Car problem Help

[kaniSS-81]

Hey guys...
Ive been noticing my 97 VS ex series2, gradually get slower and slower every week..I dont know why Its doing this but its soo sluggish and not one bit responsive like it once was..

Its been well looked after, tuned, oil changes, etc etc its a nice clean car, I dont even boot it and drive it real nice.

I accelerate and it just has no responce what so ever, and the other night i listened to the engine it was giving off this weird noise like a piece of metal had been smashed up inside and was running all over the place inside the motor, giving this light clunky grinding noise.....

Any ideas on this so I can take it to the right person to fx it?
It has a ecotec 6 on 90,000kms...aswell forgot to mention that..
thanks
:D

[NICO]

How old are your spark plugs, is the light clunky noise there all the time or just at start up.

[kaniSS-81]

The noise happens when I idle, anytime I start the car. This time it was at night...

My spark plugs are all new because I had a big service 2 months ago, all the wiring to the plugs are new aswell :(

[Mongy]

Taking it to a good mechanic should be your first choice, and depending on how noisy the motor is depends on whether you drive it there or take it on a tow truck, whatever happens though it has got to go to somebody who knows what he is doing and knows ecotec engines, otherwise you risk further damage. Your call.

[ssberlina]

My first thought was fuel injectors. Have you had these looked at during the service? Whats the fuel consumption like?

[seldo]

I thought they had a propensity to eat cam-shafts, which would fit your descriptions.

[kaniSS-81]

My first thought was fuel injectors. Have you had these looked at during the service? Whats the fuel consumption like?


My fuel consumption has gone through the roof, I think you are right, I fill up $20 a day and it goes like nothing and I dont even drive it much.. max 10km a day.

My old man even noticed it chews through fuel like nothing...I always fill it up with 98ron bp and Caltex vortex.. should the fuel injection make these grinding noises when something is wrong though ?

[ssberlina]

No not really but the noise could be unrelated to the sluggish performance, it could be idler pulley problem (common on the v6) or a noisy water pump or alternator.

[bobg]

My fuel consumption has gone through the roof, I think you are right, I fill up $20 a day and it goes like nothing and I dont even drive it much.. max 10km a day.
$20 gives you like 20 litres of fuel and to use that much for 10 km of travel I'd say the consumption has more than gone through the roof - a couple of hundred roofs would be nearer.

Crook injectors may increase fuel consumption [not atomising fuel properly] but I cannot see them giving that bad a consumption 'cause the computer is going to try to compensate for the greater amount of unburnt fuel in the exhaust.

Sounds more like something mechanical to me. Seldo may have hit it on the head with the camshaft. As others have said, get it to a good mechanic for diagnosis at least. When you know what is wrong you can then decide who to get to do the repairs.

regards

Bob G

[RichardM]

Also check your catalytic converter.

They DO clog and rob power and increase fuel use.

[Hubble80]

I know of a V6 that spun the camshaft bearings in their housing. This caused all the same systems you describe. Sorry but wasn't a cheap fix...

[kaniSS-81]

Thanks a lot guys, I have made a list of things to ask the Mechanic now and going to book in for a check tommroow.... lets see how things go..


cheers :D