197: Slow performance at motorway speed

[thesilverfoxxx]

Hello, I've been doing alot of miles after not long buying my 197. I can't help thinking that when I'm up to 70/75mph, its really sluggish to accelerate any faster than this, the car is a late 57 plate with about 60k on it, the engine generally feels a little laboured even when pulling away from 0mph, could there be something wrong with the vvt actuator? Or any other suggestions? Cheers

 

[Foxspeed]

be very hard to suggest over the internet

could be various faults from binding brakes to old spark plugs

whats it like in the lower gears from say 2500 - 7500 limit?

 

[thesilverfoxxx]

Yes it seems ok in the lower gears, but never having a 197 I was kind of expecting a little something like a type r (when the v tec gets going you get an extra surge of power). Brake are fine, all wheels spin freely and stop as they should. Could look at the plugs, not really messed with the car since I bought it. Cheers

 

[GrumpyTwig]

It will accelerate just as fast as a type r from 70 trust me

 

[marshall]

Its all because its N/A, get in the right gear and it'll be fine. They thrive to be rev'd

 

[Black-hawk]

What did you drive before?

 

[GlassJaw]

Keep it above 5k through the gears and it should pull sweetly - if not there may be something wrong.

 

[StevoR27]

Sounds like you have something wrong, it should be really quick at 60k miles. Do you know if it's had the Renault ECU remap?

I'd check tyre pressures, alignment, oil and filter first. If that all checks out then I'd take it to a specialist and have it looked at.

 

[thesilverfoxxx]

Thanks guys, the car is due a service anyhow so I'll replace all the usual and plugs. I had a 206 gti previously, not the best quickest car in the world but ok never the less!
I'm not sure about the ecu remap from Renault, how would I know? I know it does that thing where it stops it revving from cold which I think is one change on the later software.
The car does pull well after 5000rpm, I think some of it may be in my mind!

 

[GrumpyTwig]

The thing is the acceleration isn't as dramatic as the Honda vtec, you don't get the sudden burst of extra power from switching cams.

What you do get however is more torque and more usable power over the rev range, which is less tiring to drive fast but the engine does thrive above 5k still.

Yes if you had the update for the cold problems that shouldbe the updated map.