power loss, stalling, cutting out and a partridge in a pear tree

[FiestaR]

ok but seriously im stumped..

the problem originally was a major loss in power from 4000rpms to the redline and soon after that when started cold the engine would sputter, backfire and sometimes stall when revved cold also when pulling out there is a few second delay before the engine starts going even if my foots in the carpet. the most recent problem has only happened twice. when i start the car itll idle and before its warmed up will just die instantly, this doesnt happen every time though.

i dont know whats going on with it any ideas? i was thinking a fuelling problem, my dad (ase certified master mechanic) thinks it sounds like a fuel pressure problem and yesterday i went down to the ford garage and they think its something to do with the ignition system. any help would be great. ooh allmost forgot its a zetec engine.

EDIT: when i say major power loss i mean MAJOR. i was cruising at 65mph going up a slight incline and went to pass someone, pulled out, floored it, the revs went up and the car slowed down to 60mph. mind you the trannys a cvt which is why that was possible.

[Carcrazy]

Well this is what i think you should do get a pellet gun from wal-mart or target and shoot the partridge.:D

[FiestaR]

only modifications are catback exhaust and modified airbox.

the high end power loss seems like it could be running too lean causing the ecu to retard the cam timing but that wouldnt explain the cold start problems.

ill check the plugs later what should i look for on the plugs?

i put half a tank of 95 ron gas in it and an octane booster. it feels smoother and a little more responsive but its still got nothing above 4000rpms.

[FiestaR]

ive got tools... only thing i honestly need is a damn garage. fuckin weather here sucks 70% of the year.

also i dont go around trying to race everything on the road. if someone in a modded car wants a race ill race them i think ive only revved on someone a couple times the rest was them revving on me.

im trying to figure out what the problem is so i can fix it, if its over my head the local garage can fix it but if i cant figure out what it is or its fuel pressure related ill have to take it to ford who charge an arm and a leg which id like to aviod. shit they charge 33 + vat which is about 17.5% per hour. then theres parts.....

[FiestaR]

nope.... i suck with electronic stuff...

ive got tools for changing parts, tweaking things, etc. no diagnostic equipment tho.

there was a little slack in the throttle cable i noticed yesterday, tightened it up about 10 minutes ago for shits n grins even tho it has nothing to do with the engine problems.

[FiestaR]

i didnt fuck it up. a catback and a lightly modified airbox isnt going to fuck a car up.

i booked it in to the local ford place for tomorrow. theyre thinking along the same lines as i am. they think its fuel/fuel pressure or ignition related.

i mean yea im not an electronics guy but i know a little mainly about how to alter settings on a mappable ecu chip because ive done it a couple times before.

ill post up when i get the car back and find out just what was wrong.

[FiestaR]

turns out it was a combination of things...

the ignition coil was taking a shit, there was a sensor fitted from the factory that didnt do anything and the fact that its a cvt. this made the engine go crazy severely reducing power. thats what the ford garage said anyway... the grand total wasnt as bad as i thought. i had the cambelt and tranny fluid changed, drivers side door handle fixed, new ignition coil, fixed faulty sensor. not bad for 150.00..... oh and i got some new oe spec champion plugs after i got the car back because the old ones had seen better days so make that 160.00.