Greetings!

[Nerfie]

Just a quick hello! and a plea for help :S

My family current has two Toyotas, my parents a RAV4 XT3 pretty much brand new, and myself, a 3 year old Yaris SR 1.3VVT-I. Now theres a problem with the yaris, here's pretty much what I typed up in an email for a friend -

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I was driving back from the Bolton area, down the m6 and I noticed that Acceleration on my 1.3VVT-I has... well... vanished.. suddenly!!! Where as before, traveling at anything, even 60mph... if you put your footdown, you felt a "kick" almost as if a Turbo had just kicked in... now its a case of put footdown and... ill just take my time accelerating...

Not only that, when changing gear, theres hardly ANY Engine breaking where there used to be... you can only feel it very very very subtly, and I swear theres a very quite hissing type subtle grinding type noise when releasing the clutch after changing gear.

According to Toyota, nothing was logged on the Engine Management system, Which they checked, and its going back this monday, no charge, to get it looked at. Thing is, I know how some mechanics and dealers like to rely on what the machines tell them and not what the physical mechanical workings tell them these days. ANyone any idea what this could be, or indeed what I could point out to them?

Theres definately something wrong with the car, even mother has noticed while shes been driving it theres hardly any power there where there used to be. The fact it has suddenly happened as opposed to over time is what makes it worse for me. If the dealer still claims theres nothing wrong what would be my options? Car magazines, another independant toyota dealer? or mechanic type garage places? :S

I do remember our old Vectra having a problem like this, but I can't remember what they did to fix it.

thanks in advance,

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Now unforuntatly, I know nothing about cars, and im worried they will simply just try and ignore the problem? Could it be a hair line fracture somewhere? Could it be something called the clutch plate? lol

im hopeless at this kindda stuff :(

anyway, if anyone can be of any help it would be fully appreciated! :)

Thanks in advance,

Shaun

[Al J]

Well first of all...

Sounds to me like you are doing the right thing by taking it back to Toyota to have it checked out. There are many more petrol heads on here who can offer far better advice than me (not so great on the mechanical myself!) and I'm sure they'll be along soon.

Good Luck

[Chappers]

Welcome..

Do a quick visual under the bonnet make sure that all connecions are made [piping etc]

And seeing as it's going in for free let them deal with it!..

[Nerfie]

Hello!

:)

Prolly should introduce myself, My names Shaun, I live in Burnham on Sea, Somerset, recentally passed my driving test, first time in september 2004.. my first car is the Yaris SR. Clickety Here and Clickety Here!.

Ive been meaning to sign up ever since my parents ditched Vauxhall and went back to Toyota. But then I got the Yaris (was considering a corsa, im soooooo glad I didn't) thought it'd be a good thing to sign up to the boards here. :)

The Yaris in question (pictured) I bought second hand, thru my local Toyota dealer, it was bought as new from them, and it has been serviced and looked after by them all the way (fully documented) and its still got a years extended manufactures warrenty, which I plan to extend for another year :)

Just had its 50k service aswell, they tried purging the injectors (as standard tho or something) as I mentioned this problem to them as it was bing booked in, I think the guy I was talking to tho only stuck on the job sheet "loss of power" and nothing about the engine breaking or acceleration issues.

:\

[Al J]

Hi again. Yeah but you can remind them of the other issues when you take it in. I'm sure they can sort it.

[Demonic Angel]

Listen to the guys - they know best! :D

Welcome to the gang - lovely car you've got there (as you can tell from my sig, I have a penchant for blue cars! lol)

Congrats on recently passing your test too - its a great feeling isnt it!

[alanbradley]

Hi and welcome!

All the coolest people come from Rav & Yaris families

Good luck getting the problems sorted out

A

[Blue84]

Hiya, Wanted to say welcome and that's a lovely SR you've got there..

Cant help with the technical problem tho, sorry

Blue

[cfc1]

Hi and welcome..

Nice car. hope you get the problem sorted.. maybe get the garage to do a compression check.

[seveer unaek]

Righty then... very many welcomes to you! Good choice is an SR!!

Your problem could be many things, as are most problems, so getting it checked at Toyota is your best bet. There are some home remedies you can try....

Check your angine bay, make sure there are no leaks, all the seals are tight, the wires and cables have no splits and make sure all the fuses in the fusebox and inside the car (read your manual for locations) are tight and aren't shaking loose.

You can then re-set your ECU... to do this, make sure your key is out of the ignition, then remove the negative end of the Battery terminal (the one closest to the front of the car) keep it off for about 20secs, then put it back on... your alarm will go off and you'll need to re-set your radio stations. Then try out the car by going for a drive using no heating, no air-con, no sterro and no lights... go for a good hour preferably on motorways. This should warm your engine thouroughly and run it through.

Next thing... i would reccomend buying some Slick 50 fuel system treatment from Halfords for £12.99.... pour the lot in your fuel tank when it's nearly empty and then fill your car up... this cleans all the fuel system and keeps it running smooth.

You could also try an engine treatment which goes directly into the plugs, but it shouldn't need it.

If none of these small remedies work, then there is something else definatley wrong and you got to tell toyota that you want it fixing! Properly! If they say they can't find anything, tell them to look harder... i did when i had a dodgy clutch and i needed a new cover!

Hope you get it all sorted and your motoring well again soon!!

[Nerfie]

Heh just reminded myself I psoted this..

Thanks for your suggestions! I can't say i've tried any other then take it to the dealer and talk to a mechanic... but the resetting ECU idea sounds like a good un although not needed after the little chat with him.. anyway..

Yeah took it down, the guy came out for a little drive.. he gave me a few pointers, got back to dealer, he checked the air filters, spark plugs for me and then used the little cool computer thing they plugged in and showed me how it worked and what it was doing, then turned the car on and showed me it the computer was updating timely and correctly etc and no faults were logged....

It turns out its either some dodgy Fuel I got in a Shell garage whilst up in Bolton... (swtiched to Optimax for 2 tank fulls did make a nice improvement) or I was just going too easy on thing and changing gear earlier then I normally did as I was driving more economically and not so harsh...

so after all that, im pretty certain it was jsut in my mind because now im pushing it harder when I need too (and in the appropriate gears this time for it) the acceration is back...

:hokus-pokus:

anyway.... errm yes.. /shuffles off silently avoiding the pointing and laughing at the newbie driver routine