a nackard clutch? does it rev high while you get no power on a hill?

Not always but generally yeah , like you need to rev it fairly high to have any hope of getting it to go anywhere

Its fine until you need to de-accelerate around a sharp bend or something and then it's a struggle to get it going again

Its a little scary when you're half way up a mountain in the middle of nowhere and the car starts to roll back down with your foot to the floor on the gas or sitting stuck on a sharp bend

Esel

Smells very like clutch to me.

dazdrog

aaabbbb wrote: »

Not always but generally yeah , like you need to rev it fairly high to have any hope of getting it to go anywhere

Its fine until you need to de-accelerate around a sharp bend or something and then it's a struggle to get it going again

Its a little scary when you're half way up a mountain in the middle of nowhere and the car starts to roll back down with your foot to the floor on the gas or sitting stuck on a sharp bend

sounds like it needs a new clutch and from sound of it i wouldnt drive it anywhere but to a garage and thats if it even makes it tbh as it can fully go at any time and youll be left stranded, defo get it checked out asap

Engine No.9

I've s '01 Zafira and whenever I'd go see my ex and the kids, who at the time, lived in a very mountainous part of Tipperary, this would happen. Just so happened that 2 yrs previous I had the same problem but also out on the straight. My uncle's a mechanic so brought it out to him to put it on the diagnostic. Each time, was the air flow sensor/meter.

While they were above in the mountain, I also had a '97 Passat which coincidentally had the same issue. Didn't even bother to bring it to the uncle this time, just got a New air flow sensor. Sorted the issue immediately every time it happened.

They're expensive enough to get from a main dealer but most motor factors have spurious ones for some models. The one for the Zafira was €145 +VAT from opel but got it at a motor factors for €80 all in. The Passat one was main dealer only and cost me, I think, €137.

aaabbbb

dazdrog wrote: »

sounds like it needs a new clutch and from sound of it i wouldnt drive it anywhere but to a garage and thats if it even makes it tbh as it can fully go at any time and youll be left stranded, defo get it checked out asap

It's odd because it's perfectly fine for everything except really very very steep hills.

No issues city driving or on the motorway at all . Drove to Kilkenny last Monday without incident and the car goes up this hill almost everyday , twice a day with no problem (its actually steeper than the picture lets on) :

Its only when it goes up really steep hills such as those around the Dublin/Wicklow Mts that there's any issue.

Would there not be more issues going up general hills and stuff if it was the clutch ?

aaabbbb

pajopearl wrote: »

I've s '01 Zafira and whenever I'd go see my ex and the kids, who at the time, lived in a very mountainous part of Tipperary, this would happen. Just so happened that 2 yrs previous I had the same problem but also out on the straight. My uncle's a mechanic so brought it out to him to put it on the diagnostic. Each time, was the air flow sensor/meter.

While they were above in the mountain, I also had a '97 Passat which coincidentally had the same issue. Didn't even bother to bring it to the uncle this time, just got a New air flow sensor. Sorted the issue immediately every time it happened.

They're expensive enough to get from a main dealer but most motor factors have spurious ones for some models. The one for the Zafira was €145 +VAT from opel but got it at a motor factors for €80 all in. The Passat one was main dealer only and cost me, I think, €137.

It was only bought last July 2012 and so is still under warranty ,would it be possible that that would be covered under it ?

Engine No.9

aaabbbb wrote: »

It was only bought last July 2012 and so is still under warranty ,would it be possible that that would be covered under it ?

I doubt it mate. Most used cars only come with either a 6/12 month warranty, depending on the age of the vehicle. Even then that usually just covers the engine and gearbox, not the peripherals around the engine etc... Given my history with the issue, I'd be inclined to advise to check if you can get an sir flow sensor from the motor factor and throw it in, usually a very simple job. But then its not my money buying it, just telling you what I would do.

Pete67

If the engine is running at fairly high revs, and you are in first gear with foot completely off the clutch pedal, and the car is not moving forward, or even rolling backwards, then the clutch is worn out, and slipping badly. There will usually be a strong burning smell as well as the clutch plate starts to overheat.

If on the other hand, under the same conditions, the engine stalls or cuts out altogether when you depress the accelerator, then the clutch is probably OK, and the problem is likely to be engine related.

A mechanic will diagnose a slipping clutch very quickly from a short test drive so I would get it looked at as soon as possible before you end up stranded completely.

Wheres My ForkandKnife

There is not enough information here to say what the problem is. When you say that you have to rev it to try and get anywhere do the revs shoot up but the car goes nowhere? If so its probably the clutch.

Just bring it to a mechanic.It should cost nothing to diagnose if its the clutch and it will take him less time to tell you than it will take you to reply on this thread.

As for replacing the air flow meter this is bad advice. It assunes that any car, no matter what make or model, that struggles to accelerate will be fixed by this.

The most expensive way to fix a car is to throw new parts at it blindly until you find the cure. Get it looked at and diagnosed properly and save yourself money and grief in the long run.

keithclancy

Check the Air intake Filter.

Jesus.

aaabbbb wrote: »

However, on a recent family trip to Clare

Was the car packed full of people and luggage? If so it could likely just not have enough power. It is just a 1L Yaris after all.

Supergurrier

Sounds like the cars monstrous torque has eaten the clutch

Aren't the 1.0l's only 3 cylinder these days ?

60 hp 60 lbs torque ?

Sounds about right to me, my Aunties old 1.0L 4 cylinder 2000 struggles up hills too, 4 people and even more, the steeper the hills the worse. Revving the crap out of it isn't good but for rare use it would be ok.

The 00 yaris struggles on motorway hills too and needs 4th gear with the foot to the floor to keep 90-100 kph depending on the hill of course.

Steep hills require a lot of torque to get up without strain.

Really 1.0l cars should be considered for small mileage and town runs that's all they were intended for.

Jesus.

Deleted User wrote: »

The 00 yaris struggles on motorway hills too and needs 4th gear with the foot to the floor to keep 90-100 kph depending on the hill of course.

That's correct mate. We had two of 'em in the family for 7 years altogether. I remember going up a slight gradient on the main road near Cork with four other adults squashed in, and with the foot to the floor, I was overtaken by a scooter!

Really 1.0l cars should be considered for small mileage and town runs that's all they were intended for.

Agreed.

God help us when they put one in the Mondeo :eek:

Tea 1000

Jesus. wrote: »

God help us when they put one in the Mondeo :eek:

Don't be silly, completely different engine.
Some of the fastest bikes in the world are 1 litre too!

SV

Tea 1000 wrote: »

Don't be silly, completely different engine.
Some of the fastest bikes in the world are 1 litre too!

Yeah, but they're 1 litre with 2 wheels and a seat :P

Esel

Tea 1000 wrote: »

Don't be silly, completely different engine.
Some of the fastest bikes in the world are 1 litre too!

BMW S1000RR makes 193 bhp.

aaabbbb

pajopearl wrote: »

I doubt it mate. Most used cars only come with either a 6/12 month warranty, depending on the age of the vehicle. Even then that usually just covers the engine and gearbox, not the peripherals around the engine etc... Given my history with the issue, I'd be inclined to advise to check if you can get an sir flow sensor from the motor factor and throw it in, usually a very simple job. But then its not my money buying it, just telling you what I would do.

Dammit....Wishful thinking :pac:

Pete67 wrote: »

If the engine is running at fairly high revs, and you are in first gear with foot completely off the clutch pedal, and the car is not moving forward, or even rolling backwards, then the clutch is worn out, and slipping badly. There will usually be a strong burning smell as well as the clutch plate starts to overheat.

If on the other hand, under the same conditions, the engine stalls or cuts out altogether when you depress the accelerator, then the clutch is probably OK, and the problem is likely to be engine related.

A mechanic will diagnose a slipping clutch very quickly from a short test drive so I would get it looked at as soon as possible before you end up stranded completely.

Usually you can't completely take your foot off the clutch until you've pressed the accelerator down for a bit and gotten the car going. Otherwise the car seems to just cut out or slip back down the hill.

Jesus. wrote: »

Was the car packed full of people and luggage? If so it could likely just not have enough power. It is just a 1L Yaris after all.

Surprisingly it was grand with the four of us in the car , the dog and all our bags going up and down corkscrew hill down there was fine. Was just when we took the car out to tour around and sightsee we had trouble.

Wheres My ForkandKnife wrote: »

There is not enough information here to say what the problem is. When you say that you have to rev it to try and get anywhere do the revs shoot up but the car goes nowhere? If so its probably the clutch.

Just bring it to a mechanic.It should cost nothing to diagnose if its the clutch and it will take him less time to tell you than it will take you to reply on this thread.

As for replacing the air flow meter this is bad advice. It assumes that any car, no matter what make or model, that struggles to accelerate will be fixed by this.

The most expensive way to fix a car is to throw new parts at it blindly until you find the cure. Get it looked at and diagnosed properly and save yourself money and grief in the long run.

Gonna bring it to the garage on Friday and see what they say. Just didn't want to bring it over there without valid reason. Since I very rarely drive up these kinds of steep hills I wasn't sure if it was just the car not being able for it or if something's wrong.

Worn clutch or not hills are a strain on modern 3 pot engines or any 1.0-1.4 60 odd hp and 60 lbs torque. It's not something I would regularly tackle in a 1.0l especially for my sanity.

Maybe the new VAG 1.0L tsi minimum.

jimgoose

SV wrote: »

Yeah, but they're 1 litre with 2 wheels and a seat :P

And a completely different design brief and state-of-tune, but aside from that yeah, much the same!

bassey

Reverse up the hill, sorted

Pov06

When you say you have to rev the engine, is your foot off the clutch pedal when you're revving it?

If your foot is off the clutch and you have to rev the engine it's the clutch.

If the clutch pedal is pressed in and the engine is revved to build up power then the car is just not powerful enough for the hill.

aaabbbb

Pov06 wrote: »

When you say you have to rev the engine, is your foot off the clutch pedal when you're revving it?

If your foot is off the clutch and you have to rev the engine it's the clutch.

If the clutch pedal is pressed in and the engine is revved to build up power then the car is just not powerful enough for the hill.

Usually have to keep my foot on the clutch for a bit and rev the engine at the same time to build up enough power so the car doesn't cut out. Having said that though when I do eventually take my foot off the clutch the engine still needs to be revved quite hard to keep it moving in anyway forward (though you could stroll faster than how slow it moves)

Pov06

The way you describe it I think it's just underpowered, nothing wrong with the clutch.

NewApproach

1.0l Yaris :rolleyes:

Buy a proper car. I hear BMW 535d's are the business these days. Should have sufficient power to get up a hill...

aaabbbb

NewApproach wrote: »

1.0l Yaris :rolleyes:

Buy a proper car. I hear BMW 535d's are the business these days. Should have sufficient power to get up a hill...

Sure I will , then I'll just get out and push the new car up the hill because I won't be able to afford the petrol for it after paying for the insurance.... That's if they'd even insure me :pac:

Tea 1000

jimgoose wrote: »

And a completely different design brief and state-of-tune, but aside from that yeah, much the same!

Which is exactly my point!