More Problems with my EF!

AUII_Forte · 04-05-2005, 09:16 PM

Hey guys,

I am having another problem with my bloody car! I desperately want to get my turbo strapped on, but general running issues keep pushing it back!

It is a really strange problem, it's got me stuffed. Basically it's pinging when I step on it, idling high, has a bad flat spot between 2000-2500rpm that comes and goes randomly and the other morning it wouldn't start so I left it for 10mins and it started and hasn't done it since. I think it's all related, but deffinately not certain. I'm leaning towards the coil pack or something.

It pings badly if I bury my foot quickly, I know they sometimes give a bit of a knock initially, but I'm talking a big rattle for a good 2 sec or so before it goes as normal.

With the idle, I've tried to adjust it, but nothing has worked, It idles perfectly in gear and doesn't fluctuate at all, but when in park or neutral it sits at about 1100rpm not matter what. I think it's doing it because the timing is too far advanced, but I'm only guessing here.

The flat spot is strange, it just comes and goes as it pleases, generally it just feels really underpowered and sometimes misses a tiny bit then all of the sudden picks up as normal.

I have just given it a really thorough service to see if it helped, but it hasn't. I've done the plugs, leads, air filter, fuel filter, oil/oil filter etc. I've also tried to extract the error codes, but I musn't be doing something right, I can get it into self test mode, but it doesn't seem to being giving out any codes at all.

Sorry about the long and confusing post, but I am getting to my wits end with the thing, no matter what I do seems to help. Any advice would be a hugely appreciated!!!

Daniel

mr_efxr · 04-05-2005, 09:37 PM

I would try the coil back, but I don't think that will solve the problem by the sounds of it. The rattle, I'm thinkin will be your tapets, could be somekind of top end problem.

AUII_Forte · 04-05-2005, 10:03 PM

Nah, it's deffinately pinging, I am 100% certain.

INJECTED_250 · 04-05-2005, 10:35 PM

knock sensor ?

AUII_Forte · 04-05-2005, 10:54 PM

Yeah, thats a possibility, but would the knock sensor cause any of the other problems though??

Sundeep · 04-05-2005, 11:45 PM

TPS? That should be your idle and possibly flatspot/knock issue. I have mine disconnected atm so that my car will run properly (another story) and it idles find in gear but high in P/N. I guess a dodgy TPS could cause a flatspot issue as well, I don't know about knock though.

Sundeep

Biggoggs · 05-05-2005, 12:42 AM

Is it a high-pitched `ping', or a `chuckchuckchuck'?

InitialD · 05-05-2005, 01:19 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by AUII_Forte

The flat spot is strange, it just comes and goes as it pleases, generally it just feels really underpowered and sometimes misses a tiny bit then all of the sudden picks up as normal.

My EA has the EXACT same problem since i put a 91DA manifold on. When i cruise at 85kph or faster it "boggs down" and has a flatstop and it comes and goes when it pleases. Still dont know what it is, id be interested to find out

and its not the TPS

galapogos01 · 05-05-2005, 04:45 AM

doubt its knock sensor, i have mine disconnected (im told the ecu retards timing pretty pessimistically so its better to run none) and it runs fine.

Jase

NZ · 05-05-2005, 09:53 AM

dannys car did the same kind of thing after his head was done. the guy didnt plug in the intake air temp sensor.

AUII_Forte · 05-05-2005, 09:55 AM

Thanks for the ideas guys, will check it out when I get home from work.

I'd describe the noise as pinging, it's not a clunk it's more like a rattle. Deffinately pinging.

AUII_Forte · 05-05-2005, 09:57 AM

It's probable that something isn't plugged in, this all seemed to start after I changed the head. I've checked over everything and can't really see anything unpluged, but I think I better have another look!

AUII_Forte · 05-05-2005, 05:02 PM

OK, I've checked the ACT sensor and it's deffinately plugged in and I tried unplugging the TPS and I made no difference except for making the throttle less responsive.

Can someone tell me correct pins for reading the error codes????
I seem to be getting it into self test mode but I can't seem to find which pin is the output. This is really starting to bug me!!!! GRRRR!!!!

old_mate · 06-05-2005, 06:58 AM

Hows the timing on it? Did you use the timing marks when you changed the head? Your balancer may have slipped, i'd redo the timing by finding TDC using the coat hanger down no 1 plug trick

This is a common problem in the earlier cars, but unsure about EF on (with regards to the balancer that is)

AUII_Forte · 06-05-2005, 08:41 AM

Timing is non adjustable on the EF's though, they run coil packs not dizzy's.

old_mate · 07-05-2005, 12:45 AM

oh yea. duh. my bad

XR-ENVI · 07-05-2005, 01:58 PM

If it has all happened since you did the head, did you remember to release the chain tensioner? or maybe the chain has jumped a tooth on the cam gear? Also, there is a little filter in the chain tensioner assembly, if that is blocked it may not be building up oil pressure to hold the tensioner out when running.

AUII_Forte · 08-05-2005, 04:06 PM

Yeah definately released the tensioner.

I started it today and it was running like an absolute POS!! It was missing and backfiring, wouldn't idle, flatspots everywhere. I turned it off then started it again and it was absolutely fine!! It is definately an electrical or sensor problem, just a matter of tracking it down without throwing money at it.

AUII_Forte · 12-05-2005, 05:43 PM

Ok, just found something interesting out.

Sometimes the tacho is reading way out, leading me more to think there is a coil pack problem. Sometimes it's hitting the limiter about 4200rpm, but sound like it's revving it's clanger out so I think it is actually hitting the 5700rpm limiter but the tacho is reading out. If I turn the key off and restart it, it's fine. WHAT THE HELL IS GOING ON???? I'm about ready to burn the thing!!

AUII_Forte · 14-05-2005, 03:37 PM

FINALLY!! I found the bloody problem!!

As it turns out when I plugged the main engine loom back in after I had the head off, 2 of the pins had pushed out of the connector and weren't making contact. I noticed when I was searching for vacuum leaks for the 10 thousanth time. Pushed them back in and bingo.......no more high idle, no more pinging, no more flat spot and it's running perfectly!

MotherNatureVer2 · 14-05-2005, 03:54 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by AUII_Forte

FINALLY!! I found the bloody problem!!

Hehehehehee you went back to the EA ... Bwhahahahahahahahaaaa

Sorry have been biting my tounge but waited till you got it all sorted :P

Bwahahahahahahhhaahhaaa

:

EFFalcon · 14-05-2005, 04:23 PM

Good stuff

I bet thats one headache gone!

BuuBox · 14-05-2005, 04:25 PM

That's good news! Don't you hate stupid litte things like that, **** you off for weeks... at least it's running nicely now.

So, turbo I hear?

AUII_Forte · 14-05-2005, 04:36 PM

Those 2 little wires have caused so many problems over the past month or so it's not funny!

Full steam ahead now, just got to get some money together......bring on tax time!

I'm going to have a crack at doing most of the turbo install myself then Rocco's Performance in Sydney will be installing the EMS and tuning it for me.

EFFalcon · 14-05-2005, 04:55 PM

any ETA on when u'll be putting stuff on?
For mine i can only see a few things being an issue.

oil lines (mostly tapping into sump :o)
dump pipe (can't do that at all)
can't think of anything else... yet :P