Engine Intermittently Loses Power

[ClubMem]

My 03 Avensis hatchback intermittently loses power and slows down after driving it on a motorway for around 20 to 30 minutes and at a speed of around 60-70 miles an hour. When this happens, pressing on the accelerator makes no difference whatsoever, that is, the engine does not rev up and the car gradually slows down and then all of a sudden it starts accelerating again. The problem has happened (with much less frequency) even when I have driven the car only for a short distance on city roads at a speed of 20-30 miles an hour.

My local Toyota dealership has not been able to detect the cause of this problem. They advised me that their computer does not show anything wrong with the car, and also, their mechanic has driven the car but has not noticed any thing wrong with it. Clearly, being an intermittent problem makes it difficult to detect its cause.

I would be grateful if anyone could hint at what might be wrong with the car.

[cmia]

Diesel ?

Petrol ?

[Starensis]

If your avensis is the old style 2.0 d-4d diesel engine, then these engines have a problem with the suction valves on the supply pump blocking and causing intermittant fuel restiction to the engine upon heavy acceleration and coincide with your symptoms. This problem will not necesserily bring any engine management lights on the dashboard. New valves will cost roughly 120 quid plus labour. thats probably why the mechanic could not find any problems on the on the his computer..

[ClubMem]

My car is an 03 Avensis D4-D T3X diesel. I took the car to my local Toyota dealership on Monday 1 Sept 2008 and they have now diagnosed with 100% confidence that the problem is a faulty Turbo Charger which will cost £1750.00 to replace. The same dealership could not identify anything wrong with the car when I first took it to them a few month ago!!!

I am not sure whether the Toyao dealership have looked into the possibility of malfunction of suction valves on the supply pump, and how they would react to the suggestion that their original diagnosis might be wrong.

Anyway, what do you suggest I should do now? Shall I opt to replace the turbo charger or go somewhere else for a second opinion?

Your views are much appreciated.

[igormus]

My 03 Avensis hatchback intermittently loses power and slows down after driving it on a motorway for around 20 to 30 minutes and at a speed of around 60-70 miles an hour. When this happens, pressing on the accelerator makes no difference whatsoever, that is, the engine does not rev up and the car gradually slows down and then all of a sudden it starts accelerating again. The problem has happened (with much less frequency) even when I have driven the car only for a short distance on city roads at a speed of 20-30 miles an hour.

My local Toyota dealership has not been able to detect the cause of this problem. They advised me that their computer does not show anything wrong with the car, and also, their mechanic has driven the car but has not noticed any thing wrong with it. Clearly, being an intermittent problem makes it difficult to detect its cause.

I would be grateful if anyone could hint at what might be wrong with the car.

hello mate

- how often do you drain the water from fine filter case?

- is your T/C has variable vanes?

*** - in ccase MrT technicial has checked with yr car using PC then the booster works OK and the check valve is in order.

- what about diesel quality you deed yr engine?

please come back

cheers/Igor

[ClubMem]

Thanks a lot Igor. In reply to your questions:

- how often do you drain the water from fine filter case?

Answer: I have not done this at all. I don't know where this filter is. I guess I have to learn more about how Avensis works.

- is your T/C has variable vanes?

Answer: I don't know the details of the T/C. My car is an 2003 (03) Avensis D4D T3X diesel.

*** in ccase MrT technicial has checked with yr car using PC then ...

Answer: What is PC?

- what about diesel quality you deed yr engine?

Answer: I use Tesco's diesel.

Cheers.

[igormus]

Thanks a lot Igor. In reply to your questions:

- how often do you drain the water from fine filter case?

Answer: I have not done this at all. I don't know where this filter is. I guess I have to learn more about how Avensis works.

- is your T/C has variable vanes?

Answer: I don't know the details of the T/C. My car is an 2003 (03) Avensis D4D T3X diesel.

*** in ccase MrT technicial has checked with yr car using PC then ...

Answer: What is PC?

- what about diesel quality you deed yr engine?

Answer: I use Tesco's diesel.

Cheers.

hi

- be pointed on the filter case body and check with the bottom part (lid)-- this lid must to have a drain ***** (small one or even plug) -- the same is used as water checking *****/plug. time to time you'd unsrew that in order to remove water from the filter case (if any). the more water the more possible problems with power loss;

- re T/C -- in case your T/C nozzle ring vanes are governed by a vacuum, them the possible problem is with an impulse tube internal canal blocking or partly blocking resulting the vanes cann ot be turned depending on the load;

- PC -- personal comptuter.

- even the best diesel is used -- it contains some water % -- so it is necesssary to check with water presence even once a month or even after each tank refilling -- it is good practice.

there are many other reasons of power loss - but start investigate step by step.

cheers

Igor

[ClubMem]

Thanks a lot Igor.

[Q.S.]

Thanks a lot Igor.

Can't personally see how the turbo can be intermittently faulty. I would be more inclined towards the fuel supply pump problems highlighted by the first reply.

[timperleytoyota]

My 03 Avensis hatchback intermittently loses power and slows down after driving it on a motorway for around 20 to 30 minutes and at a speed of around 60-70 miles an hour. When this happens, pressing on the accelerator makes no difference whatsoever, that is, the engine does not rev up and the car gradually slows down and then all of a sudden it starts accelerating again. The problem has happened (with much less frequency) even when I have driven the car only for a short distance on city roads at a speed of 20-30 miles an hour.

My local Toyota dealership has not been able to detect the cause of this problem. They advised me that their computer does not show anything wrong with the car, and also, their mechanic has driven the car but has not noticed any thing wrong with it. Clearly, being an intermittent problem makes it difficult to detect its cause.

I would be grateful if anyone could hint at what might be wrong with the car.

Hi Clubmem,

My D4D is doing exactley the same as yours, I'm on a 53 plate and have power loss, intermittently at around 2000 rpm etc. when cruising on motorway. Toyota dealer and a local garage say's there's nothing wrong. Diesel specialist in Bolton can't find a problem even when taking car out with PC connect - as the intermittent fault didn't re-occur. Can I ask if, or how, you managed to solve your problem.

Regards

timperleytoyota

[Q.S.]

My 03 Avensis hatchback intermittently loses power and slows down after driving it on a motorway for around 20 to 30 minutes and at a speed of around 60-70 miles an hour. When this happens, pressing on the accelerator makes no difference whatsoever, that is, the engine does not rev up and the car gradually slows down and then all of a sudden it starts accelerating again. The problem has happened (with much less frequency) even when I have driven the car only for a short distance on city roads at a speed of 20-30 miles an hour.

My local Toyota dealership has not been able to detect the cause of this problem. They advised me that their computer does not show anything wrong with the car, and also, their mechanic has driven the car but has not noticed any thing wrong with it. Clearly, being an intermittent problem makes it difficult to detect its cause.

I would be grateful if anyone could hint at what might be wrong with the car.

Hi Clubmem,

My D4D is doing exactley the same as yours, I'm on a 53 plate and have power loss, intermittently at around 2000 rpm etc. when cruising on motorway. Toyota dealer and a local garage say's there's nothing wrong. Diesel specialist in Bolton can't find a problem even when taking car out with PC connect - as the intermittent fault didn't re-occur. Can I ask if, or how, you managed to solve your problem.

Regards

timperleytoyota

If the problem occurs after cruising for some distance but is fine around town when up and down with the gears and speed, I would go with fuel supply problem highlighted in earlier replies. The fuel supply pump can't keep up with the flow required by the engine. In town, it has plenty of time to catch up when the demand is down, e.g. ticking over at traffic lights etc. and only short bursts of high demand.

[pplsmith]

I had a similar problem on a 99 avenesis caused by a poor batch of fuel which cause a slimy build up on the pickup filter inside the fuel tank. I removed and manually cleaned the filter, replaced the fuel filter a put some redex in the tank and it solved the problem immdediately and it never returned

[ccemmanuel]

My 03 Avensis hatchback intermittently loses power and slows down after driving it on a motorway for around 20 to 30 minutes and at a speed of around 60-70 miles an hour. When this happens, pressing on the accelerator makes no difference whatsoever, that is, the engine does not rev up and the car gradually slows down and then all of a sudden it starts accelerating again. The problem has happened (with much less frequency) even when I have driven the car only for a short distance on city roads at a speed of 20-30 miles an hour.

My local Toyota dealership has not been able to detect the cause of this problem. They advised me that their computer does not show anything wrong with the car, and also, their mechanic has driven the car but has not noticed any thing wrong with it. Clearly, being an intermittent problem makes it difficult to detect its cause.

I would be grateful if anyone could hint at what might be wrong with the car.

[AvensisMolester]

I drove a friends Avensis, it had just been washed on a wet day and water had dribbled onto distributer cap yoke, follow from your spark plug along the lead and you'll come to 2 sets of 2 connections. Check if they're dry, if wet the car will not in a million years ever accelerate, it 'll probably start slowing down. Maybe thats the problem or maybe the faulty turbocharger sounds right either.

[aidy2000]

i drive an 03 diesel avensis and it has also started losing power while driving, and is struggling to make it up hills, in any gear. its 2003 with 60,000 miles just had service all filters changed and timing belt changed. it was doing it before service and i thought service would have fixed it, but its the same.

Has anyone actually had this problem sorted, and got around it

one writer says it may be the tubro, i hope not, at that price

the mechanic is at a loss, and is currently getting similar complaints from another avensis driver, with 60,000 miles

help needed

[cmia]

@ aidy2000

Please make your own thread I will help you fix your car

[aidy2000]

how do i do that? besides all the descriptions above match what is happening to my car, should i really be starting another item for the same thing? i don't mind, just tell me how to start new thread

[berries]

Hi I also have an avensis 2.0 D4D with this ocaisonal power loss problem i cannot establish the exact trigger other than that it appears to happen when crusing at normal speeds. unlike others the engine manegment light comes on simultaneously. this happened 2 years ago and the dealer claims to have replaced the turbo under warrenty.

Iwould be interested in knowing more about "T/C veins etc." from Igor as he seems to have a good handle on this.

[igormus]

Hi I also have an avensis 2.0 D4D with this ocaisonal power loss problem i cannot establish the exact trigger other than that it appears to happen when crusing at normal speeds. unlike others the engine manegment light comes on simultaneously. this happened 2 years ago and the dealer claims to have replaced the turbo under warrenty.

Iwould be interested in knowing more about "T/C veins etc." from Igor as he seems to have a good handle on this.

hello again

thera are two T/Cs types: with fixed nozzle ring and variable vanes instead of nozzle ring that are controlled by means of vacuum sensor linked to the vanes by means of level. a spesian attention must be given to this T/C with variable vanes -- it is understood all joints must be in very good working condition otherwise the vanes will not be positioned dependinng on the current engine load. in view of the above all fuel injection system must to work perfectly with sharp injection otherwise the carbon will cover both vanes and their joints resulting their sticking and not reacting on the engine load. the another problem might be with an impulse tube as link between vacuum sensor and suction manifold -- if it's blocked or partly blocked then the same serves as throttle reducing a vacuum signal resulting again not correct vanes positioning.

cheers/Igor

[isaachunt]

Hi i'm also experiencing the same problem I have a 2004 2.0 d4d with 67000m seems to be getting worse.

been just intermittent holding back until turbo appears to kick in then off it goes.

Last 2 days difficult to start in mornings also lots of black smoke after holding back when turbo kicks in.

Going to try to get a new fuel filter and put some injection cleaner tomorrow. car has full service history with Toyota till 50k and my local garage after. Toyota marked fuel filter as changed but i'll change it myself to make sure before i explore the more expensive options.

Anyone know where i can get a manual?

Thank You

[rif]

hi all i have had a similer issue with my d4d . after getting messed about endleslly by dealers and getting charged extortionally by dealers and not resolving the issue i was given a number for a toyota technician . top guy sorted my issues out first time and really knows his toyotas . dealers where asking stupid money like £1700 this lad sorted my car out at a fraction of the price .

[isaachunt]

I don't suppose you know what he did? you seem to be a long way from me i'm down in South Wales so i won't be able to go to the same fella.

[igormus]

Hi i'm also experiencing the same problem I have a 2004 2.0 d4d with 67000m seems to be getting worse.

been just intermittent holding back until turbo appears to kick in then off it goes.

Last 2 days difficult to start in mornings also lots of black smoke after holding back when turbo kicks in.

Going to try to get a new fuel filter and put some injection cleaner tomorrow. car has full service history with Toyota till 50k and my local garage after. Toyota marked fuel filter as changed but i'll change it myself to make sure before i explore the more expensive options.

Anyone know where i can get a manual?

Thank You

hello mate

especially in winter time each owner has to pay max attention to diesel quality. It's not a secret that sometimes the refilling stations sell an ordinary diesel with not winter quality. The winter quality presumes diesel has all fuel additives inside its formula to prevent either clogging od fuel system especially fuel filters. I am not talking about those fuel filters equipped with electro heating system (!). It's understood the byer never asks for diesel certificate to check with quality. MOre often all problems with either poor starting or lose of power are connected with duesel quality + condition of injection parts resulting also problem with T/C. Sometimes the minor issue with el. feeding to both injectors and HP fuel injection pump (SCV) valve criates the same/similar problems as stipulated above.

CHeers/Igor

[isaachunt]

Thank you for your replies i've put some injector cleaner in and ordered a workshop manual. i'm ok with the tools so i'll have a look but if it's too much i'll take it to be done. thank you all atleast if i've got to take it i'll have some idea what i'm on about.

[igormus]

Thank you for your replies i've put some injector cleaner in and ordered a workshop manual. i'm ok with the tools so i'll have a look but if it's too much i'll take it to be done. thank you all atleast if i've got to take it i'll have some idea what i'm on about.

hello again

please note that the action of the injector cleaner is reasonable in case you pour and mix it into the diesel (warmed up to 50 C). this temp assist this additioive to be linked to each diesel moleculas. Otherwise you'll not reach succes.

Cheers/Igor