Discussion
Just drove the car (350i) into work as usual, but this morning, there is a total loss of performance.
Actually, due to driving in traffic, the first thing I noticed was a massive reduction in noise. It sounds like a normal car.
The engin is running smoothe, and I have checked all the plug leads at both ends, but with my head under the bonnet, I noticed a new noise coming from around the injector/airpipe, as if it is having trouble breathing. Its a kind of wheazing sound.
The drop in performance is dramatic. I was having to drive hard to keep up with the traffic in central Manchester. Which I did for about a minute, before easing off and taking things slowly.
Also, I'm getting way more exhaust crackle than normal. Every gear change, even at low speed and low revs.
So, a couple of questions:
1. Do you reckon it's safe for me to drive home/to a garage?
2. What could it be?
TIA
>>> Edited by plewis66 on Wednesday 26th February 08:52
>>> Edited by plewis66 on Wednesday 26th February 08:52
Actually, due to driving in traffic, the first thing I noticed was a massive reduction in noise. It sounds like a normal car.
The engin is running smoothe, and I have checked all the plug leads at both ends, but with my head under the bonnet, I noticed a new noise coming from around the injector/airpipe, as if it is having trouble breathing. Its a kind of wheazing sound.
The drop in performance is dramatic. I was having to drive hard to keep up with the traffic in central Manchester. Which I did for about a minute, before easing off and taking things slowly.
Also, I'm getting way more exhaust crackle than normal. Every gear change, even at low speed and low revs.
So, a couple of questions:
1. Do you reckon it's safe for me to drive home/to a garage?
2. What could it be?
TIA
>>> Edited by plewis66 on Wednesday 26th February 08:52
>>> Edited by plewis66 on Wednesday 26th February 08:52
More information...
With my head under the bonnet, when tweaking the throttle, I get the following noises that I have not previously encountered:
ChuffVroomWheazeRattle
I don't like it. I preferred it how it was before:
ROAR
The chuff seems to come from around the airflow meter, the vroom and the wheaze are kind of similtaneous, and come in after the chuff ends (about 1 second), and the rattle is a plasticky rattling sound that comes in as the revs drop
Any guidance before I get people who charge involved would be gratefully received.
>> Edited by plewis66 on Wednesday 26th February 09:27
With my head under the bonnet, when tweaking the throttle, I get the following noises that I have not previously encountered:
ChuffVroomWheazeRattle
I don't like it. I preferred it how it was before:
ROAR
The chuff seems to come from around the airflow meter, the vroom and the wheaze are kind of similtaneous, and come in after the chuff ends (about 1 second), and the rattle is a plasticky rattling sound that comes in as the revs drop
Any guidance before I get people who charge involved would be gratefully received.
>> Edited by plewis66 on Wednesday 26th February 09:27
Sounds a lot like an air leak after the flow meter, which would make the car run lean, check all your hoses etc after the meter. The best way to find elusive air leaks is by spraying lighter gas around each joint with the engine running, if the engine has a leak it'll pull the 'fuel' in and rev up.
Matt
Matt
I knew I wasn't dreaming.
Coming up a back road this morning, I'm thinking 'Its it being weird again', so, second gear, foot down. The revs are climbing slowly from 2500 to 3000, 3200, the engine sounding wheazy and the exhaust note muffled.
Then, without moving the throttle, WHAM. Kick in the pants, revs flying past 4000, exhaust screaming like crazy.
Voltage, oil pressure, temp are all normal. After that, its suddenly like driving a TVR intraffic again...careful on the throttle, don't twitch that foot! Previously, I swear it was as engaging as driving my Yaris.
Coming up a back road this morning, I'm thinking 'Its it being weird again', so, second gear, foot down. The revs are climbing slowly from 2500 to 3000, 3200, the engine sounding wheazy and the exhaust note muffled.
Then, without moving the throttle, WHAM. Kick in the pants, revs flying past 4000, exhaust screaming like crazy.
Voltage, oil pressure, temp are all normal. After that, its suddenly like driving a TVR intraffic again...careful on the throttle, don't twitch that foot! Previously, I swear it was as engaging as driving my Yaris.
Sounds to me like a problem I had about 6 years ago with my 350i. Occasionally big power loss and sounds like a normal car. Cause was a loose connector for one bank of cylinders. IIRC there was a multi-socket thingy (technical term) sitting under the bonnet close to the wing (next to the battery?). There were two multi-connectors, each with 4 wires, one feeding each bank (I think it was the fuel injectors or something similar). One connector worked loose and did not connect at some times, did at others. When found, simple cure was a tie-wrap round the whole thing to hold the connectors in place.
Good luck!
Good luck!
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