Diagnosing a problem (exhaust???)

bushido · Post by **bushido** » Mon May 05, 2008 1:35 am

Just need some help to find out what is wrong with my car. heres whats been happening.

Starting yesterday the car has adopted;

1. Lumpy idle
2. Uneven firing of exhaust

and the worst of it....

3. feels like something is blocking the exhaust flow. Not sure if the following incident confirms this but I will note it down too. Was making a full throttle take off at the lights and I didnt get much accleration. (Mivec still works). So I hit 60 and here a loud pop, not like an exhaust pop of cackle.

Anyway, I do somehow feel like it was all my fault since I was running no muffler. i do have extrcators and hi flow cat. So maybe the car is not used to having the muffler back on?

Help please

Post by **vipfto** » Mon May 05, 2008 8:00 am

Sound more like spark plugs or ignition issue to me have you changed recently?

bushido · Post by **bushido** » Mon May 05, 2008 8:18 am

Oh I should have mentioned that I just had a service. New iridium sparkplugs, all fluids etc..

Post by **vipfto** » Mon May 05, 2008 8:26 am

Its possible that they have used wrong plugs
but may me ignition leads or coils.....
I doubt that prob with exhaust because of lumpy idle however may also me air flow meter or idle has been set to low from service?

Post by **Bennoz** » Mon May 05, 2008 8:49 am

+1

Moneys on leads or plugs ^^

Possibly they've not re-connected one of the rear leads to the coil packs on the front bank properly. Pull your Mivec over off & have a look.

Having said that, you just got it back from a service & its not right, you should be going straight back to them & telling them to fix it.

Post by **I8A4RE** » Mon May 05, 2008 12:46 pm

Agreed, especially if it was running fine before hand.

bushido · Post by **bushido** » Mon May 05, 2008 2:34 pm

but Pulse racing is in Menai. its sooo far way and I dont finish Uni until 5 today. Definately was running fine before the service and also straight after the service. Exhaust sounds like it's misfiring?

mr-charisma · Post by **mr-charisma** » Mon May 05, 2008 3:47 pm

doesn't hurt to check ECU codes anyways

Post by **I8A4RE** » Mon May 05, 2008 6:05 pm

Is it misfiring? or just sounding like it

bushido · Post by **bushido** » Mon May 05, 2008 6:10 pm

sound like its misfiring. When you rev it up slowly, it kind of doesnt want to rev. Like reluctant sort of?

Post by **I8A4RE** » Mon May 05, 2008 6:15 pm

Yeah that sounds like miss firing. So as other ppl have said it could be something simple as a HT lead or coil pack not connected properly or wrong spark plugs that would definitly be my guess do what ben said and take off mivec cover and just have a look around make sure everything looks plug in etc. If you cant find it take it back straighht away.

FFS they should have road tested it and felt that for themselves

bushido · Post by **bushido** » Mon May 05, 2008 6:38 pm

Just checked. Eveyrthing is plugged in. So I should take it back to them eh?

Post by **I8A4RE** » Mon May 05, 2008 6:41 pm

Definitly AND dont let them con you thats its your fault.

mr-charisma · Post by **mr-charisma** » Mon May 05, 2008 6:45 pm

Does anyone know if it could be the 02 Sensor?

Post by **I8A4RE** » Mon May 05, 2008 9:47 pm

I doubt it very much. When an O2 sensor is fouled, all the computre does is run the engine rich.

bushido · Post by **bushido** » Tue May 06, 2008 2:22 pm

Car is at Pulse (since 730 this morning) and from they have told me on the phone, one of the fuel injectors is stuffed so it has been running on five cylinders. I told them the initial problems I had and they went over the leads and spark plugs. Plugs are fine, they said leads need replacing but they have none (aza supplied his own...where can i get some leads...already tried supercheap) but afterw a while they said its the injectors. I find this funny since after the service it was running fine, and on the same bathc of fuel until saturday when it went weird. Does thsi mean that fuel quality vaires in the same tank? Oh and they said there is a lot of sand in the injectors

.

Oh and this time i explicitly said "test drive the car before you get it back to me".

Ive always used caltec but now Pulse recommends using Mobil. hmmm..

And I do have to pay dont I since it wasnt a service issue?

Post by **I8A4RE** » Tue May 06, 2008 2:35 pm

Sounds fishy too me, that it happens just after a service. However clogged injectors would cause the symptoms you have described.

Ive heard of sand in the vagina but in the injectors. What exactly did you get done on this service

and on the same bathc of fuel until saturday when it went weird. Does thsi mean that fuel quality vaires in the same tank?

If you were driving it hard it could of stirred up all the sediment in your tank but then it needs to get through 2 filters

Post by **vipfto** » Tue May 06, 2008 3:36 pm

I agree with I8A4RE its symptom of clogged injectors but how the hell did sand get in them

Have they given you explanation?
It does sound dodgy to me too

bushido · Post by **bushido** » Tue May 06, 2008 6:15 pm

Got the car back. it is running fine now. Heres what they did.

Labour
Carry out initial inspection
Disgnose mis fire
R and R intake manifold
Test ignition system
Test fuel pump pressure and flow
R & R injectors for inspection
Clean fuel injectors
Replace fuel filter
Remove and inspect fuel tank sender
clean fuel pump filter and re fit Labour total $335

Parts
Mitsubishi fuel filter $38
Service injectors ($44 each) Parts total $302

Additional comments
Noted excessive rust/water in Fuel tank
Fuel pump output is on teh low side.

Also told me that the fuel filter has never been changed or cleaned. (no logbooks)
And also from their ultrasound inspection, the fucked up injector was only running at 20% from all the sediment buildup.

Post by **Bennoz** » Tue May 06, 2008 11:55 pm

Just bad timing that it went tits up after a minor service then hey?... bugger.

Must feel good now thou, found some more horses!