Car feeling weak and sluggish

Not enough fuel flow into the combustion chamber is one of the most common reason why car feel sluggish and weak. This is usually related to fuel system failure such as 

1. Clogged fuel injectors
2. Weak fuel injectors
3. Weak fuel pump
4. Clogged fuel pump filters
5. Clogged fuel filters
6. Clogged fuel line
7. Clogged charcoal canister
8. Faulty fuel pump

Another reason is not enough air flow which cause by

1. Clogged air filter

The 3rd reasons are

1. Bad / faulty spark plugs
2. Bad / faulty spark plugs wiring
3. Bad / faulty ignition coils
4. Bad / faulty spark plug cables

There are fundamental factors in combustions which is fuel, air (oxygen), fire (spark plugs). If any of these are faulty or worn out it will affect the car performance.

The root causes of cars' poor fuel economy or high fuel consumptions

When we think of cars' fuel consumptions usually we ought to relate it to the spark plugs, fuel pump, fuel injectors, oxygen sensors, map sensors, maf sensors, catalytic converter, or engine wear and tears. These many different factors have made us forget about what driven the fuel consumptions in most engine and that is including cars, generators, motorbikes, etc and that is the gas pedal and loads in needs to overcome. 

Most of us overlook what actually driven the engine to consume more fuels because the gas pedal is press more frequently especially in city driving. And of course you have to press even more when the load of the car is heavier or weaker in order to move the car at the pace you want.

General diagnose and inspections of Alza car

 This general diagnose of to root cause of the problems and issues arise with Perodua Alza 2010 cars. 

Problems	Possible root causes	Diagnose / Troubleshoot
Engine Overheat	Clogged / blocked radiator	Check for internal rust build up inside radiator - need professionals
	Leaked radiator	Check for leakage point / check coolant volume
	Bad radiator butterfly screw	Check for leakage point
	Broken coolant reservoir tank	Check for leakage or holes / check coolant volume
	Bad / failing thermostat	Check for thermostat mechanism if it still working or fail
	Bad / failing waterpump	Need professional mechanic to inspect
	Leak on the water pump gasket	Check for leakage on the water pump / check coolant volume
	Bad leaked radiator hoses	Check for leakage and coolant volume capacity
	Clogged catalytic converter
Engine Unable to start / stopped prematurely	Bad / failing spark plug	Check spark plug ensure to generate spark Check ignition coil if it is working properly Check ignition coil wiring make sure all deliver current to fire the spark plugs
	Bad fuel injectors	Check clogged fuel injectors Check fuel injectors wiring - no loose or broken connections Check faulty injectors (stucked close / open) Check faulty injectors (dead)
	Bad fuel pulsation damper	One of the most elusive component because it is difficult to tell if it is bad or good. The only way is to test the injectors and fuel pump and its pressure if all working good but combustion still bad -- then fuel pulsation damper could be the problem
	Bad fuel pump	Check fuel pump ensue it function normally - able to deliver fuel and pressure Check fuel pump wiring - no loose or broken connections Check fuel pump fuse / relay Check fuel pump filter not clogged
	Ignition switch	check ignition switch ensure it function normally check wiring - no loose or broken connections check fuse
	Battery	Check battery voltage ensure enough charges Check wiring - no loose or broken connection especially ground wires
	Alternator	Ensure alternator working as expected Check wiring no loose or broken to charge the battery
	Starter	Check it is working as expected
	ECU	Check the wiring to ECU Check if ECU already gone bad
	Clogged catalytic converter
Suspension / undercarriage sound noise	Bad engine mount	Check ball joint
	bad CV joint (Driveshaft)	Check ball joint outer / inner | boots
	Power steering bush	Check bush
	Stabilizer link bar	Check ball joints
	Lower arm	Check ball joints
	Power steering inner tie rod	Check ball joint
	Power steering tie rod end	Check ball joint
	Stabilizer bar bush	Check bush
	Absorber	Check absorber / spring / mount | boots
Belting area noise	Alternator pulley	check pulley bearing noise
	Belt	check wear / tear, alignment and fitness into the pulley's thread | check belt tension not too loose or tight
	Tensioner pulley	check bearing noise and alignment
	Crankshaft pulley	check bearing noise and harmonic rubber balancer and alignment
	Water pump pulley	check bearing noise and alignment
	Aircond compressor pulley	check bearing noise and alignment
	Idler pulley	check bearing noise and alignment
Engine shaking / vibration	Spark plug	Check spark plug is working
	Ignition coil	Check ignition coils are working
	Engine mounts	Check engine mount no damage
	Fuel injectors	Check all fuel injectors are working
	All belting pulleys + belting	Check belting misalignment Check pulleys misalignment Check belting tensions too loose / too tight
	Throttle cable	Check throttle cable not depress by anything

Power Steering Inner Tie Rod and Tie Rod End Replacement Process (DIY)

How to replace perodua Alza 2010 power steering inner tie rod and tie rod end ?

Tools:

1. Need 17mm socket to remove ball joint (castle nut / crown nut)

2. Need ball separator tools

3. Rubber Grease

4. Torque wrench

5. Inner rod end removal tool

6. Flathead screwdriver

7. Long nose pliers

8. Jack

9. Jack stand 

10. Ratchet wrench 1/2 socket

11. Impact wrench 1/2 socket

Step by step process of removal the tie rod end and inner rod end of Perodua Alza

1. Remove the castle nut / crown nut of the tie rod end and remove the safety pin

2. Use separator tool to separate ball joint

3. Remove the jam nut

4. Remove the tie rod end - Count the number of turns of the tighten of the tie rod end to prevent too much mis-alignment when installing the new one later6. Remove outer clip of the inner tie rod end

5. Remove inner clip of the inner tie rod end

6. Cut the original boot (to throw away)

7. Remove the inner rod end with the special tool removal

Something to take note / be aware before removal and installation of the tie rod end and inner rod of the power steering of Perodua Alza

1. Align the tie rod end height with the jacked height to prevent damage to the steering rack

2. Use jack stand to remove and install back the inner rod end to prevent installation damage

3. Use rubber mallet to install new tie rod end to make sure it perfect fit in back

4. Be aware of safety jack and jack stand

New materials to be installed

1. New rubber boot of inner rod

2. New inner rod 

3. New tie rod end

4. Inner rod boot

5. Inner rod boot clips  (inner / outer) use cable tie

The close interrelation between fuel filter, fuel pressure, fuel injector, spark plugs, and oxygen sensor to fuel economy

Apart from the MAP sensor and Intake Air Temperature sensor (IAT) there are fuel filter, fuel pressure, fuel injector, spark plugs, and oxygen sensor which are closely interrelated in the car fuel consumptions. We will discuss in this topic how each components contribute to the bad or good fuel economy of the car. 

1. Fuel filter - Dirty and clogged fuel filter will force the ECU to command more fuel to be injected to balance the Air to Fuel Ratio detected by the oxygen sensor. As a result more fuel is consumed as it pump unnecessary fuel to balance the AFR in the combustions.

2. Fuel pressure - bad fuel pressure regulator also potentially lead to poor fuel economy as it unable to deliver enough fuel into the combustions as detected by the o2 sensor as a result the ECU will command the fuel pump to supply more fuel which leads to poor fuel economy.

3. Fuel Injector - clogged fuel injector prevent adequate fuel into the combustions as detected by the oxygen sensor as a result the ECU will command the fuel pump to supply more fuel which result in bad fuel economy.

4. Spark plugs - worn out spark plugs electrode result in less efficient combustions.

5. Oxygen sensor - Faulty or worn out o2 sensor will deliver false data about the car combustions activity to the ECU for example lean data. As a result the ECU command more fuels through the fuel pumps.