Daft question - which is cyl number 1

[eltax91]

Chaps

MiL 1.5 almera is playing tricks again. Random engine light and she can feel it hesitate and hear what she describes as a miss fire.

Now, I've scanned it with my torque app on my android and I got the basic fault code:

'P0303 - mid fire detected on cylinder number 3'

Now, I've ordered 4 new NGK plugs already as we've no idea when they were changed. It appears as though each ignition lead has a separate coil integrated into the lead as they are fairly expensive! Anyone confirm that for this engine?

So, assuming throwing the plugs in does not fix the problem, I'd like to swap the lead/ coil for one of the others and see if my fault code moves cylinders.

Question is, which end of the engine is number 1? The end with the chain, pulleys and ancillerias?

Ta and sorry for newb question.

[Rickyy]

Usually the end closest to the cambelt.

Sounds like you have individual ignition coils. Older cars had a single coil with HT leads running to the spark plug.

[silverfoxcc]

The one nearest the crank pulley end

ie the front, or if transverse, the end with all the ancillaries Alternator, steering pump, a/c pump etc

[JordanTurbo]

As said, usually the cam belt end, furthest from the gearbox.

[anonymous-user]

plug the plugleads (or coil packs) off one at a time, the codes should pop up to identify which cylinder is which. if you have a continuous misfire on cyl3, you will also notice that the engine doesn't slow down/heistate when you remove the plug lead for that cylinder (as it is already not firing).

Recommend wearing rubber gloves, dry hands and standing on an old bit of rubber matting to avoid getting zapped btw! (hold other hand behind back)

[bullitinhead]

silverfoxcc said:

The one nearest the crank pulley end

ie the front, or if transverse, the end with all the ancillaries Alternator, steering pump, a/c pump etc

Unless its a renault, cyl 1 is nearest the gearbox


Bullit

[dcb]

eltax91 said:

'P0303 - mid fire detected on cylinder number 3'

Question is, which end of the engine is number 1? The end with the chain, pulleys and ancillerias?

Doesn't matter.

Suggest swap leads on the inner two cylinders and see what happens.

BTW, separate coil for each cylinder sounds like something from
a far superior quality car.

I know her indoors's Almera has chains, instead of cam belts.

This makes the Nissan Almera better than the average mainstream shopping
trolley in two important ways.

If only it had six cylinders too ...

[rigga]

bullitinhead said:

silverfoxcc said:

The one nearest the crank pulley end

ie the front, or if transverse, the end with all the ancillaries Alternator, steering pump, a/c pump etc

Unless its a renault, cyl 1 is nearest the gearbox


Bullit

Yes this confused me on a mates car a while back.

[Ozzie Osmond]

Depends which side of the car Tinchy Stryder is sitting....

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=LJsVDH-3b3Y

[Mr2Mike]

dcb said:

BTW, separate coil for each cylinder sounds like something from
a far superior quality car.

An awful lot of lower end cars use Coil On Plug ignition, it's no sign of quality at all. Unless you also think a 13 year old Vauxhall Astra is a far superior quality car?

[shoehorn]

dch said:

I know her indoors's Almera has chains, instead of cam belts.

This makes the Nissan Almera better than the average mainstream shopping
trolley in two important ways.

It`s funny that,the 1.5/6 engines are common sufferers of timing chains stretching and It really don`t take a lot on these engines for the cam and crank signals to go out of synchronicity and the car will start one time in ten,if you are lucky.
BTW,it`s one chain and obviously not a very good one.

[PhillipM]

bullitinhead said:

Unless its a renault, cyl 1 is nearest the gearbox


Bullit

Or a Peugeot, or a Citreon, and a few others.

Correct answer is - it depends.

[eltax91]

PhillipM said:

bullitinhead said:

Unless its a renault, cyl 1 is nearest the gearbox


Bullit

Or a Peugeot, or a Citreon, and a few others.

Correct answer is - it depends.

Great!!