Rough Running....
Discussion
Hi there gents,
I have a snag that I was hoping you may be able to shed some light on.... Making the most of the decent weather, I decided to take my S2 into work on Friday (35 miles each way on A Roads). The drive in was brilliant but on the drive home, after the car had got up to temperature (circa 88 degs with fan cutting in and out as required), I experienced the following problem:
- When under moderate acceleration - in region of 2000-3000RPM prior to changing gear or performing an overtake, the engine sometimes seemed to struggle with power. Relaxing my foot on the accelerator and/or depressing the clutch appeared to take the 'strain' off the engine and then the subsequent re-application of power went fine and as smoothly as expected. Initially it was only happening only every 5-6 minutes or so. However, as the journey went on, the frequency of the 'rough running' under acceleration increased to the point where it was probably happening every 60 seconds.
Now, I have a temperamental fuel guage on my S2 (separate issue!) so I was suspicious that I was running out of fuel. Attempting to limp it to the next petrol station did not work as this rough running increased and eventually caused the engine to cut out entirely. At the side of the road; the engine would intermittently turn over but not stay running. This re-affirmed my low fuel suspicions and I thumbed a lift to and from the nearest Esso with petrol can in hand.
Filling up with one can, the car started perfectly and drove fairly nicely to the Esso for a proper fill-up (the rough running only occurred once during the 6 mile drive). I had only fuelled up £50 just 140 miles previously so I was concerned that I had used all of my fuel so soon but seeing as the car was now working again I was certain that lack of fuel must have been the cause. However, when I went to fill up and it would only take £19..... seems that a lack of fuel was not my problem then as there must have still been 20 litres or so in the tank....
Here lies my problem; the car worked absolutely fine after being allowed to cool down for the 20-30 mins it took me to thumb a round trip for petrol. I am none the wiser as to what could have caused this rough running. I can be fairly sure that it wasn't a lack of fuel in the tank though. Does anyone have any ideas?
Thanks in anticipation,
Regards
David
I have a snag that I was hoping you may be able to shed some light on.... Making the most of the decent weather, I decided to take my S2 into work on Friday (35 miles each way on A Roads). The drive in was brilliant but on the drive home, after the car had got up to temperature (circa 88 degs with fan cutting in and out as required), I experienced the following problem:
- When under moderate acceleration - in region of 2000-3000RPM prior to changing gear or performing an overtake, the engine sometimes seemed to struggle with power. Relaxing my foot on the accelerator and/or depressing the clutch appeared to take the 'strain' off the engine and then the subsequent re-application of power went fine and as smoothly as expected. Initially it was only happening only every 5-6 minutes or so. However, as the journey went on, the frequency of the 'rough running' under acceleration increased to the point where it was probably happening every 60 seconds.
Now, I have a temperamental fuel guage on my S2 (separate issue!) so I was suspicious that I was running out of fuel. Attempting to limp it to the next petrol station did not work as this rough running increased and eventually caused the engine to cut out entirely. At the side of the road; the engine would intermittently turn over but not stay running. This re-affirmed my low fuel suspicions and I thumbed a lift to and from the nearest Esso with petrol can in hand.
Filling up with one can, the car started perfectly and drove fairly nicely to the Esso for a proper fill-up (the rough running only occurred once during the 6 mile drive). I had only fuelled up £50 just 140 miles previously so I was concerned that I had used all of my fuel so soon but seeing as the car was now working again I was certain that lack of fuel must have been the cause. However, when I went to fill up and it would only take £19..... seems that a lack of fuel was not my problem then as there must have still been 20 litres or so in the tank....
Here lies my problem; the car worked absolutely fine after being allowed to cool down for the 20-30 mins it took me to thumb a round trip for petrol. I am none the wiser as to what could have caused this rough running. I can be fairly sure that it wasn't a lack of fuel in the tank though. Does anyone have any ideas?
Thanks in anticipation,
Regards
David
You will get a lot of advice on this one, I suggest you search the threads ref the fuel issues and rust in the tank. It could be this - if you think it is then you should start by changing the fuel filter, the little one in the pump (this one you clean) and also possibly draining the tank through the lower access point and cleaning the internal strainer.
However I'd be more inclined to believe it is electrical brought on by temperature. First thing I would do is check all the earths (I've seen this exact issue occur on a daily driver with the battery earth cable breaking down under temperature but looking ok visually). Then check through the ignition system, clean up/replace the distributor cap and rotor arm (depending on how old they look), clean up and regap (or replace) the spark plugs and then try again. If it is still there then I'd look to borrow someone's spare coil (lots have reported the same issue as the coil gives up the ghost) and finally borrow one known good HT lead and change them in turn until you locate the defective component.
Sounds a bit hit and miss, but a new dissy cap, rotor arm and plugs is a good idea (I know you've only recently bought the car and hence the age of these is probably unknown) and the other components I am sure you'll be able to borrow one from someone
Others will be on with more advice I am sure probably around throttle pot, AFM etc (if you want to borrow a throttle pot or AFM I have working spares and I am in Bristol at least once a week despite working in London now)
Oh - I've also emailed you some useful bits and pieces, including a diagnostics sheet
HTH
Mark
However I'd be more inclined to believe it is electrical brought on by temperature. First thing I would do is check all the earths (I've seen this exact issue occur on a daily driver with the battery earth cable breaking down under temperature but looking ok visually). Then check through the ignition system, clean up/replace the distributor cap and rotor arm (depending on how old they look), clean up and regap (or replace) the spark plugs and then try again. If it is still there then I'd look to borrow someone's spare coil (lots have reported the same issue as the coil gives up the ghost) and finally borrow one known good HT lead and change them in turn until you locate the defective component.
Sounds a bit hit and miss, but a new dissy cap, rotor arm and plugs is a good idea (I know you've only recently bought the car and hence the age of these is probably unknown) and the other components I am sure you'll be able to borrow one from someone
Others will be on with more advice I am sure probably around throttle pot, AFM etc (if you want to borrow a throttle pot or AFM I have working spares and I am in Bristol at least once a week despite working in London now)
Oh - I've also emailed you some useful bits and pieces, including a diagnostics sheet
HTH
Mark
I've had this exact issue for a few months now. I ended up replacing the rotor arm, dizzy cap, HT leads, coil, and ignition module. Problem is I have found and fixed multiple other problems in the process including finding my engine loom on the exhaust manifold and my timing out by 15º.
Still not sure I've fixed it though so fuel is my next option. Clean the filters and new tank of regular will hopefully sort things out.
Still not sure I've fixed it though so fuel is my next option. Clean the filters and new tank of regular will hopefully sort things out.
I suffered very similar symptons last week. (see my post Misfire, whats going on) Quickly traced fault to the coil. Fine when it was cool as soon as it got hot, remembering it has been hot weather, it began to cause a miss fire. I replaced the coil, problem solved. If you want to replace the coil it is a Motorquip VCL400, £15.00.
So the sunshine was out again today and considering that it could be the last decent day in a while I optimistically decided to do the commute to work again in the hope that, like Deeman experienced, it was a one off due to fuel vaporisation or another unspecified anomaly.....
Not the case! The drive in this morning went absolutely fine but this evening on the drive home I suffered a power loss again and I freewheeled clear of the road (weirdly - within 1/4 of a mile of the place it happened on Friday - 30 miles into a 35 mile journey!). I had been taking it really easy so I didn't really experience the rough running under heavier acceleration but I suspect that I would have done if I had given it some boot. Once again the car was up at temperature having been driven for 45 mins; the air temperature was lower than on Friday when this fault first struck though. I lifted the bonnet and allowed the car to cool for 15 mins - using the time to read some of Steve Heath's wisdom as I waited!
On first attempt, the car started but required the throttle to be 'blipped' in order to stay turning over. It soon cut out though. I left it for a further 10 minutes to cool and tried again. This time the oil temp was down at approx 60 degs and the car turned over fine so I made the final stretch of my journey without any problems.
I'm almost certain that this is due to temperature and I suppose I will have to begin the diagnosis recommended by mep12345..... That or the coil replacement that worked so effectively for wizzer and steve_j.
Thanks for the advice though guys. I'll let you know how this one pans out!
David
Not the case! The drive in this morning went absolutely fine but this evening on the drive home I suffered a power loss again and I freewheeled clear of the road (weirdly - within 1/4 of a mile of the place it happened on Friday - 30 miles into a 35 mile journey!). I had been taking it really easy so I didn't really experience the rough running under heavier acceleration but I suspect that I would have done if I had given it some boot. Once again the car was up at temperature having been driven for 45 mins; the air temperature was lower than on Friday when this fault first struck though. I lifted the bonnet and allowed the car to cool for 15 mins - using the time to read some of Steve Heath's wisdom as I waited!
On first attempt, the car started but required the throttle to be 'blipped' in order to stay turning over. It soon cut out though. I left it for a further 10 minutes to cool and tried again. This time the oil temp was down at approx 60 degs and the car turned over fine so I made the final stretch of my journey without any problems.
I'm almost certain that this is due to temperature and I suppose I will have to begin the diagnosis recommended by mep12345..... That or the coil replacement that worked so effectively for wizzer and steve_j.
Thanks for the advice though guys. I'll let you know how this one pans out!
David
sounds like the dreaded yellow connector to me ! have you checked it recently ?
you could also check the wiring loom injectors ...........are they clean, rusting gives you an intermittent stop/start misfire.
when the car gets hot they can play up. cool down and they work for a while.
have already had these two problems. sounds like my car a couple of years ago....
you could also check the wiring loom injectors ...........are they clean, rusting gives you an intermittent stop/start misfire.
when the car gets hot they can play up. cool down and they work for a while.
have already had these two problems. sounds like my car a couple of years ago....
Edited by Mr Clifford on Monday 3rd October 22:15
http://www.pistonheads.com/gassing/topic.asp?h=0&a...
how it looks once its gone !
when mine went it starting burning out, result bad connection hence starting one minute then not the next, usually when hot !
just opened this link and read the last post from tinkv8s
how it looks once its gone !
when mine went it starting burning out, result bad connection hence starting one minute then not the next, usually when hot !
just opened this link and read the last post from tinkv8s
Edited by Mr Clifford on Monday 3rd October 22:32
Ah, the yellow connector.... Good shout. I've removed the trim underneath the steering column but cannot see a yellow connector anywhere. To be honest, I don't know exactly where to look but having read lots of the yellow connector posts via the search facility I believe it would be on the underside of the steering column, gear-lever side and the other half to the connector should be black?
I'll post a photo later when the Mrs gets home and I can borrow her camera. In the meantime, does the yellow connector connect the wires coming out of the ignition switch? If so, I believe my S2 yellow connector may have already been removed and re-soldered. The wires coming out of the ignition switch/cylinder are grouped together in a single, well taped up, group running all the way to the front where the disappear somewhere towards the front of the transmission tunnel.
Thanks for the ideas again - I think I may have some cleaning of connectors to do!
I'll post a photo later when the Mrs gets home and I can borrow her camera. In the meantime, does the yellow connector connect the wires coming out of the ignition switch? If so, I believe my S2 yellow connector may have already been removed and re-soldered. The wires coming out of the ignition switch/cylinder are grouped together in a single, well taped up, group running all the way to the front where the disappear somewhere towards the front of the transmission tunnel.
Thanks for the ideas again - I think I may have some cleaning of connectors to do!
For info: to close this thread down - following discovery that the yellow connector on my S2 has been dealt with a previous owner, I went down the ignition coil route and bought a Motaquip VCL400 replacement. I'm happy to report that this has solved the rough running experienced with a warm/hot engine and I have successfully completed 2 x 1 hour jaunts with no sign of the old symptoms.
I now have a clutch snag though.......
Thank you, as ever, for your helpful responses and advise.
David
I now have a clutch snag though.......
Thank you, as ever, for your helpful responses and advise.
David
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