Technical Timing or something else?

[alfajerry]

Hi Guys,
My 1998 Cinq Sporting was just starting to use a little coolant and have a slightly 'spluttery' idle, so it went for a new head gasket, and a light skim just in case.
Got it back and the idle is still 'spluttery', it doesn't accelerate as well, and can't hold as high a gear going up hill.
I'm taking it back for garage to check they've set the engine timing marks correctly, but if it isn't this, has anyone got any ideas as to what problem might be?
Thanks for any advice/experiences.
Jerry

 

[fingers99]

It's a strange garage that pulls cylinder heads "just in case" without doing a compression test first! They must think you're stinking rich!

It could be a lot of things. It could be timing, plugs and leads, head gasket, the onset of a coil pack going down........

The very first thing I'd do is start the engine at night in a dark place, look for blue flashes under the bonnet (there should be none), then a complete service: oil change, fuel/oil/air filter, plugs and -- if they've not been changed in the last couple of years, plug leads.

If that doesn't sort it, to another garage for a compression test.

 

[prompon]

It's a strange garage that pulls cylinder heads "just in case" without doing a compression test first! They must think you're stinking rich!

It could be a lot of things. It could be timing, plugs and leads, head gasket, the onset of a coil pack going down........

The very first thing I'd do is start the engine at night in a dark place, look for blue flashes under the bonnet (there should be none), then a complete service: oil change, fuel/oil/air filter, plugs and -- if they've not been changed in the last couple of years, plug leads.

If that doesn't sort it, to another garage for a compression test.

How do you perform a compression test fingers?
Thanks.

 

[fingers99]

I think Kris has just described it elsewhere, but:

Buy a compression tester (15 - 20 quid), just make sure it's the screw in type and has the 12mm adaptor.

Warm up the engine. Disconnect the LT side of the coils and the fuel relay. Remove plugs, screw in adaptor to each cylinder in turn while someone turns the engine over on the starter with the throttle fully open. Make a note of the readings.

What you're looking for is a reading within about 5% on each cylinder. If the HG has gone you'll either see a low reading on one cylinder (compression leaking to water or oil passages) or -- more likely -- the readings on two adjacent cylinders will be low, so the gasket has gone between them.

If it's just one cylinder, squirt a teaspoon or so of oil down the plug hole and re-run the test. If the reading improves markedly, then it's a piston/bore/ring wear issue, if not, a bad valve or the HG.

 

[alfacool]

Hi Guys,
My 1998 Cinq Sporting was just starting to use a little coolant and have a slightly 'spluttery' idle, so it went for a new head gasket, and a light skim just in case.
Got it back and the idle is still 'spluttery', it doesn't accelerate as well, and can't hold as high a gear going up hill.
I'm taking it back for garage to check they've set the engine timing marks correctly, but if it isn't this, has anyone got any ideas as to what problem might be?
Thanks for any advice/experiences.
Jerry

Mmm.
My 98 sporting is also like this regarding idle "spluttery" ?.
And has used a bit more coolent of late but i have blead the system and monitoring its use.
A reset helped with the acceleration and 5th gear hill climbs i also took up the slack on the throttle cable that made it more "revy".
It will be interesting what your findings are.

 

[alfajerry]

Perhaps I wasn't clear.
The head gasket has been done and was leaking into cylinder nearest cambelt.
It may be that the basic timing was done incorrectly on reassembly, OR, there is another problem.
It is this 'other' potential cause for the symptoms I gave that I am interested in.

Alfacool: What is a 'reset'?

Thanks,
Jerry

 

[fingers99]

Reset: take the negative lead off the battery, put it back on after 30 mins or so. The ECU has a limited learning mode, if it has learnt to cope with a fault, it'll wipe the memory so it can learn the "fixed" engine.

As to faults, all that I've listed, including the head gasket. There is no one reason for the symptoms you describe. Is the ECU light on? Does it happen hot, cold or hot and cold?

 

[levemircento]

Apart from the compression test, there are a couple of other things to check seeing as the head has been removed and refitted

take the airbox off, and make sure the vac pipes are all connected, and that none are split, or even missing. Then, make sure the blue connector is connected to the temp sensor - looking at the engine from the front, its on the right hand side rear of the inlet manifold, hidden by other pipes and stuff, make sure its on and the clip is fitted.

Check the vac pipe that goes to the map sensor, I had one that appeared to be fine, but when swapped for one a bit longer and newer, it was obvious the old one was shot.

Also, check that the connector for the lambda sensor is connected - thats the sensor in the exhaust downpipe, they may have took the downpipe off to get to the head, and not connected the connector back up.

All of these checks, you can easily do yourself, and cost £0, if you identify a problem, fix it, and if you dont know how, ask.

Good luck

 

[alfajerry]

Fingers:
Reset info, thanks.
>>Is the ECU light on?
No.
>>Does it happen hot, cold or hot and cold?
All the time.

Levemir:
Car is back at garage to be checked in morning.
Will work through your list if no joy.

Many thanks,
Jerry

 

[alfajerry]

AND THE WINNER IS.......

Alfacool and Fingers.

Got up early and disconnected battery negative lead for 40 minutes, reconnected, drove to garage, no problems en route, told garage guy about it, he said he'd keep it in his head for the next Cinq with similar symptoms.

Thank you all for your help and advice.
All the best,
Jerry

 

[fingers99]

Glad it worked

 

[alfacool]

Yey....
Happy times.