(T) Not the coils what is it?!

Hello

Thansk to all the help from the forum, I have now found that the fault with the misfiring and idling is not the coils or HT leads.

Having swapped around all the leads and coil packs, the fault stays with No2 cylinder.

There is a good spark there and the plug is fine. However, when you remove the lead the car idles fine, but when you replace it, the lumpy running starts again?

I fear it may be a compression problem, and only having paid £370 for the car, which was my sons savings, cannot really afford to have the engine stripped! So may have to cut my losses and sell the Cinq, which I really don't want to do, as we both love it!

Hoping someone may have some good news re other reasons, I have read about a crankcase sensor on another forum?

Thanks again for any help.

well a compression tester can be got from halfords for under £20
not that i condone it but careful removal of the packaging,careful use and keeping it clean could enable a refund ofr purchasing the wrong item
or just ebay it.
where are you in the UK?

Custardboy you are a hero! and always here?

I live in Maidstone, Kent.

Would get Comp tester, but worried if it shows engine problem, costs will be more than value of car!

Still cannot work out why car ran fine when test driven and getting me home, and has run perfectly intermmitently since, following clearing of vacuum hose, but now won't even idle!

Still seems like something loose or incorrectly connected to me, but have run out of ideas. Could it be a LT problem, or another sensor?

could be but at least if you get it compression tested and its okay its a weight of your mind.

Good point, will give it a go.

Hom many miles has the car done? over what sort of driving city, motorway, granny?

It could be something as simple as a sticking valve if its done a reasonable milage try a bucket full of redex

Only got car a few weeks ago, and have not been able to drive it following first 50 miles!

Has got 60000 on clock, which I beleive is genuine.

Have just spent another happy hour in garage, checking all the connesctions again.

Really weird symptoms, as runs great when lead to plug 2 removed, but as soon as you get the lead anywhere near the plug, the misfire starts again. Removing lead to plug one leaves car running badly, but if you remove 3 or 4 leads, the car stalls immediately. No smoke from exhaust, smell of fuel or oil, or usage of water/oil

It does seem like something sticking, as it has cleared in the past, but does not seem to respond to anything now.

Never used Redex before, do you just add it to tank.

Thanks

Usually yes

In your case the best thing to do would be to take the plugs out and squirt some directly into the cylinder, bung the spark plug hole with some rag and turn the engine over a couple of times and then leave it for a bit, do the same again after a day or so, then turn the engine over for longer with a rag over the spark plug hole to catch the redex that will be shot out out then put the spark plug in and try it. let it run for a little while so any soft carbon deposits are burnt off.

This used to work a treat on my mums old metro which always suffered with sticking valves (as it never went ove 40mph) but there are no guarentees it will cure your probs.

Will give it a go and let you know what happens.

Any other thoughts gratefully received!

Def got the leads in the correct order?? Your symptoms do sound a bit odd lol.


Kristian

Thats exactly the conclusion I came to. Do check the leads are positioned correctly.

Cheers

D

I had a Cinquecento that had a failed valve. The valve cost £7, the head gasket set was about £25 and it was two weekends to take the cylinder head off, clean everything off, grind in the valve and put it all back together.

I wouldn't have started that without a compression test first.

The plug symptoms do seem odd. You have to have the cylinders 1 and 4 connected to one coil and 2 and 3 connected to the other.

gonna say this sounded exactly like what was wrong with my car.. try the valve timing.

Thanks Guys

I have checked the leads are on the right coils, and in the order shown on the mounting plates.

Everyone seems to be coming to the conclusion it is a valve problem, so will check compression and timing, if somwone could tell me how I check the latter!!

Cheers