Large lack of power - any advice for a noob !

[MinerWilly]

Hello once again everyone , you lot have been very helpful in the past and now i'm back with another problem
Firstly its an old M reg 1.2 Corsa (1994 I think) , firstly I think I should mention this little thing I have noticed for last fortnight , after driving off and then using brakes for first time at a junction I noticed that when braking there is a kind of rubbing noise from back (possibly backleft) that wasnt there before .
Anyway I dont know if that is related to todays problem but thought I should mention it in case im wrong . Today I had to do about a 50 mile run giving someone a lift . First couple of miles was ok then suddenly there is a real lack of power . Getting about top speed of 55 mph and its a real huge effort to get there (and embarrasing as the limit was 70 ! )
Last year I had a fuel pump fail on me and managed to change it myself successfully . I have in almost 2 years of having car never changed the Air , Fuel or oil filters . I have the Haynes Manual and so checked the Air Filter and it seemed a little dusty but not that bad . Could it be the Spark plugs or brake seizing ?, do you think perhaps its the oil or fuel filters I dont know whether these would cause the issue I have and hope someone please has some suggestions I can work my way through .

[matty101]

imo give it a good service especially if it aint had one in 2 years. fuel filter, oil filter, oil, air filter......the full works and it shud definatly help. if uve ot the hanyes manual use that to keep you right

[LesterPiglet1]

Definately give it a service as you will never find the problem without doing this first.

[MinerWilly]

Thanks for the quick replys Lester and Matty . I am going to take up your advice and change all filters , the oil and sparks . Just been looking on Ebay and found these service kits . Which ones would you recommend or even advise me to stay clear of ! http://motors-parts.shop.ebay.co.uk/i.h ... acat=10404
Also regards that strange noise when braking , a bloke in MotorWorld where I was before suggested I take it to Kwik Fit as he said they will do a Free brake check .

[colly130]

dont forget to test ur battery....i jus changed mine last night big difference get it tested at a local halfords ......

[MinerWilly]

Well guys i am doing as suggested and have now fitted a new Air filter and a new Fuel filter . I got a kit of Ebay for about £25 with all the filters and a new set of spark plugs . Please forgive the daftness of this question but everything is new to me , I got these sparkplugs - Bosch SuperPlus Yttrium the guy on ebay said they where the correct ones when i emailed him before buying , the reason for my slight doubt is that in the Haynes Manual the end of the plugs where the spark is look different ? I havent taken the old ones out yet as it looks like I may need a spark plug remover ?
Do any of you know whether these will fit - heres what it says on side of plugs (+9 FLR8LDCU+ ) Is it just a new type of plug thats been invented since my old Haynes manual perhaps !?
A new development yesterday was that last night I was only just able to get the car to start , I got it home and charged the battery overnight and its starting ok now . I dont know if this is connected to the original problem or possibly just to lack of use over the last 7 days (though i have been on holiday for longer and its never died)

[matty101]

the reason for my slight doubt is that in the Haynes Manual the end of the plugs where the spark is look different ?

spark plugs have come along way since the haynes manual came out

and yes you do need a special socket to remove them. you get them from halfords for a few squid. theres a few sizes so take a spark plug in to make sure u get them

as for the starting problem, mine seems to take a bit longer now, think it cud just b the cold

[MinerWilly]

Thanks Matty for your advice regards getting a spark plug removal tool , but do you know or anybody know if its ok to use the brand and size i mentioned ? In the Haynes manual im supposed to make sure the gap is a certain size but as I mentioned these Bosch ones I have look completely different .

[LesterPiglet1]

Gapping plugs is a thing of the past. Put them in and run it. Even if they are the wrong plugs they won't do any harm.

I found this , check it out.

http://www.carsparkplugs.com/CrossReference.aspx

[MinerWilly]

Thanks Lester , you have been a great help this last week . Im hoping this may be the solution to my very low power and higher fuel consumption problem . Been trawling the internet all week and if none of this service im doing works i may look into this Air Flow Sensor thing as I see a lot of previous posts about this . I am not getting engine management light though .
I noticed my coolant is very brown looking and may try replacing it if anyone thinks this could be a cause ?

[LesterPiglet1]

It would be a good idea to replace it, then you can see if it discolours again quickly which may then help in finding the problem.

[MinerWilly]

Bought the spark plug spanner that fitted the plugs sent to me from ebay , then when went to remove the old ones they where the 14mm size and not the 10mm I was sent , bleedin norah .
Went back shop and exchanged for the 14mm socket remover and will have to return plugs and wait for new ones grrrrrr .
I went to start car again today and for the 2nd time it wont start unless i put my foot on the gas pedal and will turn off if i remove it , now im wondering if this is all related to the fuel pump that I changed last year or is the battery shagged . The battery would not affect the engines poor performance though surely ?
I am charging the battery again right now but think this may be daft as all the lights etc work on the car so its not really dead surely .

[stevehaha]

coil pack! had same problem last year costs £10 from scap and very easy to fit best to fit with new sparks at same time

[MinerWilly]

Just thought I should tell you that I did get this problem fixed in the end , it was caused by a blocked catalytic converter which the mechanic fixed by drilling a hole in it ! Maybe this will come in useful if someone is searching for same problem . Drilling a hole in it will cause it to fail its MOT but its a lot cheaper and the mechanic said to bring it back to them for its MOT and they will not notice it .

[ManicGTI]

Do NOT take it to kwik fit. By and large they are f**k useless.

Find a local non chain place.