Technical "lumpy sounding engine"

[polarbear1]

Help!
I have a "lumpy sounding" engine on my cinquecento sporting. Have changed the spark plugs (very carbonated)& changed air filter. Still doesn't sound smooth.What else can I check? as a female any advice would be useful. No backward whistles please, no one can do that quite like my local garage..Annie:bang:

 

[SkinzCinqSporting]

Welcome to the forum, The car probably wants a good service, air filter(done),plugs(done),oil change. Maybe check HT leads and ignition coils, erm a fuel system treatment to help decoke the engine.

 

[polarbear1]

Thats great, thank you. Whats a coil? and where would i find it? Could I replace it myself?

 

[SkinzCinqSporting]

My very crude understanding of the ignition coil is that it is what provides the spark to the plugs through the HT leads. But I think the problems from dodgy coils are a bit worse than just "chugging", tends to lead to misfires or no spark at all. A word of advice, buy a haynes if you fancy trying things yourself

 

[SkinzCinqSporting]

Sorry forgot to mention that along with an oil change it wants a new oil filter as well.

 

[polarbear1]

Its not misfiring, just doesn't sound smooth, I will change the leads, and give it a "descale" as you said in your earlier reply. Will get a manual anyway, always useful! Will get hubby to do the oil and filter change. Many thanks for your help and advice. Will let you know how it goes, as I feel this is a "sunday" job!!!

 

[SkinzCinqSporting]

Dont bother with the others until you've done the oil change. Tends to make a noticeable difference. I would say changing the leads is the final option if the other 2 options haven't made a difference.

 

[polarbear1]

Engine sounded slightly better after I changed the plugs, the oil does look clean, but I will still change it first (& filter) and go from there.

 

[custard]

rule of thumb,if you have a fault and havent touched the servicable items then you do those 1st.at least its less things to consider

 

[fingers99]

I don't think you said what the mileage was. I'd be inclined to check that the cambelt hasn't slipped (or just change it) and get a garage to run a compression test on it. Before hubby changes the oil, look for mayonaise inside the oil filler cap.

What's a reverse whistle, BTW?

 

[arseofbox]

What's a reverse whistle, BTW?

Maybe its due to the whine the gearbox makes when you put it in reverse...Straight cut gears are a tad noisy...

 

[Advanced Driver]

I don't think you said what the mileage was. I'd be inclined to check that the cambelt hasn't slipped (or just change it) and get a garage to run a compression test on it. Before hubby changes the oil, look for mayonaise inside the oil filler cap.

What's a reverse whistle, BTW?

I wondered what she meant, but I think it's probably the hissing noise that mechanics make when something is going to be expensive :tempt:

 

[polarbear1]

Reverse whistle is the sharp intake of breath the mechanic makes before saying "shouldn't have brought that, its gonna be expensive"!!.

Mileage is 61,000. Cambelt has been changed and no mayo round the cap. Think it just needs a good service, thats the plan!!

 

[SkinzCinqSporting]

A good service is what it needs, spot on