Technical running on 2 cilinders

[plopkoekk]

Hi

I bought a '00 seicento ('young') for a fairly cheap price a month back.
Now the first few weeks were pretty good until I noticed the infamous injector light turn up.

The problem was fairly random most of the time:
When driving for long distances or when it's hot the light would go on and it would run on 2 cylinders and it would not even have the power to accelerate decently to 40-50km/h (24- 31miles/h).

Now, the problem is expanding to 30 seconds after engine starts. If I put the engine off, and start it 2 hours later, the problem is still there. running rough and vibrating like crazy.


Since I don't know anything about cars, I started asking around. They told me a few thing to check without any results or diagnosis.
Now they ask me to read out the codes. But as far as I can see I don't have a OBD2 port under the dash like the internet says?

Things I've tested/done so far:
-spark plug replaces
-HT leads replaces
-Cleaned an oxygen sensor
-Started the car without oxygen sensor connected to anything (advice from a colleague, would've been temporary)

I also ordered some coils to see if it was that but I still have to wait for them to arrive.

If anyone has experience or advice would be welcome. :/

 

[Eklipze3k]

Depending which 2 cylinders it's running on (or not running on) will determine whether or not it's a coil, but I'd say it's pretty likely that one of them has given up.

 

[multipete]

Check that plug leads 1&4 go to one coil pack,and leads 2&3 go to the other. Then start car,and with a screw driver,push the wire clip in on the injector connector and remove and refit. If the engine runs the same when wire off,,that cylinder is faulty,if it runs worse or stalls,it's a good cylinder.do this with all injectors. Now turn engine off, remove and loosely refit the plug leads at plugs,or coils if you can't get plug leads off. With the engine running,using insulated handled pliers, pull the plug leads off and refit,one by one and look or listen for a spark jumping the gap(about 1 or 2cm) Report results, spark on all cylinders(coils ok) so fault lies with possible injectors/wiring. But first you need to narrow the fault down.

 

[Eklipze3k]

Check that plug leads 1&4 go to one coil pack,and leads 2&3 go to the other. Then start car,and with a screw driver,push the wire clip in on the injector connector and remove and refit. If the engine runs the same when wire off,,that cylinder is faulty,if it runs worse or stalls,it's a good cylinder.do this with all injectors. Now turn engine off, remove and loosely refit the plug leads at plugs,or coils if you can't get plug leads off. With the engine running,using insulated handled pliers, pull the plug leads off and refit,one by one and look or listen for a spark jumping the gap(about 1 or 2cm) Report results, spark on all cylinders(coils ok) so fault lies with possible injectors/wiring. But first you need to narrow the fault down.

2000 is likely to be SPI, so only one injector

 

[plopkoekk]

2000 is likely to be SPI, so only one injector

As Eklipze3k mentioned, it's an SPI. Forgot to mention that. Could it really be the injector? because from what I understand no cilinders would work properly with only one injector, right?

The coils got sent today, so I hope they'll get here fast enough. Being a new driver with his first car... it itches so hard to drive, haha.

 

[Eklipze3k]

Yeah, if the injector wasn't working none of the cylinders would fire.

 

[multipete]

As pointed out,it's a spi, so the individual injector check won't work,sorry to mis~inform you.

 

[rallycinq]

that, and SPi injectors are really pretty bulletproof.

Coil or coil wiring. remember they switch to earth, not live.

D

 

[Ralf S.]

If you attach one of the HT leads to an old spark plug with the electrode resting on the engine block, you'll be able to see whether or not it is sparking when you crank the engine over.

Don't *hold* the plug on the engine block (you could get a shock)... keep clear and make sure the plug can't fall off and into the moving parts in case the car starts (on however many cylinders it can).

Then try the same spark plug on the HT lead from the next cylinder and so on.

If two plugs don't spark and are connected to the same coil then that coil is the duff one. If the plug doesn't spark when it's connected to different coils, then the problem is not the coils... but this sounds like a dead cert.


Ralf S.

 

[plopkoekk]

As a follow up:

The coils have been delivered today. I installed them and it was running like a champ again!
The only thing I've still noticed is the lack of speed I get for the moment. I suspect the Fuelfilter being clogged up. I'll try with some injectorcleaner if that helps any. Otherwise I'll just change the filter hoping it's only that.

Could it be anything else?
If I start the car and it gets warm I can rev it just fine up until it gets warm. If it gets warm, and you hold the gaspedal in place, you hear a severe drop in revs (maybe 1500-2000rpm drop) and then it goes up again but not as fast.

 

[SolidusSnake]

Check/replace the crankshaft sensor. Sounds very much like thats the cause