Engine cut out
Discussion
Hi all, (sorry for the long post)
A week ago I replaced all the HT leads as the car (late 94) was running a bit rough and found that a couple of leads were cracked. The idle speed then became erratic so I removed and cleaned the stepper motor (was filthy).
Since then it's idling fine at 9k revs on start-up but the engine dies (hot or cold) when I depress the clutch and dies even whilst accelerating now and again. Each time it stalls the fuel pump primes immediately; the starter motor turns (but doesn't always fire- have to wait 5mins)- embarrassing and frightening at the same time!
I've just spent 3 hours or so using the search facility on here and know that some of you have had the same problem in the past- so...
a) Should I have re-set the ECU after cleaning the stepper motor?
b) Do you think it's a knackered coil?
c) Vacuum advance?
d) Lambda sensor?
The car is used as a daily trawl thru London traffic but gets a blast at weekends and had a full service 6 months ago.
Incidently, as posted on a previous thread, I've currently got a blown nearside manifold gasket (tappety tap!). Could it be related?
You guys always come up trumps- so thankyou in advance for your replies. Being a daily driver (and on a tight budget!), I hope you understand my concerns..
A week ago I replaced all the HT leads as the car (late 94) was running a bit rough and found that a couple of leads were cracked. The idle speed then became erratic so I removed and cleaned the stepper motor (was filthy).
Since then it's idling fine at 9k revs on start-up but the engine dies (hot or cold) when I depress the clutch and dies even whilst accelerating now and again. Each time it stalls the fuel pump primes immediately; the starter motor turns (but doesn't always fire- have to wait 5mins)- embarrassing and frightening at the same time!
I've just spent 3 hours or so using the search facility on here and know that some of you have had the same problem in the past- so...
a) Should I have re-set the ECU after cleaning the stepper motor?
b) Do you think it's a knackered coil?
c) Vacuum advance?
d) Lambda sensor?
The car is used as a daily trawl thru London traffic but gets a blast at weekends and had a full service 6 months ago.
Incidently, as posted on a previous thread, I've currently got a blown nearside manifold gasket (tappety tap!). Could it be related?
You guys always come up trumps- so thankyou in advance for your replies. Being a daily driver (and on a tight budget!), I hope you understand my concerns..
Ok, meant 900
.
Just done the journey into work and she's still cutting out- I had to pull over 4 times.
Another thing I noticed is that prior to going into cut-off mode the engine sounds noticeably muffled.
Could it be a fuel starvation problem?
I checked that there's no vacuum in the tank and doubt that a filter blockage would occur so suddenly.
Later I'm going to check under the dizzy cap and check the throttle pot.
Any alternative ideas would be appreciated.
Kenny
. Just done the journey into work and she's still cutting out- I had to pull over 4 times.
Another thing I noticed is that prior to going into cut-off mode the engine sounds noticeably muffled.
Could it be a fuel starvation problem?
I checked that there's no vacuum in the tank and doubt that a filter blockage would occur so suddenly.
Later I'm going to check under the dizzy cap and check the throttle pot.
Any alternative ideas would be appreciated.
Kenny
On mine the shrouds that looked knackered (burnt) were ok, the ones that looked very good were knackered so I would replace the eight to be sure. Wouldn't have thought it was fuel starvation, might just be that your motor is choking on un burnt fuel caused by those crap suppressors we're talking about. Remember i am no mechanic, could be blocked up fuel filter but i doubt it.
On my Griff I had some serious problems early last year. Traced it back to corrosion of some ECU connectors (where they go through thte bulkhead I think?) and cleaning these up put it to rights. My guess is that a combination of someone steam cleaning the engine and British winter had got in and bu$$ered it up.
Thought I was going to be in for an expensive bill and was pleasantly surprised. Also had to do caps, plugs and HTs too.
Thought I was going to be in for an expensive bill and was pleasantly surprised. Also had to do caps, plugs and HTs too.
PS - Don't expect that gasket will be related. Also had that problem, they have a tough life, and replaced with decent ones. About £10 for the part but £200 for the labour 
- ouch. Had both sides done though.
Edited to
this dyslexic keyboard.
>> Edited by beano500 on Friday 7th March 10:47
- ouch. Had both sides done though. Edited to
this dyslexic keyboard. >> Edited by beano500 on Friday 7th March 10:47
Thanks for the replies guys.
I've just started her and found that by pulling the nearside bulkhead end shroud off(it was the dirtiest) there was no difference to the engine- obviously the guilty one.
As a temporary measure, I've replaced it with the shroud from plug 5- putting the lead directly onto the plug on that one- and what a difference!
Tower View are out of stock on them but the Vauxhall dealership at Staples Corner have 2 that they're keeping aside for me.
So- TVR57S- you were bang on with the diagnosis.
She was running so roughly that I hope I haven't damaged the cats too much though.
I'll take her for a run at lunchtime and see if everything's ok.
Thanks again. Kenny
PS- spoke to Tower View RE the manifold leak- it will go in there over the next couple of weeks.
I've just started her and found that by pulling the nearside bulkhead end shroud off(it was the dirtiest) there was no difference to the engine- obviously the guilty one.
As a temporary measure, I've replaced it with the shroud from plug 5- putting the lead directly onto the plug on that one- and what a difference!
Tower View are out of stock on them but the Vauxhall dealership at Staples Corner have 2 that they're keeping aside for me.
So- TVR57S- you were bang on with the diagnosis.
She was running so roughly that I hope I haven't damaged the cats too much though
. I'll take her for a run at lunchtime and see if everything's ok.
Thanks again. Kenny
PS- spoke to Tower View RE the manifold leak- it will go in there over the next couple of weeks.
Can't see how a failure of one plug extension would create the intermittent engine cutting-out that you described as the main fault. Sure it would affect performance but why would it cause the engine to die and be difficult to restart? I think you may have the usual problem of "diagnostic noise" where you can find subcritical faults that tend to create false victories through solving them, followed by further disappointment and frustration.
FWIW my investigation would be toward fuel tank venting (saturated carbon cannister?) since this would only develop after the engine has been run for some time or perhaps its an ECU problem that might benefit from a reset.
Really annoying problem to have and easy to spend loads of cash on replacing this and that only to keep finding the problem is still there.
Hope you get it sorted soon.
Hutch
FWIW my investigation would be toward fuel tank venting (saturated carbon cannister?) since this would only develop after the engine has been run for some time or perhaps its an ECU problem that might benefit from a reset.
Really annoying problem to have and easy to spend loads of cash on replacing this and that only to keep finding the problem is still there.
Hope you get it sorted soon.
Hutch
Kenny chim 4 said: Thanks for the replies guys.
I've just started her and found that by pulling the nearside bulkhead end shroud off(it was the dirtiest) there was no difference to the engine- obviously the guilty one.
As a temporary measure, I've replaced it with the shroud from plug 5- putting the lead directly onto the plug on that one- and what a difference!
Tower View are out of stock on them but the Vauxhall dealership at Staples Corner have 2 that they're keeping aside for me.
So- TVR57S- you were bang on with the diagnosis.
She was running so roughly that I hope I haven't damaged the cats too much though
I'll take her for a run at lunchtime and see if everything's ok.
Thanks again. Kenny
PS- spoke to Tower View RE the manifold leak- it will go in there over the next couple of weeks.
Get proper magnecor leads/plug extenders (shrouds) from ACT products - they advertise on this site. Much cheaper (£3 ish each instead of £8ish from a Vauxhall stealer).
Trefor/.
I've currently got a blown nearside manifold gasket (tappety tap!). Could it be related?
Yes. If you have an exhaust leak upstream of the lambda sensors, it can suck in air and give the lamdba sensors a bad reading so the ECU ends up over-fuelling to compensate. But there are loads of other potential problems. Unless you're really keen, I would get the experts in.
Hut49- I fear you may well be right and that's why Im cautiously going on a run at lunch time. If it's still cutting out then I'm back to square one- the engine does sound better though and hopefully that muffled sound will have gone.
I also want to have a look at the plugs so I'll go home via Halfords to get the appropriate socket extention(s)to get at them. Bet a couple of them are dirty.
Good advice about the heads at £3..Vauxhall are charging me £8.46 ex vat each!!
But I do need one on plug 5 immediately.
I'll order the other 6, on-line, today.
Cheers, Kenny
I also want to have a look at the plugs so I'll go home via Halfords to get the appropriate socket extention(s)to get at them. Bet a couple of them are dirty.
Good advice about the heads at £3..Vauxhall are charging me £8.46 ex vat each!!
But I do need one on plug 5 immediately.
I'll order the other 6, on-line, today.
Cheers, Kenny
Last week I really set about trying to solve the problem- and got there! (sorry- I should've posted).
Thing is, I did so many things like clean the plugs, re-check all the leads, clean the inside of the dist. cap, re-clean the stepper/throttle butterfly and airflow meter along with cleaning/sealing all electrical connections etc. that I'm not really sure what fixed it.
The initial rough running was due to the leads & caps needing replaced but I think the later problems were due to the stepper motor being in too tightly with no washer.
I put PTFE tape round the thread and screwed it in leaving a couple of milimeters gap and the engine has been fine since. I covered well over 200 miles at the weekend without a hitch.
I've still to get those gaskets done though..
Cheers
Kenny.
PS can I buy a stepper washer on it's own- none of the hardware/motor parts shops I've tried sell one that size.
Thing is, I did so many things like clean the plugs, re-check all the leads, clean the inside of the dist. cap, re-clean the stepper/throttle butterfly and airflow meter along with cleaning/sealing all electrical connections etc. that I'm not really sure what fixed it.
The initial rough running was due to the leads & caps needing replaced but I think the later problems were due to the stepper motor being in too tightly with no washer.
I put PTFE tape round the thread and screwed it in leaving a couple of milimeters gap and the engine has been fine since. I covered well over 200 miles at the weekend without a hitch.
I've still to get those gaskets done though..
Cheers
Kenny.
PS can I buy a stepper washer on it's own- none of the hardware/motor parts shops I've tried sell one that size.
Forums | Chimaera | Top of Page | What's New | My Stuff