Engine problem
Discussion
Help! Went out in my S2 today, everything was fine, then the car started to judder and pull back when I tried to accelerate. Things got steadily worse, in the end I could only crawl along in low revs, as soon as I tried to accelerate the car jumped around like a mad thing! Things don't sound right when it is ticking over either. Could I have a problem with electrics, or does it sound more like fuel problem? Can anyone help...
when you say you washed the car - did that include pressure washing or hosing of the enginbe? If so, it's possible there's water in the electrics - and that could be anywhere.
Check the Idle Speed Control Valve, make sure it's connected properly. It's the 3 inch cylinder at the front of the plenum chamber (that says EFI on it) on top of the engine.
The TP is just underneath the ISCV, on the end of the throttle spindle. Check those connections as well.
Also check the connector in the wiring loom that sits in the engine VEE, just between cylinders 2 and 3 (ie the back two cylinders on the right hand side looking forwards) - they are prone to water ingress as well and carries modt of the sensor info back to the ECU.
Check the Idle Speed Control Valve, make sure it's connected properly. It's the 3 inch cylinder at the front of the plenum chamber (that says EFI on it) on top of the engine.
The TP is just underneath the ISCV, on the end of the throttle spindle. Check those connections as well.
Also check the connector in the wiring loom that sits in the engine VEE, just between cylinders 2 and 3 (ie the back two cylinders on the right hand side looking forwards) - they are prone to water ingress as well and carries modt of the sensor info back to the ECU.
You can get water over the distributor during washing as it runs over the bulkhead and soaks it.
There is another possibility and a fairly common one and that is the in tank fuel filter is clogged and starving the pump of fuel and this will eventually lead to premature pump failure.
Mine kept doing exactly what you described and came to it's conclusion finally when my pump gave up.
There is another possibility and a fairly common one and that is the in tank fuel filter is clogged and starving the pump of fuel and this will eventually lead to premature pump failure.
Mine kept doing exactly what you described and came to it's conclusion finally when my pump gave up.
Can you get to the fuel filter to clean it?? I still cannot work out what the problem was, I drove for about 5 miles and everything was fine, then the problem started, lots of jerking and juddering, then it cleared for a few miles, before starting again. When it was happening, I could put my foot down and nothing happened, then suddenly it would accelerate irratically, it felt lumpy while ticking over too. It hasn't done it since, I hope it was water, which has now dried up??
foxy600 said:
Can you get to the fuel filter to clean it?? I still cannot work out what the problem was, I drove for about 5 miles and everything was fine, then the problem started, lots of jerking and juddering, then it cleared for a few miles, before starting again. When it was happening, I could put my foot down and nothing happened, then suddenly it would accelerate irratically, it felt lumpy while ticking over too. It hasn't done it since, I hope it was water, which has now dried up??
Exactly the same as when mine played up. I was in the outside lane at 80 when it first happened!
I too thought it was water in the fuel and I had poor running at idle speed.
I'm not sure how the in-tank filter is changed .....any ideas anyone?
IMHO, it's a stupid place to fit one, much better to have an external one where it can be changed every now and then!
I never did replace mine, I just (hopefully) drained as much crud out the tank as I could when I fitted the new pump. It's the third pump my car has had looking back through the history.
I fitted a Bosch as they're generally more reliable than the Lucas unit. I posted the part number on the alternative parts list after I fitted the pump, so you should have all the info from there.
foxy600 said:
So, it looks like the pump might be on it's way out. Is it a 'fairly' easy diy job?
Uhhhmm ......not too bad.
I bit awkward with the car on axle stands as I recall as you really need to get right under the rear of the car to get at it and still move the spanners. A much easier job if you have access to a pit or a ramp.
Oh yes ....I'd advise that you go under and spray the pump mounting bracket bolts with WD40 a day or so before as they're a bit of a git to get undone.
>> Edited by kentishS2 on Monday 20th September 11:28
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