What is wrong with my car?

LeFigaro

Hello!

I have a Mitsubishi Colt 2006 automatic diesel.

Within few days, there is significant loss of power or increase of rolling resistance (not sure which of two). I have to wait more to accelerate and the fuel consumption has increased alot.

Last service was 8 months ago and no DTC has set.

Can you tell me please what can be wrong, as the horrible garage suggested to change fuel filter, but I saw no improvement!

Can you give me please a list of possible causes to tell them to check, because they seem to have zero diagnostic capabilities.

Please help me get my car back!

Thanks!

ohreally

Binding brake/s.

wgl2014

Could be any number of different things. If you are not happy with the garage you have been to take it somewhere else.

gabitzul

All sorts of possible reasons, as already mentioned. I would add to that a gummed up air filter and/or a knackered EGR valve.

Take it to a garage, ideally a local family one which comes recommended, to have the codes read etc. This way you know they are likely to not invent work needed.

Apodemus

First thing I would do is feel the wheels after a journey to see if any are getting hot. If so, then this would suggest binding brakes or a problem with wheel bearings. If not, then i would rev the engine with the car in neutral to see if it is free-revving, if there is a fuel or ignition problem, you might get a flat spot or a delay in revs building up. If it has a turbo, listen for the turbo whistle kicking in as you increase the revs.

I'm guessing you would have noticed anything obvious like a lot of white or black smoke out of the exhaust and have checked that the oil level is ok?

facade

LeFigaro wrote: »

Can you give me please a list of possible causes to tell them to check, because they seem to have zero diagnostic capabilities.

Take it somewhere that does have a clue.

Could be a leaky injector, transmission fault, blocked exhaust, dirty airfilter, sensor, collapsed bearing, brake seized literally anything.

a&akay

If your car has a Mass Airflow (MAF) sensor it could be that playing up. I had one on my diesel Sharan. I used one road regularly with traffic lights on a hill. Pulling away was always easy. Suddenly there was large drop in power. Googling indicated this as a possible cause. As a replacement sensor was cheap, and the unit easily accessible, I DIYed. Solved in 5 minutes.

LeFigaro

ohreally wrote: »

Binding brake/s.

that seems very interesting, but what it means exactly?

The car seems like I have lifted halfway the handbrake, but I haven't. It also seems to slow down faster after I have some speed and I lift the foot from the gas pedal, but not significantly faster to be honest, to make a very distinguishable difference.

What I now noticed is that if I have some speed and I pull the handbrake, it doesn't slow down the car. Is that a faulty handbrake?

agrinnall

If you stop on a hill and take your foot off the brake does the car roll? If not, or more slowly than gravity would cause, it sounds like your handbrake is binding.

LeFigaro

agrinnall wrote: »

If you stop on a hill and take your foot off the brake does the car roll? If not, or more slowly than gravity would cause, it sounds like your handbrake is binding.

yeah I checked that, it does roll but I cannot really estimate if it should roll faster!

Richard53

LeFigaro wrote: »

yeah I checked that, it does roll but I cannot really estimate if it should roll faster!

As said above, go for a short run (3-4 miles) and check the wheel temperatures. Use the back of your hand initially, as a binding brake can get very hot indeed. If the wheels are anything more than slightly warm, then binding brakes are probably the cause.


It's a good idea to check the wheel temps every so often, just so you know what 'normal' feels like.


If the handbrake action doesn't feel right, it could well be that the brake is stuck in the half-on position, and the first part of the handbrake travel is actually not doing anything.