Sluggish Ibiza..

[jamiepyrite]

Hi all, so I'm relatively new to driving, been on the road for about 3 months and had my Ibiza about 4 month.

It's an M reg, 1995 1.4 8 valve Ibiza. Relatively good condition, a bit of rust on the body which I'll be getting sorted soon and the engine looks decent.

For a 1.4, the car is pretty slow.. I'm not getting much push out of it and 4th and 5th gear have very little in them! (Once I hit about 72, its verrry slow to get any faster which is very strange.)

I know these are heavy cars, but my Dad and Brother have driven the car and they both agree that it's lacking in power. I don't really know much about cars (I've only been interested in them once I'd passed my test) but they are both knowledgable.

I've been recommended to get it re-tuned, etc. which I'll be getting done but is there anything else it could possibly be?

Another thing is, on the haynes manual it shows the 1.4 engine and its massive compared to mine! There's tons of room left around the engine which leads me to think there may have been an engine swap that hasn't been put in the records? (We have full records and there's nothing there about an engine swap!) Someone has also said that it may just be a 1.4 engine but at the time they were using allsorts of VW parts so thats why it might be different.



Anyone got any ideas on this?

Also, this sounds stupid but where can I learn about cars? About like what parts do what, what's good and what's not, etc. How did you learn about them? I mean, there's talking to other drivers that I've picked things up from..


Cheers
Jamie

 

[chris285]

there should be a bit of room in the engine bay, if you get the engine code that should tell us what u have

most of the power in the 1.4 is between 3k and 4k from my experience in my 1.4 but its a later engine so it may be different

 

[davels]

dunno bout your prob mate sorry, but just reading threads on other models in this forum can help you get up to speed on the basics and use the search button as much as poss if you get really stuck just ask and someone will normally help you without taking the micky... too much
just kidding i didn't know alot about my beeza(some say i still don't lol) until i was readin the forum and asking questions.
also why not go and introduce yourself in the intro section when you have 5 mins
hope you sort your problems out mate

Dave

 

[AlpineWhite]

Hi Jamie.

First off, I notice it's your first post, so welcome to seatcupra.net. There's an introductions area to the forum which you can post in to say 'hi'!

In answer to your questions,

When was the car last serviced?

The haynes manual has a plastic engine cover (the black piece with the Seat logo and the 1.4 badge) which yours may not have, being an earlier model (my 1995 polo didn't have one) so that may explain why your engine looks less bulky. Maybe someone else can confirm this.

Learning about cars, well thats a good one Reading forums like this are useful, but working on your car yourself is a really good way. To start with you might be best off getting a mate who's handy with a spanner to help / guide you! You've already made a good start with a Haynes manual. www.howstuffworks.com have some good info too.

 

[mr.aston]

I like when new folk join. Makes me feel less of a newbie!

Anyway, welcome to the site mate! All the boys (& girls) on here will keep you right!
ps- congrats on buying a REAL ibiza! Not a post facelift Polo look-a-like)... no offenc boys!

 

[jamiepyrite]

Thanks for the warm welcomes everyone! Nice to see such a cheerful forum

The engine doesn't have the plastic cover on like the one on the haynes manual, my documents are away with the DVLA at the moment but when they get back I'll be comparing engine codes.

My dad actually gave it a full service a few weeks after I got it. I didn't notice the difference as I hadn't passed my test then but he said it made quite a difference!

Another problem I'm having with the car is the driver side window! If I close the door while the window is down or even half down the window drops down inside the door panel. This has happened 3 times now (I keep forgetting!) and we can't work out how to stop this!

Mr.aston: I do love my ibiza! It's a great car and I'm happy with it, just trying to be improve it a bit. Screw big curvy bodykits and flashy lights!


Think I'll go and make my introduction to the forum now then!

 

[Czechboy]

Does your engine bay look like this(ignore arrows):

If so, then its just the standard 1.4 prefacelift engine. As already mentioned, this one has got a frying pan style airfilter sitting at the top of the throttle body, whereas the facelift 1.4 engines have got big black covers, covering up most of the engine.

As for the power. Standard, when it came out in 1995 it had 60BHP. Its not unusual for cars to loose 1bhp per year, so for all you know it might only have 48odd horses left. Can't expect wonders from that power output. I remember in my old 1.4, when taking my mates out in the car, I used to get defeated by small inclines in the motorway with the car not accelerating past 70mph.

Mig

 

[EssexIbiza1985]

welcome to the forum mate!
iv got a 1.4 aswell but mine is the better lookin younger brother with plastic surgery. not that any ibiza is not good lookin

i used to have a 1.3 pug and used to think tha was nippy at first and then wen i got my new ibiza i didnt think i wud notice much difference with 100cc extra but it felt much quicker.

now Iv found as iv been drivin it for longer sometimes it feels like an elephant wit a lawn mower motor but i drove my old car the other week and i couldnt believe the difference agen. I think ull find that unless u get sumin with a big engine u jus get used to it n it can feel slow.

there are a few things u cud do like ur dad has prob done with spark plugs n re tune it but in my experience it wnt make much difference except fool u in2 thinkin its quicker for about a month. jus do wot im doing put a £1 in a pot every time u think ur car is slower than u wnt it to be n save for a cupra!!

...iv been doing it for a week n iv already spent this months wages

 

[jamiepyrite]

Essex: Haha! Thats a great idea Could always take up a swear box too Or a "£1 for everytime I get annoyed at another driver for cutting me up or driving like an idiot" box!

czechboy: Mine is pre-facelift then


A new plan of action is to keep the car until the end of the summer, work full time during the summer and save up the pennies for a new car. As much as I'd love to stay Ibiza, is it possible to find a good performing ibiza that'll actually be ok insurance for an 18 year old?!

 

[Kai_1600]

You could make me an offer on my 1.6

 

[AlpineWhite]

i think the ibiza's are pretty good value when it comes to insurance. Certainly cheaper than their golf cousins!

You can use this website to find out insurance group ratings: http://www.abi.org.uk/carinsurance/default.asp

 

[Czechboy]

is it possible to find a good performing ibiza that'll actually be ok insurance for an 18 year old?!

Ibiza is a superb car when you want performance, reasonable safety and reasonable insurance quotes. Other cars such as 106 GTIs and paxos and corsa's aren't too bad on insurance, but because they are made out of tin, often your face ends up being the crumple zone. Exactly the reason I staid with ibizas. I think trying to get insured on an 8v GTI shouldn't be much of a problem. But it was "only" £200 cheaper then a 16v, so I oped for that instead (also only 18)

 

[chris285]

Ibiza is a superb car when you want performance, reasonable safety and reasonable insurance quotes. Other cars such as 106 GTIs and paxos and corsa's aren't too bad on insurance, but because they are made out of tin, often your face ends up being the crumple zone. Exactly the reason I staid with ibizas. I think trying to get insured on an 8v GTI shouldn't be much of a problem. But it was "only" £200 cheaper then a 16v, so I oped for that instead (also only 18)

yep having ditched my last ibiza i can say they are a safe car, bad idea i know but i get in my sisters punto and i don't feel safe in it like i do my ibiza

plus the 1.4 engine is not as bad as you think either

 

[Kai_1600]

i think the ibiza's are pretty good value when it comes to insurance. Certainly cheaper than their golf cousins!

You can use this website to find out insurance group ratings: http://www.abi.org.uk/carinsurance/default.asp

Fixed link

 

[davels]

definatly safe motors even the older ones
<<<< see advatar to see how new ones hold up

 

[jenk]

you should defiantly get an 8v gti, i know of a good one that will be up for sale some time in the furure

 

[seatdude]

Does your engine bay look like this(ignore arrows):

If so, then its just the standard 1.4 prefacelift engine. As already mentioned, this one has got a frying pan style airfilter sitting at the top of the throttle body, whereas the facelift 1.4 engines have got big black covers, covering up most of the engine.

As for the power. Standard, when it came out in 1995 it had 60BHP. Its not unusual for cars to loose 1bhp per year, so for all you know it might only have 48odd horses left. Can't expect wonders from that power output. I remember in my old 1.4, when taking my mates out in the car, I used to get defeated by small inclines in the motorway with the car not accelerating past 70mph.

Mig

m8 i have that engine how can i put a performance airfilter on, i hate the big black thing.

m8 my car was sluggish i put red x in with the petrol and oil change it ok now

 

[ibiza_95]

http://www.seatcupra.net/forums/showthread.php?t=82946&highlight=induction

 

[AlpineWhite]

Fixed link

cheers

 

[Fl@pper]

1st check the engine code if you can find it (top of the timing belt cover) tomake sure it isnt a 1.0 swapped in there

2nd if you can - get the ignition system and timing checked - if its out you can lose a hell of a lot of pull

3rd while ya there check for loose/split air pipes again results as above and easily missed or leant on

4th as its had a service - make sure the plug leads are on right dont worry we all do it at least once

hello and welcome btw