Thread: Alhambra has little power. Gutless

Hi

I was driving back from Devon last month, approaching Stonehenge uphill, the Alhambra started to loose almost ALL of the power. I was doing some 15 mph in places!

After pulling into a layby for 5 minutes and switching the engine off, the car decided to work normally again, well... for about 3 miles anyway and it started doing the same thing - it felt like no turbo/boost at all.

The car has always (since owned) been 'sluggish' i.e I have to build the revs up quite a lot to pull away, and the car feels like it has a 'flat spot/lack of power' in 2nd, 3rd & 4th gear at times. But, this I have lived with.

Coming back from Devon was soul destroying, there is obviously a big problem. I have heard the car will go in 'limp-mode'? Was this 'limp-mode?
I have also been told it could be a split hose or a pressure sensor or something.

Can anybody help save me ££££'s at the dealer, or don't I have a choice?

Kind Regards

Hi,
Did you ever sort this problem out?? Sounds very similar to my problem with a 1.9TDi Alhambra.
I've got a definite flat spot in 3rd & 4th between 2500-3000rpm when starting from cold. A few people have suggested that it might be the mass air flow sensor (means nothing to me!!!) but others have dismissed this suggestion.
Any help or advice would be much appreciated.

Cheers

Hi

Funny enough ye, I fitted a new Air Mass Meter today. After getting my Alhambra diagnosed at MK SEAT (£44.99) they came up with that it was indee the Air Mass Meter that was faulty. To cut a long story short - they never had it in stock (said it was on back-order) but I managed to get one at Letchworth Seat for £74.99. Although you can get them from ebay for £45 - but I needed this quick. - Fitting it was dead easy, it sits and fixes to the back of the air filter box. The car is now incredible. ALL power was restored. No flat spots, poor ecceleration etc and no mor lip mode!

I am 95% sure that by changing your air mass meter will almost certainly resolve your flat spot(s). Just out of interest, my car has done 125,000 miles.

Go to here How to change an air mass meter

this will tell you how to change it. it certainly helped me!

Hope this info helps and I hope you get it sorted.

Hi,

Thanks for that mate - a great help.

Glad that you've got yours sorted and my problems seems to have disappeared over the last couple of days.
Mine is an 02 plate and has done 96,000 so i'm guessing that is possibly is the air flow meter. If it happens again I think that I will try replacing it without going for a diagnosis and save myself the £45 charge!!
I have absolutely no knowledge or interest in car maintenance but if it's as easy as just bolting a new one on then i can can't go far wrong surely!!!!

Just out of interest, did you get a price from SEAT for supply & fit??

Cheers

Hi,

Seat quoted about £138 for supply and fit.

My power used to go and then come back too. Your power will drop again I can assure you! - I started to get used to the lack of power, it was only when the Alhambra started to go into 'limp mode' that I had to do something about it. I can't stress enough how great the cars perfomance is now.

Cheers mate, chat soon.