I bought my 1.2 fabia three days ago.  It was running perfectly until yesterday,  when about three miles from home it just slowly lost power. If you stop and put it into neutral it will sometimes rev cleanly, sometimes it only revs to 3000rpm. Put it in gear it will rev to 3000 then down to 2000. I did the last mile home in second gear with only 1500rpm. What's gone wrong?  Tia for all your advice. 

16 minutes ago, Bernard1706 said:

What's gone wrong?

The engine is not working properly. Are you getting a Check Engine Light (CEL)? If so, then get the fault codes read to fin out what the issue is.

No engine warning lights.  Started up perfectly this morning.  

See if the emissions warning light (side view of engine outline) comes on when ignition is first turned on. It's not unheard of for people to mask these if they threaten a successful sale...

Eclipse comes on, then goes out when engine is started

 

Is 'eclipse' the same warning light as I described?

Not eclipse, ecl and emissions light

Either keep using it until one of the warning lights is triggered, or set yourself up with VCDS Lite and scan it now. Fault codes sometimes don't trigger a warning light until they've happened a few times.

Is it a 6-valve 54bhp 1.2, or a 12-valve 64bhp? Last serviced when? Last MOT tested when?

Its a 3 cylinder so I imagine it's a 6 valve. Last serviced earlier this year by previous owner. Had a ct done last week. Very strict emissions tests here in France.  

There are 2 different 3-cylinder HTP engines one with single camshaft, 6 valves, narrow head and spark plugs that stick out forwards in front of the head. The other with twin cams 12 valves and central, vertical spark plugs. 

16 minutes ago, Bernard1706 said:

Had a ct done last week. Very strict emissions tests here in France.  

This sounds encouraging.  

Sounds like the timing's slipped or the compression has gone on one cylinder, depending whether it's 12V or 6V.

It's got twin cams. Central spark plugs. 

In that case the timing has slipped.

Another encouraging thing, they're a better engine than the 6-valve in my opinion.

1 minute ago, sepulchrave said:

In that case the timing has slipped.

Scary thought.

"3 miles from home and just suddenly lost power" sounds an unlikely way for the timing chain to have slipped. An engine stall, cold start or start-up after the car has rolled a little in gear with engine off would seem much more likely scenarios for that IMO.

16 minutes ago, Breezy_Pete said:

"3 miles from home and just suddenly lost power" sounds an unlikely way for the timing chain to have slipped. An engine stall, cold start or start-up after the car has rolled a little in gear with engine off would seem much more likely scenarios for that IMO.

 

Downshifts can cause the chain to jump if its loose.

What about a coil pack or spark plug. 

Should give fault code/light.