Seat Arosa engine power loss and jerking

I'm having trouble with my 2000 Seat Arosa with a gasoline engine, which has around 73000 km on it. I've noticed a power reduction and a jerking sensation when accelerating. Plus, the exhaust smokes during acceleration, and the engine error memory has an error. It seems like knocking combustion, maybe from deposits in the combustion chamber. I always use the recommended fuel octane, so I'm not sure why this is happening. Could this be related to the engine tuning?

4 comment(s)

Sounds like a combustion issue. I had a similar problem with my Arosa. Does it sound like piston slap, especially when the engine is cold?

Piston slap, you say? I'm not entirely familiar with that term. Could you explain what that sounds like, and what else I should check before taking it to a mechanic?

Yes, piston slap sounds like a light knocking, usually most noticeable when the engine is cold. If it's combustion chamber deposits causing detonation, using higher fuel octane might help temporarily, but it won't fix it. Given the smoke and stored error, I'd really recommend getting it checked at a workshop. Driving it more could cause more damage.

I'm really grateful for the help! I went to a workshop as suggested. They found deposits in the combustion chamber. After cleaning, the car runs like new. The repair was 425€, so thanks again!

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