Print

Please login or register.
1 Hour 1 Day 1 Week 1 Month Forever
Login with username, password and session length

[mark34bn]

So I bought a facelift 2.6 estate about 3 months ago so we could fit the tent and all the camping gear into it. It's been totally reliable and I've spent time and money tidying it up. Saturday we loaded it up and started our journey to Cornwall. 25 miles later it starts misfiring. Eml flashes for a short time then stays on. I pull over, turn off - restart but it's still happening. Engine is dry , water temp is fine but the orange eml has stayed on. Limped the car home and left it there. I'll do the pedal test when we get back but are there any suggestions as to what could be wrong?

[jb]

MOST LIKELY CRANK SENSOR, REPLACE WITH GENUINE GM NOT PATTERN

[tunnie]

Crank sensor unlikely, almost never will cause misfire, probably oil in plugs or coil pack.

Do pedal test, but I’d be removing both coil packs to begin with to inspect plugs 

[mark34bn]

I'll look at the coil packs first. It was the first long journey and we were bumper to bumper in hot weather for an hour. Car was fine for 45 mins then started acting up. Coil packs were dry but one got wet last time I washed the car. Drivers side scuttle was leaking.

[amba]

Sounds like an ignition fault so first port of call would be plugs,followed by the coil packs paying close attention to any cracks or split rubber boots.

[mark34bn]

What needs to be done if there's oil on the plugs? Also what spark plugs are recommended?

[Entwood]

What needs to be done if there's oil on the plugs? Also what spark plugs are recommended?

Rocker cover gaskets need replacing .. standard problem if the breathers have not been properly cleaned every oil  change.   

[Alnico Blue]

MOST LIKELY CRANK SENSOR, REPLACE WITH GENUINE GM NOT PATTERN

Unlikely IMO . . . . can you read the codes with the pedal trick ( this is shown in maintenace guide) then post the  resulting codes up on here.

[mark34bn]

I'll post the codes when I get home at the weekend. After we got home we shared the camping gear between the focus and megane and went on our holiday

[terry paget]

What needs to be done if there's oil on the plugs? Also what spark plugs are recommended?

Rocker cover gaskets need replacing .. standard problem if the breathers have not been properly cleaned every oil  change.   

Really? I do mine occasionally, but not every oil change. Is that standard forum practice?

[mark34bn]

Ok I've just done the pedal test and it isn't flashing at all. Eml is on all the time.

[mark34bn]

Took the o/s coilpack out and found the plug recess nearest the windscreen full of oil.  Sucked the oil out with a hoover attachment , cleaned everything up and refitted it .
Started engine and the eml was still lit. Turned off, locked and unlocked the car tried it again and the eml went out.
Drove round the block and it's fine.
I'll be using the car this week for the long sleepers / decking i'm building in the garden but after that it's going on eBay.

Edit just checked and I did the pedal test incorrectly ( didn't press brake). I''l go out later and see what codes I get. Hopefully it'll be misfires on the o/s!

[Enceladus]

The cam cover seals need to be replaced, at least on the o/s bank. And the breathers cleaned out. Else the plug wells will rapidly fill with oil again. It's not that difficult to do and is a standard issue that eventually afflicts all the V6 and 16V models. I wouldn't ditch the car just for that.

If the misfire continues it might cause further damage.

[mark34bn]

Update codes found were 0300  0304  0306

[BazaJT]

According to the guide on here 0300=random/multiple misfires 0304=misfire cylinder 4 0306=misfire cylinder 6. So I'd check plug wells on 2-4-6 bank for oil/water and also check coil packs on that bank.