Intermittent power loss that cant be solved!

[Brparish]

Hey guys, sorry for long post but I need some advise. So I've had my RCZ since Aug 2014 and I just can't fix this problem no matter how many mechanics I take it to.

Basically the car will be running fine and I'll stop at a set of lights or a junction for a few seconds. Then when I set off the car will just lose all its power. Acceleration is just not there, even with my foot fully down it takes forever to accelerate. The only way to get it back is to, again come to a standstill for a few seconds and sometimes it'll just come back like nothing ever happened. It might be a few minutes after it was orginally lost or sometimes even a week later! There's no warning lights ot anything to say the car has gone wrong.

Now when it first happened in early 2015 I took it to Peugeot and they said it was the timing chain, so I had a new one put in. But that didn't solve it. They then said it was a pipe on the turbo that needed replacing and to be fair that solved it for about a year. Then the problem came back. I took it to my main trusted local garage, who said it was to do with the air intake so they cleaned it out. That didn't fix it. I took it to a different Peugeot dealership who said it was carbon build up but quoted me £900 to manually clean the valves. Now that seemed the best theory as I do a lot of town driving and i live a 5 min journey from work so that makes perfect sense.

So last month I drove an hour journey to the closest garage that offered walnut shell blasting. This guy specialised in Peugeot/Mini/ DS3 cars so that was perfect. I took it in and explained the situation and he agreed it needed doing. However, once he finished he found out the issue was down to a supposedly faulty fuel pump so that was an extra £400. He was adamant that was the problem so I went with it. Now the car has definitely been performing better, much better acceleration and more smoother. However, 1 month later I stop at a set of lights and guess what happened. The power went again! I've phoned up the garage who did the walnut blast to have another look at it as really not happy at all.

Just wanted some advise off you guys to see what you think the problem could be. Thanks!

 

[ONLY AEK]

i would check the N75 valve

 

[neilgsxr69]

Strange there’s no warning lights :eusa-think: have a search through old posts relating to idle problems I wonder if it’s the in tank fuel pump filter? But I’m guessing someone recently had problems with fuel delivery and that was the issue cleaned out the filter and job sorted.
Good luck and keep us posted as your story could help someone in the future :thumbup:

 

[Plecodoras]

This is of no help but I'm sure there was a post before that mentioned losing power from starting off, just can't find it
That's a real story of woe and a familiar take off wrong diagnosis. Stupid question really but have you had it on the diagnostic or had anyone read for fault codes?
What about coils, since you've had the obvious hpfp replaced ?
True, worth a look at fuel delivery and the filter could be causing some restriction.
Hope you get it sorted soon and it's not too painful.
Cheers M.

Sent from my CLT-L09 using Tapatalk

 

[Brparish]

Cheers guys I'll keep you updated. It's booked in for Wed 20th. As for fault codes I'm not aware of any. Most likely because it's probably working fine when ever it's looked at plus not much to go on because there's never any warning light on the dash. Typical. Plus its started playing up again today on way back from the gym and power hasnt come back yet

 

[Brparish]

Right guys got an update for you.

After taking it back to the garage this morning which took me 1h 30min drive. Pulled in and I was then told that he forgot I was coming. Great start... I basically re explained the problem to him and he hooked up his diognostic tool, heard him do a few revs. He came back with these fault codes,

P1186 Mixing Adaption- Permenant
P2178 Mixture ajustment -Intermittent -Too rich mixture
P0171 Mixture ajustment Intermittent- Too lean mixture

He said he had no idea about this meant as it was contradicting itself. But said when he was revving the car he could hear a rattle and said the timing chain might be out. I said I had that changed in 2015 by Peugeot. His response was if they used older parts it's possible it could stretch again. And said I should talk to Peugeot to see if it was still in warrenty. Got the feeling he was changing the subject and fobbing me off to someone else. I said politely seeing as the fault wasn't to do with the fuel pump if could get part of a refund back. He said if it wasn't faulty he wouldn't have changed it. I asked him if hes sure theres nothing wrong with the fuel fillter like some of you suggested and he said he wasnt sure it had one. Was like huh? Not partically happy atm as he obviously forgot I was coming and was just making excuses and not really focusing on the fault codes he pulled. Basically Ive just had enough now. He gave me the codes and i just left, another hour to get home! Anyone know what the codes could mean?

 

[pete.garratt]

Basically, the codes are telling you it can’t control the mixture properly.

Sometimes it’s too lean, sometimes to rich.

So, anything that has an effect on mixture is possible implicated.

In the good old days, you would simply go back to basics: gap the plugs, set the static timing, check the filters, get a basic setting on the carbs, get it running then tune it.

Sounds like what you need is the modern equivalent.

 

[pete.garratt]

Some simple causes for improper mixture control can be dirty sensors in the air flow path or vacuum leaks somewhere.

You may want to have a look at those first. Split or leaking hoses are not unknown.

 

[French Letter]

Some simple causes for improper mixture control can be dirty sensors in the air flow path or vacuum leaks somewhere.

You may want to have a look at those first. Split or leaking hoses are not unknown.

I'll go with Pete's advice.

After that? A new turbo.

What's your model? How many miles?

 

[okohchris32]

Hi guys
I need help with my RCZ 2013 200THP
I was losing power in my car then I had it remapped a week ago then fast forward today 10/5/2023 I have lost all that power I gained from the remap but before then he check the car and it came up with P0597 and P0171. Any help here please.

 

[Pedro]

P0597 can be triggered by a thermostat control issue
P0171 is fuel /air ratio bank1 weak mixture poss causes could be vacuum leak

 

[Pedro]

Right guys got an update for you.

After taking it back to the garage this morning which took me 1h 30min drive. Pulled in and I was then told that he forgot I was coming. Great start... I basically re explained the problem to him and he hooked up his diognostic tool, heard him do a few revs. He came back with these fault codes,

P1186 Mixing Adaption- Permenant
P2178 Mixture ajustment -Intermittent -Too rich mixture
P0171 Mixture ajustment Intermittent- Too lean mixture

He said he had no idea about this meant as it was contradicting itself. But said when he was revving the car he could hear a rattle and said the timing chain might be out. I said I had that changed in 2015 by Peugeot. His response was if they used older parts it's possible it could stretch again. And said I should talk to Peugeot to see if it was still in warrenty. Got the feeling he was changing the subject and fobbing me off to someone else. I said politely seeing as the fault wasn't to do with the fuel pump if could get part of a refund back. He said if it wasn't faulty he wouldn't have changed it. I asked him if hes sure theres nothing wrong with the fuel fillter like some of you suggested and he said he wasnt sure it had one. Was like huh? Not partically happy atm as he obviously forgot I was coming and was just making excuses and not really focusing on the fault codes he pulled. Basically Ive just had enough now. He gave me the codes and i just left, another hour to get home! Anyone know what the codes could mean?

Vacuum leak causing fuel mixture to be too weak?

I'll go with Pete's advice.

After that? A new turbo.

What's your model? How many miles?

Wastegate actuator sticking ?

 

[Pedro]

Right guys got an update for you.

After taking it back to the garage this morning which took me 1h 30min drive. Pulled in and I was then told that he forgot I was coming. Great start... I basically re explained the problem to him and he hooked up his diognostic tool, heard him do a few revs. He came back with these fault codes,

P1186 Mixing Adaption- Permenant
P2178 Mixture ajustment -Intermittent -Too rich mixture
P0171 Mixture ajustment Intermittent- Too lean mixture

He said he had no idea about this meant as it was contradicting itself. But said when he was revving the car he could hear a rattle and said the timing chain might be out. I said I had that changed in 2015 by Peugeot. His response was if they used older parts it's possible it could stretch again. And said I should talk to Peugeot to see if it was still in warrenty. Got the feeling he was changing the subject and fobbing me off to someone else. I said politely seeing as the fault wasn't to do with the fuel pump if could get part of a refund back. He said if it wasn't faulty he wouldn't have changed it. I asked him if hes sure theres nothing wrong with the fuel fillter like some of you suggested and he said he wasnt sure it had one. Was like huh? Not partically happy atm as he obviously forgot I was coming and was just making excuses and not really focusing on the fault codes he pulled. Basically Ive just had enough now. He gave me the codes and i just left, another hour to get home! Anyone know what the codes could mean?

P1186 FTS Fuel Pump Temp sensor low
P2178 System too rich off Idle Bank 1
P0171 System too lean Bank1
Lambda sensor? (upstream ?)
Vacuum leak?

 

[Pedro]

Right guys got an update for you.

After taking it back to the garage this morning which took me 1h 30min drive. Pulled in and I was then told that he forgot I was coming. Great start... I basically re explained the problem to him and he hooked up his diognostic tool, heard him do a few revs. He came back with these fault codes,

P1186 Mixing Adaption- Permenant
P2178 Mixture ajustment -Intermittent -Too rich mixture
P0171 Mixture ajustment Intermittent- Too lean mixture

He said he had no idea about this meant as it was contradicting itself. But said when he was revving the car he could hear a rattle and said the timing chain might be out. I said I had that changed in 2015 by Peugeot. His response was if they used older parts it's possible it could stretch again. And said I should talk to Peugeot to see if it was still in warrenty. Got the feeling he was changing the subject and fobbing me off to someone else. I said politely seeing as the fault wasn't to do with the fuel pump if could get part of a refund back. He said if it wasn't faulty he wouldn't have changed it. I asked him if hes sure theres nothing wrong with the fuel fillter like some of you suggested and he said he wasnt sure it had one. Was like huh? Not partically happy atm as he obviously forgot I was coming and was just making excuses and not really focusing on the fault codes he pulled. Basically Ive just had enough now. He gave me the codes and i just left, another hour to get home! Anyone know what the codes could mean?

There is no fuel filter on any RCZ sold in Europe so rule that one out

 

[NF7]

There is no fuel filter on any RCZ sold in Europe so rule that one out

The fuel filter is "embedded" in the low pressure fuel pump. There is no outside fuel filter that can be replaced.

I would change the valve cover. This seems like your PCV membrane is stuck sometimes. Or you can change just the PCV membrane (its a 15min job) and the part costs 15€ of Amazon.

 

[Pedro]

The one in the tank is a strainer type but the feed from there is low pressure so unless the tank was filled up with dirty fuel they rarely cause any issues