Hello,

 

My automatic SEL 190 Hatchback (regularly serviced just over 145K now) has a peculiar trait - when accelerating up a long incline - i.e. briskly - it starts to lose power - so much so that it struggles to maintain around 55mph and has dropped down to 3rd gear. After it has driven back down the hill things start to behave again and it drives 100%.  Short hills and it's perfectly OK. If I pull over into a lay-by - thinking something is clogged and rev it, it simply will not rev. If I leave it switched off for 5 to 10 minutes it is fine.

 

Note if I very gently accelerate up this long incline the issue does not occur.

 

Any ideas ?

 

Thanks in advance.

 

Gavin

Reads to me like something is getting hot and struggling to cope as a result.

 

Your best bet is to get codes read and maybe record some live data whilst tackling the Glenshane Pass

Edited 10 June, 20233 yr by petrolcan

Not often out that way - the main bugbear is the start of the dual carriageway from the Ballygawley roundabout heading towards the M1.  As for getting codes read - I'm assuming the gadgetry that mechanics plug in ? As for live codes - is there some sort of bluetooth enabled plug / smartphone app ?

28 minutes ago, Gavo68 said:

My automatic SEL 190 Hatchback (regularly serviced just over 145K now) has a peculiar trait - when accelerating up a long incline - i.e. briskly - it starts to lose power

Either it's getting so hot it's going into an engine protection mode, or it's suffering from fuel starvation I think. Either way it want the codes read.

4 minutes ago, Gavo68 said:

Not often out that way - the main bugbear is the start of the dual carriageway from the Ballygawley roundabout heading towards the M1.  As for getting codes read - I'm assuming the gadgetry that mechanics plug in ? As for live codes - is there some sort of bluetooth enabled plug / smartphone app ?

 

VCDS is your best bet, there seems to be a few in NI but you'll have to travel, PM the closest to you VCDS owners. Obviously, the other alternative is to bite the bullet and go visit your mechanic.

Here's the VCDS owners list in VCDS owners

Thanks, I think I might pop it over to my local mechanic. The nearest fella to me is a good hour away.

 

He's quite "switched on" - the car used to light up like a christmas tree occasionally - cruise control off, cornering lights off, ABS and hill control off, auto start off - tracked to a cracked rear hub and the ABS sensor getting very excited as a result.

Perished vacuum hose to turbocharger vane actuator, it collapses on itself under heat load and there will also be a miniscule leak (probably again perished hose) allowing the vacuum to bleed away from the actuator.

 

You will find that cycling the ignition will bring the power back which may get you to the top of the hill or it may loose boost again.

 

If this is happening from a cold start on a winters day then it would be an overboost from the turbo vanes sticking, you hear and feel a sort of burp when this happens as the throttle butterfly closes to reduce the boost pressure.

 

From what you have described it will be the former, very difficult to diagnose, it took me 18 months, very easy to diagnose when you know its a possibility.