HELP! Car engine loses power after 1 minute...

frogman_2

Just picked my VW Golf GTi Mk III up from the garage where it just had a service. When I was on ordinary B roads, it seemed to be fine. However, when I got onto the dual-carriageway and got the car into 4th, it soon started losing power until I came to virtual stand-still. When I started the car again (immediately), it seemed fine until I got it up to speed and then the same thing happened again.

I called the garage and they said it might have been the steam clean and it should be fine in the morning. Is that right? Anyone had this happen to their car after a steam clean?

TIA!

BYALPHAINDIA

It sounds like your battery terminals could be wet/damp?

Or some water has got onto the spark plugs etc.

It should be ok in the morning.

hewhoisnotintheknow

try it in the morning

could also be a sensor that needs cleaning

frogman_2

A car-mad friend thinks that there may be 2 other possibilities;

1. A loose vacuum hose from the engine/carb.
2. Steam in the alarm

In any case, have to leave it till the morning to see if it is still there...and the guy said he was doing me a favour by cleaning the engine for me! D'oh!

epninety

Did they change the fuel filter? If so, make sure it's tight and not leaking.

frogman_2

I'll have to check but they may have changed the fuel filter...will have to look first thing.

Pew_Pew_Pew_Lasers!

I wish people would stop steam cleaning engines. You may as well brush your teeth with a wire brush for all that good it does.

hewhoisnotintheknow

i wont buy an oldish car with a clean engine, i usually think its had problems and been clean up to hide it

frogman_2

It does look very nice...and I think he did to 'add value'...but I'd rather the car just 'worked'!

Anyway, let's see how I get on in the morning. At least it won't be raining where I live...

big_gay_kirk

is it working immediately after stopping, or do you need to wait a while before re starting??

Pew_Pew_Pew_Lasers!

Well the first thing I'd do would be to pull the distributor cap off and check for damp. Then I'd pull the leads out (not all at once, pull one, check, then put it back, then do the next) and check for dampness. Then I'd pull every fuse and relay from the fusebox and let the thing dry.

In short, I'd dry out everything that could possibly be affected by water being blasted where it shouldn't be.