Can the engine go out of tune?

[B3NNL]

Sorry to ask such a basic question, but I thought I'd ask here before making myself look like a plum by ringing Dom straight away.
Took my Tuscan upto Powers in Jan 2012 and spent the day on his rolling road getting a full tune done. After the tune the car ran absolutely "sweet as a nut" cold starts were effortless and ran perfectly.
Roll on 2 years, nearly 20000 miles, a few trackdays and a 3000 mile european roadtrip up in the mountains and she's gone back to being a bit ropey again. Cold starts need me to hover over the throttle to keep rpm around 800 or she'll cutout until warm. She has quite a defined "flat spot" at around 3200-3400rpm which is getting more noticable.
Question is, will she need another full day on the RR again to get her back to tip top running, or is it just a case of uploading the map created from the first session?
Thanks.

[s6boy]

When was the last big service? That should sort most of these issues.

[clive f]

Benn pop into colins, have the throttles balanced and a check over, should be fine, nice and simple.

[V8 GRF]

clive f said:

Benn pop into colins, have the throttles balanced and a check over, should be fine, nice and simple.

That's it 'Throttles balanced' I was going to post something that but couldn't think of the correct term.

[B3NNL]

Mmm...Fernies did the 12k service in Jan and Collin did the 6K one in August. No noticable improvement from either, hence I wondered if it needed to go back upto Powers. (thats not a dig at Collin BTW, top bloke with great service, I just never really mentioned this to him, otherwise he would have probably had a look for me. As for Fernies...)
Thanks folks.


Or...Does the engine just need more "bling"? Perhaps getting the Spark cover and fuel rail nickel plated will sort it all out! I'll report back in Jan!

[SteveTusc]

Agree with Clive, it's likely to be the throttle bodies that are out of balance.

If you've got a synchrometer give them a check. If you haven't got one you can have mine, season of goodwill and all. I used your guide to do my flip bonnet so I'll repay the favour, I no longer have my car so no use for the meter. Pm me your address and I'll stick it in the post.

[B3NNL]

Wow steve, that's very generous of you, thanks!
Pm sent.

[natben]

Be careful with balancing the throttle bodies,you really have to know what you are doing or like me you can really feck it up and end up getting your car trailered to Powers to get sorted properly.

[m4tti]

natben said:

Be careful with balancing the throttle bodies,you really have to know what you are doing or like me you can really feck it up and end up getting your car trailered to Powers to get sorted properly.

Although yours was a fault with the lamdas causing your issues wasnt it?

[natben]

Yea I think my Lambada had a poor earth as I couldn't balance my throttle bodys and your right the Lambada was probably something to do with it but I still think that it is a fairly precise item and it is not an area that someone unskilled in mechanics like myself should be going near. If I had someone alongside me who had done it a few times It would have been a big help im sure, but I think next time I will leave it to the professionals.

Replacing the throttle body bearings and getting them set up properly with Powers gasket kit has made a big difference to the drivability of the car and was a worthwhile replacement.