Jazz feeling 'sluggish' at times. What should I look out for...?

[guest5341]

Hi guys.
Now and again when I'm driving my Jazz 05 SE Sport, it can feel like it's struggling. I'm not sure if this is just a mind thing and thinking it is or it's a common Jazz perception, but I've noticed that sometimes it can feel like the car is being dragged from the back with a very sluggish perfomormance, even in gears 3 and 4. When driving on the motorway getting to 70 isn't an issue, but it takes time and the engine is noisy! Revs about 3500rpm which I guess is standard? But it feels slightly unstable at time. Gears don't slip and I can get in and out of them alright. Sometimes the steering wheel feels stiff or vibrates a little at motorway speeds and the same with the gear stick - it can feel stiff in one gear more than another. Hard to explain.
I don't know, it just feels like the car is struggling now and again. I do try and come out of gear and go back in it to see if it's maybe the gearbox not connecting properly, but that isn't usually the issue. I just feel like I'm about to burn something out or the car will cut out.

Is there anything I should look out for or can do? Would changing the oil make a difference (only done 5000 miles since last full oil change)? Should I get my garage check the suspension and wheel alignment....?

Next MOT in Oct - passed the last. Current milage 105,000.

Any advice would be great.

Cheers!

[MikeG1944]

Have you checked that the brakes or handbrake are not binding somewhere; that would have the effect you are describing?

Mike.

P.S. If the brakes are sticking an easy way of checking is to feel the centre of the wheel; they get very hot if sticking and you can almost burn your hand on them after a couple of miles.

[longlegpete]

There are a number of things that can cause the feeling you have, MikeGs sticking brakes would be my first though as well, handbrake sticking would give the pulling from the back you talk of or maybe a wheel bearing but you would normally get some kind of noise with this, you haven't mentioned fuel consumption,  how that, same as always or less these days?

[culzean]

Cheapest option as a starter I would tip a whole bottle of Redex Petrol fuel system / injector cleaner into fuel tank next time you fill up - and try a tank of 97 / 99 octane fuel. 

[guest5341]

Cheers for replies guys.
Actually, when Mike mentioned brakes I've suddenly remembered that at times, there has been ever so slight squeels from the wheels at extremely slow speeds (5mph) now and again recently. It's not a constant noise that you get if your pads are worn out and you're braking but short squeeking like noises.

The car's mpg used to be 45mpg but now doing 42mpg and faling with shorter distances.

[culzean]

The car's mpg used to be 45mpg but now doing 42mpg and falling with shorter distances.

MPG will always be less on shorter runs due to time spent in lower gears and more time spent accelerating and braking,  also  consumption is crap until engine has warmed up properly because ECU has to squirt more fuel into a cold engine (to take place of the choke on older engines).

[guest3250]

My 2010 Jazz runs better on higher octane super Unleaded
and also seems to return a bit better MPG on it too
But it is my observation that lower end is weak - and by lower
end anything lower than 3000rpm