some questions about possible problems

[Cathelijne]

We still have some things which could be a symptom of something:

1) When the engine is hot is doesn't start at once. When is starts it runs on just 3 or 4 legs (instead of 6), after a few seconds the rest runs too. Normal or needs some adjusting?

2)Because the car is shaking at stationary, we had it checked, they said it probably has another (sharper, saying it right )camshaft. Does this sound reasonable?

3) Smells like petrol when we drive it. We can't find any kind of leakage. Any idea's or is it cars nature?

PS: The car is a '83 Tasmin 280i conv.


>>> Edited by Cathelijne on Saturday 15th June 21:04

[tivhead]

And again in English please.......

Sorry.... Errm, hard to start when hot? Might be a faulty cold start valve(squirts more fuel in when cold, could be open permanently). Hence fouling up of some of the plugs, prematurely.
I assume you mean it is running lumpy whilst stationary..? It COULD be a higher lift cam, or it could just mean it needs the plugs cleaning. Also the fuel injection system looking at. Maybe a clogged injector.

Put some fuel system cleaner through it with 1/4 of a tank of fuel, then clean the plugs up.

Just a few ideas from a novice mechanic....

Good luck

Tiv

>> Edited by tivhead on Saturday 15th June 23:09

[RobM]

Dont know much about tazmins, but it sounds like an automatic choke problem ( does it have auto choke, or is it manual ?? ) Running with choke on when hot can cause all the symptoms you mention!
I used to have an old escort with the same problem. The auto choke used water temperature to determine how much to open. If its using the same method, you could try checking the cooling system levels, I fitted a manual choke, which did the job great.

Sorry, dont know much about taz's :/

[Cathelijne]

quote:
( does it have auto choke, or is it manual ?? )

It has an auto choke, so this could be the problem. Thanks

quote:
Errm, hard to start when hot? Might be a faulty cold start valve(squirts more fuel in when cold, could be open permanently). Hence fouling up of some of the plugs, prematurely.
I assume you mean it is running lumpy whilst stationary..? It COULD be a higher lift cam, or it could just mean it needs the plugs cleaning. Also the fuel injection system looking at. Maybe a clogged injector.
Put some fuel system cleaner through it with 1/4 of a tank of fuel, then clean the plugs up.

The plugs are checked, cleaned and replaced if necessary. The other things you mentioned could be something. We'll take the car with your list to the garage.

>> Edited by Cathelijne on Sunday 16th June 10:20

[wolosp]

Cathelijne - Sounds like a faulty plug(s)to me (shaking would suggest not firing on all cylinders) why not put this question into the wedge post? They might be able to help you.

>> Edited by wolosp on Sunday 16th June 15:41

>> Edited by wolosp on Sunday 16th June 15:43

[Cathelijne]

quote:
Cathelijne - Sounds like a faulty plug(s)to me (shaking would suggest not firing on all cylinders)

We checked the cylinders and they all work.

[wolosp]

The smell of petrol together with the 'shaking' of the engine would suggest one or more cylinder is not firing.
Just some obvious points:
1)I assume you've checked the spark is ok at each plug.
2)Are the plug leads connected to the correct cylinders?
I've run out of suggestions now! Other than the above - it looks like a trip to the garage. Best of luck!

[Terminator]

I'd suggest that the injection system was faulty in some way. I had two 280i Tasmins some while back and both suffered from vapour lock. They were a bugger to start from hot but my mechanic sorted the problem out without too much trouble.