Thread: Engine light on, low power :(

Coolant overheat will cause low power. With you saying it happens with hard work, this is a probable cause. Lots of things can cause over heating, check simple things first, don't forget to check thermo fan operation.

Interesting development.
Fault resets its-self if car left off for extended period - like an hour.
Car was cold when fault originally appeared.
Gone now, might have to be the old 'if its noisy, just turn up the radio a bit more' routine....lol

Your discussion about the intercooler hoses is confusing. Are you saying it's the problem or that was a side discussion? Either way, cough up the cash and buy silicon hoses and be done with that problem.

Another thought, a sticking EGR can cause a drop in power and will show up as an engine light.

MLD

Sorry bout that, This problem seems to be the same issue, the original fault was a delaminated intercooler hose, starving the turbo (and engine) of air.
immediate limp mode

I just mentioned to my brother this morning about investing in silicone hoses, not sure what that would do for warranty though?

To have a hope of working out what is wrong you really need to get the fault code's read from the ECU. My suggestion is it would be worth investing in one of those Nanocom like units so that you are not held ransom to a useless remote dealer.

When my Intercooler hose blew (twice now) the first symptom was a bit of extra induction noise, it was hissing a little under full throttle, sounded quite cool really.... Then after a while limp mode with Engine light, which reset itself after powering down, but returned under load the next time I drove it. I could drive it gently after powering down, but as soon as I hammered it (and could hear that nice induction sound) it would conk into limp mode. In my case the Intercooler hose had rubbed through on the alternator pulley, not much of a hole, perhaps 2mm... But enough to lose pressure and cause the limp mode.

It's since gone back to have the recall done to it (it's a 2.2) but has come back with an annoying whistling sound which I suspect is a poorly fitted intercooler hose leaking a little. (It's not gone into limp yet - but when it does - rest assured it's going to get a nice chauffeur driven ride back to the dealer on a truck, and I'll ask them to deliver it back to me again...)

Originally Posted by Gerokent

Coolant overheat will cause low power. With you saying it happens with hard work, this is a probable cause. Lots of things can cause over heating, check simple things first, don't forget to check thermo fan operation.

But when it goes into limp mode in overheat conditions it only stays there for a brief moment until it's not overheating any more and then goes back to full power, only to do it again when it gets back into overhear. Also during this the temp gauge flicks into the red. (Overheating is not a sticky limp mode, at least I don't think it is)

As thought - loose turbo/intercooler hoses.
Telltale smear of oil near join/hose clamp, tightened all hose clamps, gone for a blat up some pretty steep hills under load and all seems to be good.
Well fault light not coming on anyway.
Here's hoping
cheers for the ideas fellas