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Car not accelerating

61 replies

Hdkatznahtw125sgh · 03/04/2022 17:14

Hello,

I’m posting as I’m hoping for some foresight into how much my car repair is going to cost. It’s booked In for tomorrow.

It’s a Skoda, only 4 years old / 15k miles.

In the past few weeks it hasn’t been accelerating properly. I’ve had to floor it to accelerate. I’ve not noticed any difference between gears with this issue. But 0-70 mph would be slow. Noted that RPM isn’t increasing (much) when flooring accelerator pedal.

My (usually dramatic) family member said it could be the clutch. Whilst I know this could be true, I read online RPM would increase a lot and still fail to accelerate if the clutch. The car is also only on 15k miles and 4 years old.

If anyone has experienced similar, and could tell me what the issue was and how expensive to fix I’d be very grateful. 2K+ for a new clutch is weighing heavily.
Thanks

OP posts:
Mumteedum · 03/04/2022 17:21

I am no car expert but lived with a petrol head so...I would not assume clutch. Could be a few things but maybe dodgy turbo or sensor needs replacing. No point worrying... you'll find out tomorrow ( hopefully if it shows up in diagnostic).

Often when you loose power, it's your car in limp home mode because there's some fault. If they t was clutch I think you'd feel problem with gears?

SausagePourHomme · 03/04/2022 17:24

Does the engine sound loud? When this happened to mine it was because the exhaust had a big hole in it

Hdkatznahtw125sgh · 03/04/2022 17:25

@Mumteedum

Thanks this is very helpful (for my not knowing anything induced anxiety). I too thought that about the clutch.

OP posts:

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PastMyBestBeforeDate · 03/04/2022 17:25

Yes sounds like it's in limp home mode. Probably a sensor or a software glitch. They'll check the code.

Hdkatznahtw125sgh · 03/04/2022 17:26

@SausagePourHomme not particularly but I also could’ve got used to it so not notice it

OP posts:
ComDummings · 03/04/2022 17:26

Spark plugs maybe

Hdkatznahtw125sgh · 03/04/2022 17:27

@PastMyBestBeforeDate well I hope whatever it is is a quick and not too costly fix

OP posts:
Hdkatznahtw125sgh · 03/04/2022 17:27

Thanks everyone

OP posts:
ComDummings · 03/04/2022 17:27

Or some kind of sensor fault

CoralDaffodil · 03/04/2022 17:29

Sounds like when my clutch needed replacing. It cost nowhere near 2000 though.

IbizaToTheNorfolkBroads · 03/04/2022 17:29

It’s in limp mode. I had a Fabia that did that if the cat was dirty.

PastMyBestBeforeDate · 03/04/2022 17:32

Soda are pretty good about fixing stuff so see if you can get them to pay for it. At 4 years old with low mileage things shouldn't be breaking.

Hdkatznahtw125sgh · 03/04/2022 17:32

Thanks everyone

@CoralDaffodil I just googled it and idk why I had 2 grand in my head, so thanks for reassuring me that even if it is the clutch it’s not going to bankrupt me

OP posts:
alwayswrighty · 03/04/2022 17:33

Is it petrol or diesel? If diesel and you've not blasted it down the motorway recently it could be the dpf and the car going into limp mode. If not it could be many things. Usually a faulty sensor, or a dirty fuel filter, or the throttle position sensor. Could also be a problem with the timing belt. I mean it could be a slipping clutch but anytime its ever happened to me it's been an alternator on the way out, although that's more of a kangarooing or the dpf which has needed a blast or the turbo hose has come off but when that happened the dash lit up like a xmas tree.

PastMyBestBeforeDate · 03/04/2022 17:33

Skoda obviously. Autocorrect is not behaving

Hdkatznahtw125sgh · 03/04/2022 17:34

@PastMyBestBeforeDate

Thanks, does this still apply when I’m it’s second owner and not on finance ?

OP posts:
GreatBigBeautifulTommorow · 03/04/2022 17:34

Any engine management lights on?
I had an issue with going into limp mode occasionally and was due to sensor.

MintJulia · 03/04/2022 17:36

OP is it a diesel or petrol? Mine (a diesel) did exactly that with a gunged up EGR valve. Not expensive to fix thankfully. Smile

SailingandSauvignon · 03/04/2022 17:39

My Fabia did this, and went into limp home mode, with the engine light on - the garage sorted it in no time (I can't remember the part but it cost about £150 to put right)

Hdkatznahtw125sgh · 03/04/2022 17:41

@alwayswrighty

It’s a petrol

OP posts:
Hdkatznahtw125sgh · 03/04/2022 17:41

@alwayswrighty thanks !

OP posts:
BusterGonad · 03/04/2022 17:42

I'm guessing either clutch or drive shaft. I've had both die on me. With the clutch it was a gentle death and the clutch was 'floppy' for a long time, low bite impossible to stall. With the drive shaft it kept losing its power on hills etc and then when it did die it literally lost all its power one morning on a hill, the revs were high but nothing happening. I had to drive it at about 4 miles an hour to a lay by. Car ownership is all fun and games.

gunnersgold · 03/04/2022 17:42

Have you accidentally put thr limiter on ? If I do this my car won't go over 60 and accelerates really slowly !

Hdkatznahtw125sgh · 03/04/2022 17:42

@GreatBigBeautifulTommorow @SailingandSauvignon

No engine lights on, thanks

OP posts:
alwayswrighty · 03/04/2022 17:44

@Hdkatznahtw125sgh it won't be the dpf then because it won't have one.