Johno Posted February 24, 2010 Report Share Posted February 24, 2010 Hi, I was driving to work this morning and noticed that my rev limit was reduced to 3,000 rpm which meant that the auto box was unable to change gears properly, so I drove it home in semi-auto mode. Back on the driveway I put it out of gear and put my foot down, the revs initially exceed 3,000 but only for a few seconds. I can hear the engine fighting to go higher but it won’t budge. I found a few threads on here pointing to the MAF so I disconnected it, same problem. Any ideas what it could be? EGR valve? Crankcase breather? Dodgy hose? I will get the codes read asap but may as well check the ‘basics’ while I’m off work. I had the swirl flaps replaced quite a while ago so I'm assuming it's nothing to do with that. Turbo also seemed fine with no unusual noises. Thanks for your help, Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
simonlpearce Posted February 24, 2010 Report Share Posted February 24, 2010 I was going to suggest MAF but other than this it sounds like your car has gone into limp mode. Have you got any lights on the dash? Your best option here is to get it to a local indy or stealership and get it on a diagnostics otherwise it could be a needle in a haystack.. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
momo Posted February 24, 2010 Report Share Posted February 24, 2010 +1 - get it on Diagnostics asap! Could be anything really.. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
suhail97 Posted February 24, 2010 Report Share Posted February 24, 2010 it could be anything to be honest, I remember an old escort I had did this with no explanation. Turned out to be the catalytic convertor was breaking up causing a blockage in the exhaust! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Johno Posted February 24, 2010 Author Report Share Posted February 24, 2010 Thanks guys, I'll get the codes read and we'll see what comes up. There are no lights on the dash - other than the one that keeps bugging me to add screen wash. ...Thinking about it, the first time I noticed this problem was about 3/4 of the way through a 2.5hr drive on Sunday, I tried overtaking something and the revs increased but the speed didn't. I assumed it was ABS kicking in or something but obviously not. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Sam_Burns Posted February 24, 2010 Report Share Posted February 24, 2010 I had this problem about 10 months ago. Turned out to be the air flow meter/lambda sensor. No lights on the dash whatsoever, just would go over the revs but the power wasnt there. +1 on the diagnostics. Check with your local quick fit, they might do a diagnostic for a tenner if you ask them nicely to read the codes. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Rob- Posted February 24, 2010 Report Share Posted February 24, 2010 Is your fuel guage showing the correct reading? If the sensor in the tank is knackered then it wont let the engine rev above 3000rpm as the ECU will think it has no fuel. I have the same symptoms when i run the tank down to empty, cuts off a at 3k. Could also be that your turbo has bitten the dust, does it feel sluggish? Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Johno Posted February 24, 2010 Author Report Share Posted February 24, 2010 Is your fuel guage showing the correct reading? If the sensor in the tank is knackered then it wont let the engine rev above 3000rpm as the ECU will think it has no fuel. I have the same symptoms when i run the tank down to empty, cuts off a at 3k. Could also be that your turbo has bitten the dust, does it feel sluggish? The fuel reading has been fine and when I first discovered this problem I had about half a tank so I don't think it's that. Not sure about the turbo, it never felt sluggish and always seemed to pull fine without any noises. Other than sluggishness is there any other way of knowing if a turbo is on it's way out? Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
zimzimmer46 Posted February 24, 2010 Report Share Posted February 24, 2010 dont sound good m8. Dont want to scare u but ur gearbox might be protecting it self for some reason. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Rob- Posted February 24, 2010 Report Share Posted February 24, 2010 If it pulls ok up to 3k revs then it wont be el turbo. As others have said best to get diagnostic done. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
simonlpearce Posted February 24, 2010 Report Share Posted February 24, 2010 If it were gearbox though you would have lights on the dash surely. Another simple thing to check is split hoses, have a look all around your intake etc and make sure no air is escaping. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
zimzimmer46 Posted February 24, 2010 Report Share Posted February 24, 2010 If it were gearbox though you would have lights on the dash surely. Another simple thing to check is split hoses, have a look all around your intake etc and make sure no air is escaping.its just i read something a while back on fanatics had the same problem and it was something to do with the box. Hope it aint the box tho. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Phantom Mark Posted February 25, 2010 Report Share Posted February 25, 2010 If it were gearbox though you would have lights on the dash surely Yer I reckon so Simon, on the E60 at least you got the COG symbol show up, plus a notice in Idrive apparantly........fingers crossed its nothing too serious matey. Turbos normally let go with a bang followed by smoke of varying amounts, pretty sure you would know if you had lost your turby mate Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Johno Posted February 25, 2010 Author Report Share Posted February 25, 2010 I had a friend (BMW tech) read the codes last night and it looks like something to do with either the fuel pump in the tank, pre-supply pump under the front passenger side, or the fuel filter. He's going to take a proper look at it over the weekend, I'm really hoping it's just the filter but these things are never that simple. Have any of you guys experienced anything similar? I'm a bit lost on why it only revs to 3k, is this limp mode? or does the system require high pressure fuel delivery beyond this point? Cheers guys Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Rob- Posted February 25, 2010 Report Share Posted February 25, 2010 It will cut off at around that point if it thinks its not getting enough fuel (sorry for the non technical lingo lol) as i say sounds like the same symptoms you get if you run the tank empty. Start off with the cheapest to replace (fuel filter), then have the pump in the tank checked/replaced (next most expensive) then have the pre delivery pump checked/replaced (most expensive). Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Phantom Mark Posted February 25, 2010 Report Share Posted February 25, 2010 Has the car been run using a Tuning box by any chance ?? they can exert extra stress on the fuel delivery system, especially the high pressure fuel pump which are a slightly weak part of the chain by default, let alone ramped up with tuning boxes.... Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Johno Posted February 26, 2010 Author Report Share Posted February 26, 2010 There's no tuning box on it as far as I know. Hopefully I'll find out a bit more over the weekend. I'm really hoping that it's down to the filter as it looks pretty shot at, but the symptoms/other posts I've read are all pointing towards the pre-supply fuel pump. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
simonlpearce Posted February 26, 2010 Report Share Posted February 26, 2010 Lets just hope its a simple blockage somewhere and its not big bucks. Must be driving you nuts only having 3k revs, i dont think im ever below that unless sat in traffic.. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Johno Posted March 1, 2010 Author Report Share Posted March 1, 2010 Update: Fitted a new filter but the problem is still there, it does seem to get up to around 4k at times after the filter change but when flooring it the needle pretty much stops dead around 3.5k A new pre-supply fuel pump is on the way, hopefully it will solve the problem! I'll update once it has been fitted. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Johno Posted March 5, 2010 Author Report Share Posted March 5, 2010 Pre-supply pump fitted and all is well, the car now revs to the limit and we're back on track! Hope this helps someone in the future. Thanks for all your input guys. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
simonlpearce Posted March 5, 2010 Report Share Posted March 5, 2010 Sweet glad to hear its all now sorted. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Robin25 Posted March 5, 2010 Report Share Posted March 5, 2010 could be catalytic converter has gone. If it is you might be able to hear a rattling sound when you rev it. Or could be Lambda sensor. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...