I think my fuel pump has slowly been giving up the ghost and I've been running low pressure. I've probably done 2k miles since the problems started, of not hard driving. My car very rarely sees 4k rpm, most of the last 3 months have been spent sub 40 mph, I should add that this relates to a sport engine so is not as highly stressed as the turbo / sti. When I had the plugs out I did have a look at the piston crowns and they are covered with the usuall carbon deposits (rough texture), didn't look damaged (ie: all smooth as you would expect from exessive heat).

What damage could I have done?

 

I don't think it will have done any harm at all especially on a non turbo car. My wifes Forester Turbo import had a fuel pump eventually fail a few weeks ago and is fine.

Maybe another will have a better idea but in my opinion you'll be OK.

David APi Engines / APi Impreza

 

Many thanks David. This atleast has given me some hope. Just ordered a new feul pump.

I have now taken the car off the road as yesterday it struggled to go over 3k rpm uphill and felt sluggish to drive on the level. It sounds like low fuel pressure to me, would you agree?

 

Or failing coil packs....

*****

 

Its not the coil pack. That was the first thing that was changed. And believe this or not, it acctually runns better on the old one!!!

 

Ahh good stuff...
Process of illimination then.

 

Yeah, so far to the tune of 600 quid. Just hope that this does fix it. I really hate catching trains. And with the amount of time I've invested in this problem I need it to be fixed. The car's my everyday transport, its not good for a contractor to be without transport.