[dmc]

V6 GTV, suddenly lost power when accelerating, like I'd hit the rev limiter, but about 4500 rpm. 15 seconds later the engine check light came on, and I've pulled over.

Temperature is fine, fluids are all still on the inside, cam belt is intact from what I can see prying the cover back. It starts fine, and let me rev up to about 5k in neutral, then it got very lumpy and wouldn't rev above 1k. Switched it back off.

Waiting for the AA now. Any thoughts what it might be? I suspect electrics.

 

[EauRouge]

Disconnect MAF?

 

[radicalmachine]

+1!

Happened to me about 4 months ago. Accelerating through 3rd gear and about 4500rpm - felt like i'd hit a brick wall. Lost all power. If I tried to start the engine, it splutters and dies. AA man said it was the immobiliser

Unplugged the MAF, started no problem!

 

[dmc]

What's the easiest way to do that? I can see the MAF itself, and the wires coming out - can't get a hand in the space though, no tools to take the plastic covers off. Can it be disconnected somewhere else, or a fuse pulled out?

Many thanks for the help.

 

[radicalmachine]

Hmm...a simple philips would get the 4 screws on the plastic protection off - you can get a hand down to the right of the intake tubing then. You need to push a clip with your thumb to release it, and then it pulls out - mine was quite stiff to get out.

Do you have a toolkit in the boot?

 

[dmc]

Ok, that didn't help :-(

Also my MAF connector has kind of fallen apart, so I've got five separate wires to plug back in, and no idea which goes where - there's green, red, yellow, white, and White/green striped. Anybody know what the pin order is?

Guess I'm stuck waiting for the tow truck now. Thanks for the help so far!

 

[radicalmachine]

Not your day is it

I'm at work and can't get to my MAF to check at the moment. I'm guessing if the car still won't start with the wires torn out then it could be something else causing problems. Sorry not to be any more help

 

[NineOneSix]

Looking at the pic I'd say your connector has been bodged back together!

 

[Pud237]

I bet the connector and the dodgy connection it will have been causing was your problem all along.

 

[guiliasuper]

I fear you might need a crank sensor , if it is see if the AA man can get you one before dealers shut up shop. Good Luck :thumbs:

 

[dmc]

Pud, if I can't get this sorted, could I get it towed up to Autolusso? What time do you open on Monday (assume you're shut tomorrow)?

 

[Pud237]

We're open 8AM on Monday. You're more than welcome to get the car towed in now or over the weekend and leave the car outside our building. You can either put the key through the front door, or if you prefer you can drop the key round at my house a few miles away and I can take it in Monday morning for you.

If the AA won't tow you in we can always come and pick the car up on Monday.

 

[CrispDust]

if it still wont start/run, then it wasn't the maf (but it looks a bag of nails that connector).
Could be the throttle pot connector under dash, apssenger side footwell. Sounds like what mine did. Easy fix.

 

[euroboy]

Bet you its the MAF - that connector looks shagged and I suspect the previous owner has been playing snippy snippy with scissors at some point!!

At least it shouldnt be too hard to sort, discounting the current inconvenience.

Good luck!

 

[dmc]

Ok, so the AA guy plugged in his diagnostic computer, which reported "P0100 Mass or airflow "A" circuit", and "P0110 Intake air temp sensor 1 circuit". Not surprising as the MAF was disconnected. No other faults.

After consulting the AA mothership he was able to figure out the wiring to connect the MAF back up, cleared the fault codes, and everything seemed fine.

He did notice that when I was revving it hard, the intake pipe was actually imploding due to vacuum - thought it might point to a clogged air filter, and that might have caused the engine warning in the first place if the ECU thought it wasn't getting any air.

Anyway, back on the road I realised it was still down on power, not pulling at all in 6th or 5th. At one point also I glanced in the mirror and saw a huge cloud of smoke dissipating behind me - think it was as I downshifted after having my foot flat in 6th and making no progress, so I guess coughing out unburnt fuel?

Power seemed to get worse and eventually the engine light came back on, and we just limped the last couple of miles to the in-laws. Hoping it'll get back to London in limp-home mode tomorrow, and then it'll be up to Autolusso as soon as I can sort that out.

I'm supposed to be collecting my teledials Monday evening too. Maybe should have saved that money, might have gone toward sorting this out ;-)

 

[dmc]

Hmm, that was an essay!

 

[bradpit999]

report back what it was when you get full garage diagnosis

 

[dmc]

Yeah, I will do. One other thing - took several attempts to start it this morning, starter motor spinning away for a good while before it finally caught. Never done that before, wonder if it's related.

 

[driver33p4]

Might be worth getting a new plug for the MAF and making sure it is wired in properly. Might as well stick a new airfilter in. If it is blocked it cold be pulling oily fumes back towards the MAF.

 

[dmc]

Think the filter's definitely the problem ... the air pipe is collapsing in on itself when you rev the engine, like sucking on a blocked drinking straw. Either the filter or the MAF pipe must be clogged, somehow.

Halfords looks like the only option on a Sunday, anyone know if one of their generic own-brand air filters would work?