All,

I drive an mechanically unmodified '97 2.0se which has fairly high miles but is well cared for and goes pretty well, My missus's mother has a '98 2.0se with very low miles (30K) and until recently it seemed to goes just about as well as mine.

I took it out yesterday to check the tyre pressures, and seemed kind of sluggish. Had i not just stepped out of mine after a spirited drive i dont think i would have noticed, but it is definatley loosing some horses somewhere.

I gave it an oil and filters today, and it dosent seem to have made any difference. It isnt miss firing at all, and the fuelling seems fine as it getting about 30mpg which is about what i get from mine.

I dont suspect the TPS, as i have experienced a dodgy one on mine, Does anyone have any ideas/suggestions at to what they think it might be?

I consider myself to be somone who knows a fair bit about the greasy bits of a car and i have checked everthing that i can think of......

Cheers
Adam

Sounds like time for an ECU reset and for you to take it for a "spirited" drive.

Over time the ecu learns what sort of driver you are and adjusts to that, so if it's being driven gently then it's esentially in fuel saving mode rather than performance mode. Of course it depends what you want from the car. Seeing as it's not your car and is probably driven more gently then maybe leave it in that mode, or even do the reset and then take it on a fuel saving drive.

Hopefully that's all it is.

Some cars do seem to free up with age.......(?)

If it drives alright and she's happy with it I'd leave it alone.......it would be interesting to compare fuel miles with yours to see if they really do get the same. Good on yer for re-lubing it for her.

Mine is yet to break above 23.8mpg........

Cheers guys,

I leave it alone, as she does drive fairly sedately.

Geesmith: you get 23.8MPG?????? mine has never dropped under 28 even when i thrash the arse off it!!!

I get anything upto 38 on a long run if the tank is full of 99RON petrol. 28-30 in normal day to day town driving.

Yep 23.8 is the best figure I can get. I've had this car a couple of months. It's chipped but I don't think it's mapped correctly. It's great at full throttle but has a slight hesitation on a light throttle which becomes a kangaroo effect at light throttle with the AC on.
I originally had a crank sensor problem and it was demolishing fuel. Got the CPS replaced and got much better consumption.....tested it for a full tank at mostly carefull driving with some fun driving mixed in because a week and 4 days is a long time to completely behave........23.8mpg. An ecological disaster. A rethink is required. I'm hoping to get it on the dyno at Nobles to see if the chip can be improved...if not the other option is to squirt gases into it....suppose the NA chip would then have to go cos the advance would be too far the wrong way. I also suspect a cracked ex manifold won't be helping.