Continuing Problems

I obviously really jinxed myself at the AGM. My car is running like a b*$%h!!!!

It all started at 2 am with the AA getting very overeager and doing things they new nothing about..... Before that the car was running beautifully. Everything was working fine and car a dream to drive. At the time the car just wouldn't start having just run faultlessly for 2hrs on the way home from some work, now......

Symptoms:

Engine won't run then suddenly goes like the clappers
Bad misfiring (Lots of old Ladies cowering!)
Generally uneven running
Cuts out
Sometimes absolutely fine!
No Speedo
No computer readings

Work done so far:

Re-wire fuel pump and Crank speed sensor wire from loom where AA had cut it (!!??!!!!)
New fuel pump and Injector relay's
New crank speed sensor

Does anyone have any ideas? I'm at a total loss now and the Missus is giving me a hard time since both cars are off the road!

Cheers

Jon

I say it all the time, but seriously, check all your earths, especially the battery earth. If this is corroded it makes everything run crap - engine, electrics, the lot!

Will do!! Where does the earth lead to the battery connect to?

[BIG_MVS]

Does it run OK from cold then have a misfire?

Could be your front fuel pump if that's the case.

As Juzz says check your earths failing that!

If its backfiring (I take thats what you mean from people cowering) then that means its an ignition/spark issue rather than fuel.

Rotor and cap have been renewed as well as plugs, new leads are on order. Other than that it can still be an earthing issue to the coil, or the coil is breaking down, or the plug to it is lose etc... Check the wiring and earths.

It seems to run randomly fine then not. I can't see any patteren, eg yesterday it ran fine from cold then had the problem then today had trouble starting then ran really badly for a while....

All the plug wires are in tight as far as i can see but will check again, where are the main earthing points that i should check?

Thanks guys!!!

There is a main earthing strap under the battery tray, take the battery out and you will find it. remove it, clean it up, put vasalene or copper grease on it too before replacement.

There is anonther strap on the side of the gearbox, but you need to get right under the car with a torch to find this one.

Other earths are in the front foot wells, on drivers side it is behind the carpet by the bonnet lever. Not sure where the passenger side one is though.

Also there is another on the RH rear suspension turret.

As you have mis firing issues, I suspect that it is not the ones in the front foot wells, so check them last.

Good Luck.

I had a very similar problem. Car would start ok and then randomly it would run very unevenly, banging and popping and then it would clear for say 10 mins and then come back. It did get so bad one day I had to pull off because I couldnt even reach 30mph.

Turned out to be the Renix unit (rhs of the engine bay). It must have started to breakdown or something

Anyway, I swapped it for another and it's been fine ever since.

(apart from one niggle which I'm just about to post on here !)

I know Darren Biggs had intermittent problems and it turned out to be the coil. I have a complete ignition unit from a crashed GTA if that's of interest,

YAY!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

Have replaced coil and it now seems to run fine, will do the leads this week as well. My speedo/fuel computer etc are still not working though, anyone got any ideas? Are there and wires is should be looking for?

Cheers for all your help (Esp DG for coil)

Jon

Excellent, it's great when a problem is solved.

As I said I had an identical problem and after using this forum, receiving responses from kind helpful people, speaking to Turbodog and DG I too found out what the likely suspect might be.

Advice here is invaluable.
P.

YAY!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

Have replaced coil and it now seems to run fine, will do the leads this week as well. My speedo/fuel computer etc are still not working though, anyone got any ideas? Are there and wires is should be looking for?

Cheers for all your help (Esp DG for coil)

Jon

Well the technical method first to try is give the dash a smack above the speedo , and if that doesnt work, give it another smack, and for the dash computer, turn the ignition off then hold down the toggle mode button for the computer, hold down the trip reset button on the clocks and turn the ignition back on...

BTW, you need three hands for this..

Great technical advice

Cheers guys, your all brilliant,

I'm just off to grow some hands!