UKPOC forums

1995 probe
2.0/16v
Blue

Hi all,
So end of 2024 and after 18 months of work I got the probe on the road and MOTd. This week it has done its first 1000 miles and I’ve come across some issues that must be all related.
1. Sometimes I have to prime the key/fuel before cranking over otherwise it starts and cuts out. (Fuel pressure?)
2. The idle is unsteady, once warm it bounces between 750-500rpm.
3. Lastly, best way to describe it - the car “stutters” on acceleration, it gets to speed ok but it feels like it’s being intermittently pulled back, as said more of a stutter than a bogging.

I’m guessing this is possibly a fuel pressure issue. The fuel pump was a used original one newly put in last year and sourced from the forum. Before I go down this road I just want to sound off what others may think. I drive the car 1-2 times a week to keep it running. Lastly I’m having the alt/aux belt changed in a few weeks as it squeaks on cold start up. Thanks all.

Is it a 2ltr or 2.5

for erratic revs If its 2 ltr it could well be carbon in the throttle control body (auto choke). I used to get that regularly every 3 years. Check your coolant level is correct though, before getting the spanners out as the waxstat works on water temp. No water - no control.

For the stutter, I used to suffer badly from this in my 2.5. The guy I bought it off bought a dodgy MOT (6 weeks old and 1.5mm play in the track rod ends, plus other mechanical and electronic scams too numerous to mention) and clearly spent no money on it so my guess was supermarket fuel but he looked as though he'd know how to syphon fuel - Manchester lad he was . I treated it to Shell E5 which its run on ever since, and gave it a dose of injector cleaner which together was transformational. Runs evenly and has power at tickover speed so I rarely stall it these days.

Good luck and well done for reviving the car.