Two Questions

[Illforever]

Hi, I have two questions, firstly my car battery makes a fizzing noise, it has done this for the last few months, got through winter with no problems and the car still starts, is all OK with it, or is it dying?

My second question, I have a p0304 engine code, the plugs are not that old, and I haven't drove much, the plug has gone from new to looking like this ->



What's the likely cause of this?

Thank you for looking and any help

[SlimJim16v]

Battery is possibly over charging by the alternator.

Plug look like oil fouling. Either head gasket, valve or possibly ring problem. Does is smoke out of the exhaust?

[Illforever]

There is no smoke out of the exhaust. Also no oil in water or water in oil.

[over_the_hill]

I think p0304 is the code for a misfire so perhaps the HT lead or the ignition pack is on the way out and failing occasionally.

[Illforever]

Put new plugs in, went for a drive, light came back on after a 4 miles. 2 Miles later I was home, let car cool, checked plugs, the 4th one again looks very black and the code again is p0304.

I looked down the plug holes with a light and the 4th one looks very oily down there. I have ordered a rocker cover gasket, it should come today and hopefully I can fit it today, I've watched a Polish guy on you tube change his, seems simple enough to follow what he does.

If that doesn't fix the problem (it looks like some oil is dripping out the back onto the exhaust heat shield so needs doing anyway), I shall swap around the ignition coils and see if the code changes, then try the injectors. Not really sure what comes after that, hopefully the rocker cover gasket fixes it Thanks for the help so far guys.

[paintman]

P0304 is misfire cylinder 4.

If that's the plug & it's oiling the likely causes are:
head gasket
valve stem seal
worn valve guide
bore/ring damage

BUT are you sure it's actually oil contamination & not the result of the cylinder not firing?
What does a compression test show?
Try moving plugs & see if the misfire follows the plug or stays on that cylinder. Do the same with the leads.

Edited by paintman on Thursday 21st April 15:57

[Illforever]

paintman said:

BUT are you sure it's actually oil contamination & not the result of the cylinder not firing?
What does a compression test show?
Try moving plugs & see if the misfire follows the plug or stays on that cylinder. Do the same with the leads.

Edited by paintman on Thursday 21st April 15:57

I'm not sure at all if it's oil contamination, I've changed the rocker cover gasket and put a new plug in, but it's again thrown the p0304 code, so that hasn't fixed it, I will swap an ignition coil and if that doesn't work then an injector, but that's my limit, it'll have to go to a mechanic after that.

Unless the cylinder not firing could be caused by something I maybe able to fix?

Can I ask you guys a really daft question? Which is actually cylinder 4? I'm watching an ericthecarguy video on how to compression test and he says cylinder 1 is closest to the intake which would make the cylinder I have been looking at number 1, stupid mistake if I have made it.



Is this right?

Edited by Illforever on Sunday 24th April 22:20

Edited by Illforever on Sunday 24th April 22:20

Edited by Illforever on Sunday 24th April 22:21

Edited by Illforever on Sunday 24th April 22:22

[TallPaul]

Number one cylinder is usually the front of the engine, the opposite end to the gearbox (back of the engine).

[paintman]

IIRC notable exception being Peugeot who do it from the gearbox end, so their No 4 is furthest from the gearbox. (I suspect Citroen will be the same but I don't know)

[oakdale]

Can you tell us what car this is, or is it a big secret?

[ant427]

looks like a Toyota something

[brman]

There are a few clues as to whether it is oil or not.
- sniff it. Does it smell like oil or petrol?
- rub a bit between your fingers. Petrol feels more like water. Oil feels.... well, like oil!
- leave the plug out for half a hour or so. Does it evaporate? If so, petrol, if not, oil....

I'd guess oil though from the look of it.

[E-bmw]

TallPaul said:

Number one cylinder is usually the front of the engine, the opposite end to the gearbox (back of the engine).

^^^^ Wot 'e said.

Also 1 is normally the cam chain/belt end.

[Illforever]

Yes it's a Toyota Celica 140 02 reg, I'll try the above and order a compression tester

[Illforever]

This is maybe fixed, I have ordered tools, spark plug tester, compression tester so I have these for later :P Anyway I noticed there was fluid down where the No. 4 fuel injector sits, I thought petrol at first but it seemed more like oil as no smell and it was slimey. Ordered a set of 4 fuel injectors off a guy on ebay for 30 quid, they came the other day, I haven't been using the car since I noticed the oil (or whatever the liquid was), but I fitted one of the second hand fuel injectors and now the car is running sweet. I fitted the cleanest looking one and the one I took out seems a bit burned or something on the end - probably blocked though.

So hopefully all this was a blocked fuel injector and the little pool of oil around it was a spillage when I have topped the oil up, I cannot really see where else it could leak from, and I replaced the rocker cover gasket and that seems great I don't remember spilling any oil when topping up and haven't touched the oil for some time, and now I check the fuel injectors before each drive, to make sure they aren't leaking or any oil is back.

I've done 3 journeys in the car, no flat spots in rev range, no hunting on idle, car is running sweet, feels a lot more fresh and powerful. So hopefully all is fixed.

Thank you everyone for your help and advice or just for reading my thread, until the next issue, thank you all

[paintman]

Fingers crossed! Thank you for posting the result