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Fiesta struggling up steep hills

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  • 24-02-2018 8:08pm
    #1
    cheekibreeki
    Registered Users Posts: 16 ✭


    my mom drives an 04 Fiesta and I've been driving it every now and then over the last year as a learner driver. A month or two ago she complained of a loud noise in the car which was getting progressively louder over time and she also complained that the car simply wouldn't do more than 60km/h. She took it to her mechanic thinking it was an engine or clutch issue but he said it was only a bearing making the noise and it was no real problem. the speed issue went away at that point but the sound is still there.

    Since then my Dad, my Mom and I have all driven the car and it's been fine but today going up a local hill the car struggled to push itself up. At full throttle in second gear doing somewhere around 20-35km/h, the engine was only doing about 1100 revs and the night before it accelerated fine up the hill and when I was driving on the flat or downhill it could reach normal speeds easily.

    I really want to figure out what's wrong with it as I'm likely using the car for my driving test which is coming up in three weeks time.
    Tagged:


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    #2
    colm_mcm
    Registered Users Posts: 73,382 ✭✭✭✭colm_mcm


    Get it hooked up to a diagnostics. Possibly bring it to a different mechanic too.


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    #3
    cheekibreeki
    Registered Users Posts: 16 ✭cheekibreeki


    colm_mcm wrote: »
    Get it hooked up to a diagnostics. Possibly bring it to a different mechanic too.

    yeah she's bringing it to another mechanic to get rid of the engine maintenance light for the test anyways, I'll get her to make the mechanic take a proper look at it


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    #4
    colm_mcm
    Registered Users Posts: 73,382 ✭✭✭✭colm_mcm


    Whoa there! The engine maintenance light you’re talking about is more than like an engine management light, ie the light that tells you something is wrong.
    You’ll need to fix the fault for the light to stay off. Resetting it is only a temporary measure, and if the fault remains the light will reappear.


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    #5
    Seth Brundle
    Moderators, Politics Moderators Posts: 38,871 Mod ✭✭✭✭Seth Brundle


    Engine maintenance light or engine warning light?
    If the latter your mechanic should have done a diagnostic test. In this case steer clear of that mechanic again.


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    #6
    clfy39tzve8njq
    Closed Accounts Posts: 597 ✭✭✭clfy39tzve8njq


    OP I'm guessing the noisy bearing you refer to is a wheel bearing. That should be changed it could become a danger down the line.
    It's hard to make out from your description but the lack of power could be a coil pack. I'm assuming here it's a petrol engine


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    #7
    cheekibreeki
    Registered Users Posts: 16 ✭cheekibreeki


    colm_mcm wrote: »
    Whoa there! The engine maintenance light you’re talking about is more than like an engine management light, ie the light that tells you something is wrong.
    You’ll need to fix the fault for the light to stay off. Resetting it is only a temporary measure, and if the fault remains the light will reappear.

    you're right, I meant the engine management light haha. Our local mechanic said it was an error with a sensor but we'll see what the other mechanic has to say


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    #8
    cheekibreeki
    Registered Users Posts: 16 ✭cheekibreeki


    Nathanael Embarrassed Eyeteeth wrote: »
    OP I'm guessing the noisy bearing you refer to is a wheel bearing. That should be changed it could become a danger down the line.
    It's hard to make out from your description but the lack of power could be a coil pack. I'm assuming here it's a petrol engine

    yep, it's a wheel bearing. He told us that I think but said it wasn't urgent.
    and yeah, it's a petrol engine and I was thinking it might've been something to do with the spark plugs because the engine power seems to have decreased recently


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    #9
    colm_mcm
    Registered Users Posts: 73,382 ✭✭✭✭colm_mcm


    cheekibreeki wrote: »
    you're right, I meant the engine management light haha. Our local mechanic said it was an error with a sensor but we'll see what the other mechanic has to say

    Why didn’t he replace the sensor?


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    #10
    SCOOP 64
    Registered Users Posts: 5,208 ✭✭✭SCOOP 64


    Your mechanic don't seem to keen on fixing anything.


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    #11
    colm_mcm
    Registered Users Posts: 73,382 ✭✭✭✭colm_mcm


    SCOOP 64 wrote: »
    Your mechanic don't seem to keen on fixing anything.

    Customer mightn’t be keen on spending the money too to be fair.


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    #12
    blindside88
    Registered Users Posts: 1,968 ✭✭✭blindside88


    If it’s the engine management light the car may have gone into “limp mode” hence the lack of power.


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    #13
    scudzilla
    Registered Users Posts: 11,911 ✭✭✭✭scudzilla


    cheekibreeki wrote: »
    yeah she's bringing it to another mechanic to get rid of the engine maintenance light for the test anyways, I'll get her to make the mechanic take a proper look at it

    Does an engine warning light mean a fail for the test? On my old focus the warning light was on for ages (cluster was going in and out) and it passed twice, just told the guy i'm aware and to ignore it


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    #14
    clfy39tzve8njq
    Closed Accounts Posts: 597 ✭✭✭clfy39tzve8njq


    cheekibreeki wrote:
    yep, it's a wheel bearing. He told us that I think but said it wasn't urgent. and yeah, it's a petrol engine and I was thinking it might've been something to do with the spark plugs because the engine power seems to have decreased recently

    I'd get the bearing done. Is it long since it had a service


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    #15
    cheekibreeki
    Registered Users Posts: 16 ✭cheekibreeki


    scudzilla wrote: »
    Does an engine warning light mean a fail for the test? On my old focus the warning light was on for ages (cluster was going in and out) and it passed twice, just told the guy i'm aware and to ignore it

    Oh really? My current instructor told me that if the engine warning light's on the examiner just won't go in the car with you. Maybe it just varies on the examiner you get on the day
    Nathanael Embarrassed Eyeteeth wrote: »
    I'd get the bearing done. Is it long since it had a service

    I just want the car to work for the test really since it's not mine. If it's not an urgent issue I'll leave it :p


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    #16
    scudzilla
    Registered Users Posts: 11,911 ✭✭✭✭scudzilla


    cheekibreeki wrote: »
    Oh really? My current instructor told me that if the engine warning light's on the examiner just won't go in the car with you. Maybe it just varies on the examiner you get on the day



    I just want the car to work for the test really since it's not mine. If it's not an urgent issue I'll leave it :p

    Apologies, didn't read last line of OP, thought you were on about NCT and not driving test, instructor is probably right then


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    #17
    clfy39tzve8njq
    Closed Accounts Posts: 597 ✭✭✭clfy39tzve8njq


    cheekibreeki wrote:
    I just want the car to work for the test really since it's not mine. If it's not an urgent issue I'll leave it


    I think you might be better off using your instructors car for the test if that's possible


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    #18
    cheekibreeki
    Registered Users Posts: 16 ✭cheekibreeki


    Nathanael Embarrassed Eyeteeth wrote: »
    I think you might be better off using your instructors car for the test if that's possible

    I agree with you, It's just that I have 2 lessons left to familiarise myself with her car if I choose to do it with hers. Chances are it's what I might end up running with in the end


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    #19
    doolox
    Closed Accounts Posts: 2,350 ✭✭✭doolox


    The Fiesta does not sound to be in good enough condition for the test. God alone only knows what the tester will find wrong with the car when it comes to doing the test on the day of the test. A breakdown or dodgy engine power might put you in a fail situation even if you make all the right moves and the instructor might interpret a lack of power during a manouvre as a mistake on your part.

    You will have enough stuff to worry about on the day of the test. Get a driving school car on the day.


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