Loss of power after changing gear...

[Jack!]

Hey, I've got a 1.2 Clio Expression + and have recently developed a problem where I seem to lose power after changing gear. The gears all feel fine, it changes gear as well as ever, but once I'm in gear and put my foot down there's like a stutter before it gets going. The stutter seems worse the lower the revs are when I'm changing up, for example if I change at 2.5k revs it stutters worse than changing at 4k, in fact when I change at high revs sometimes there's no stutter at all.

I've had a word with dad, he's been driving much longer than me but knows little about my car - he thinks it's more likely to be an engine problem than a transmission problem - mentioned things like possibly a clogged air filter or a problem with a plug? Like I'm not running perfectly on all cylinders..

Any advice would be greatly appreciated, thank you.

 

[Jack!]

If no-one knows; does anyone know any other good places to ask this? I just wanted to get a more certain idea of the cause of the problem before taking it to a garage, because I fear this is one of those awkward problems that might be hard to pin down.

 

[Aydon182]

Could be clutch slipping?

Try small things first that don't cost much like, change the plugs and clean the throttle bodie it could be full of shyte. Change air filter.

if none of that works just take it into your local garage, you don't need a specialist.

failing all that, if you say it only does this low down just drive everywhere like a bwadbwoy changing at 7k revs.

 

[imprezaworks]

When you say stutter mate you mean like a hesitation? You would notice the clutch slipping when you accelerate and the revs go quicker than the car if that makes any sense, where are you based?

 

[Aydon182]

Depends if the clutch is fully slipping the revs would raise and the car would be going nowhere, if the clutch is grabbing then slipping then grabbing and slipping it would cause this sensation, but eventually IF it is this, it will only get worse. But as I allready said try cheaper options first, could be something small like gunk in your throttle bodie, take that off and clean it change the air filter then see how it is.

 

[Jack!]

Aydon, I do plan on doing that as soon as I get a day off work that's also a decent day weather wise.

impreza, I don't think it's clutch slipping, it's not the revs going up but the power coming up later, it's not a delay, it's more like the sort of stutter you get if you try to change up a gear when you're not doing enough revs. I'm based in Bournemouth.

I really hope it's not clutch related, I renew my insurance in March and was looking to sell my 1.2 and get a 182, but if getting the 1.2 sorted ends up costing too much then the 182 will have to be delayed.

To give some background - I know you can't know how I drive the car, and I don't know how it was driven before me, but it's an '02 reg and it's done just a tad under 40,000 miles - I didn't envisage myself needing a new clutch or even repairs at 40k, but I guess you can never be sure.

 

[imprezaworks]

If the clutch is starting to slip it will give that feeling, but like you've said do the little things first if nothing else it's maintenance for the car lol. If in doubt take it to someone you trust. You say not enough revs mate, do you mean like low down and try and pull away, then it stutters? And don't be put off the clios mate I've had two over three years and they have been spot on

 

[Jack!]

I'm definitely not put off the Clio's, I've become set on them, so I wouldn't worry about that - I've had this 1.2 almost 2 years now, and this is the first real problem I've had.

Yeah, I do mean like low down and try and pull away. Like if you accidentally go into a gear too high - you don't stall, you correct your gearing - but you know like if you keep your foot stuck down it will eventually get going, you just get that horrible stutter - like say if I went into 4th doing about 20, it would stutter while it gives it the revs to gain a bit of speed and then once you speed up a bit it's fine again.

Apologies if that's a bit hard to comprehend, it's not the easiest sensation to describe.

 

[imprezaworks]

Mmm when were the plugs last replaced?

 

[Jack!]

My last service was maybe just over a year ago, so the plugs should've been changed then, but I'm not sure if they were - it's the sort of thing I like the idea of doing myself more often in future so I can take oodles of time doing it and making sure everything is clean and perfect.

 

[imprezaworks]

Do that first matey, get the correct ones mind. Not sure which type they are for yours though. Do a search on here

 

[GrahamS]

coil pack or crank sensor me reckons, definitely a sensor, fault code read should let you know

 

[Jack!]

grazo, I didn't know anything about a fault code read - juts had a gander on YouTube, push down the stalk and turn on the ignition; what am I looking for to confirm it's a sensor like you say?

 

[imprezaworks]

Does it hunt on idle, or is it smooth?

 

[Jack!]

It's smooth on idle.

 

[imprezaworks]

Get it looked at by someone mate. If it was me i would replace the plugs, if for nothing else that its been done

 

[thmsmrrtt]

I think I have exactly the same problem. I have a Clio 1.2 2003.
I recently had my service, spark plugs changed with this. I had done quite a rough uphill climb yesterday, which makes me think this is the clutch.

When I change up gears, if feels normal then a sudden and quick loss of power then it kicks in again. I'm also finding I'm having to rev quite hard to get it moving from first gear. It's like the sensation for it's going to start so it judders and finally it kicks in and goes.

Did you ever solve this problem and get to the bottom of the issue? I know this is an old thread.
I'm on 75000 miles, so could be simply the clutch going, is this likely?