2000 1.3l Ford Ka losing power half way through a journey

[Ed10]

I have a Ford KA built in 2000 and when I’m driving the car, for example at 70 on the motorway, it will lose power and drop down to 40mph for no reason (with my foot to the floor), then a mile or 2 later will go back to normal. It’s had new spark plugs, oil, fuel filter all within the last few months. Has anyone else had this problem before?? Or any ideas on what could be causing it? Thanks

[DaveT70]

Crank sensor on the way out?

Coilpack overheating?

HT leads braking down?

Ignition module breaking down?

Valve clearances too high?

Speed sensor on gearbox breaking down?

Catalyst Blocked?

[isetta]

these things are always tricky without seeing / feeling the problem with own eyes. is it smooth when it loses power or does if feel uneven like it's only running on 3 cylinders?

I would normally say has a fault code reader been put on it, but I am not sure if a car of that age would react to a generic fault code reader in the modern way. I don't think they were forced to adopt a common electronic standard that long ago:

Wikipedia: 2001: The European Union makes EOBD mandatory for all gasoline (petrol) vehicles sold in the European Union, starting in MY2001 (see European emission standards Directive 98/69/EC^[2]).     but some makers might have done it earlier perhaps?

sometimes it's unexpected uncommon things. I had a 1987 Escort that had an intermittent problem for a long time. Eventually found it was an intermittent problem with the breather on the fuel tank, restricting the ability of the fuel pump to suck petrol out of the tank to the engine as a vacuum was being created in the tank. Driving with fuel cap removed proved it. Of course driving with fuel cap removed is not the safest thing to do.

[Ed10]

@isetta, I would say that yes it is smooth when it loses power, but have never experienced a car running on 3 cylinders!! The best way to describe it is, when you drive up hill, but in a too higher gear and the car can’t get enough power to keep it going at that speed and gradually slows down, even with you foot pressed against the floor.

I have used a fault code reader on the car, but everything seems normal, apart from it misfired 8 times in 1/2 minutes, which is why it’s had new spark plugs!! They helped make the car run smoother for a bit, but the problem is still there.

Thanks 

Ed

[Roxyjh]

HI, 

I am having exactly the same issue with my KA did you manage to find out what the problem  was?

My car has been in the garage three times now and each time they advise that they cannot find anything wrong with it. Any suggestions would be very much welcomed.

 

Thank you