Topic: i really could do with your help...... (Read 2456 times)

Marie · « **on:** 30 June 2007, 21:10:16 »

Firstly i would to say hello to you all and introduce myself.

My name is Marie.

I am an aircraft engineering technican in the Royal Navy working at RAF Cottesmore. I fix Harriers for a living have been doing this for about the last 2 yrs and before that i worked on Seaking MK 4's for 6 yrs.

I have owned my omega (its a 99 plate) since 2003, and since last year she has done nothing but swollow money. seems like problem after problem. It all started last year when the day before she was meant to go for a cam belt change the cam belt snapped (trust my luck) fixed that but in the process of this we found a 3 inch crack in the exhaust manifold (which was a kick in the balls). in all it cost me £750 to fix (pulling in some favours i was owed.) she has had 4 new tyres £250, new air idle control valve £90, just replaced the front part of the exhaust £100.

The problem is as follows:

When its damp, wet or raining when you start her she sounds like a tractor and there is no power for about 10 minutes (until shes warm really) it feels like she is missfiring aswell sometimes when driving. the exhaust sounds like shes blowing too, fwd of the fwd section.
we have looked at the spark plugs to find that the vauxhall garage replaced them with cheep ones but they look ok. will be replaceing them with better ones as soon as the parts place i use gets them in stock for me. i think the problem might be the ht leads or the dis but not to sure.

How can i check before i go and spend even more money on her.
Could someone please help its easy enough to fix & maintain aircraft but when it comes down to my beast i am less confident.

Nice to meet you all

Cheers Marie

p.s. i have done the paperclip test but all it does is turn the ecu light out. no flashing light for me at all. is this because she is a 1999 model?

Tafty · « **Reply #1 on:** 30 June 2007, 21:27:59 »

Quote

i think the problem might be the ht leads or the dis but not to sure.

Hey marie - welcome aboard - good choice

I think you've already hit a good possible root cause there.. and not going to be too costly to discount. Can't advise on Paper clip test as you can't do it on mine - so never bothered to find out.

Lee

Markie · « **Reply #2 on:** 30 June 2007, 21:33:43 »

Welcome Marie...is your `99 a facelift model or pre facelift?

Marie · « **Reply #3 on:** 30 June 2007, 21:36:14 »

Markie,

i beleive its a pre facelift model the grill is not part of the bonet its attached to the front of the car.

Marie

Matchless · « **Reply #4 on:** 30 June 2007, 21:43:28 »

I would eliminate any possible HT & water problem first.
Are the spark plug wells dry? No oil or water lurking in there?
Could easily have a faulty HT lead, take them off and measure the resistance, it will be around 5k for the longer ones and is proportional to length. You are looking for one which is unusually high resistance or open circuit.
Check the insulation and boots at both ends for splits or signs that someone has pulled on the lead.
Clean the HT posts on the coil pack with WD40 before replacing the leads and try to clean up all the surfaces between the posts.
Is water dripping onto the coil pack from the scuttle? there is a join directly above the coil pack. Also check that the rubber washers / seals are present where the wiper shafts pass through the scuttle.

Oh, welcome BTW

TheBoy · « **Reply #5 on:** 30 June 2007, 21:47:38 »

Hi Marie. You can paperclip test your 2.0l, but must be with engine off. Generally a visual inspection of DIS will show if its likely to have failed.

Generally, mifires without faultcodes will be HT related.

Marie · « **Reply #6 on:** 30 June 2007, 21:48:35 »

Cheers i will look at all of the above tomorrow and get back to you.
its a bit dark now to be playing with the engine and i would get a tad wet too

What am i looking for with the dis failing?

Marie

TheBoy · « **Reply #7 on:** 30 June 2007, 21:52:07 »

Quote

Cheers i will look at all of the above tomorrow and get back to you.
its a bit dark now to be playing with the engine and i would get a tad wet too

What am i looking for with the dis failing?

Marie

There are some pictures in some posts showing failed DIS packs. From memory, 2 have been posted by Timbuk and Markie, though V6, may be worth having a look at these. The sort of delaminate if that makes sense?

Marie · « **Reply #8 on:** 30 June 2007, 21:56:47 »

I know wht you mean ill take a look. cheers

Noticed you do system checks. How far away are you from rutland? dont trust my local vx dealer as they broke my headlights on the mot and then refused to pay for a new set

. and their arnt any other real good garages about.

Marie

Matchless · « **Reply #9 on:** 30 June 2007, 21:56:52 »

Have to unbolt the DIS to inspect the underside, moisture gets into the laminations and begins to rust which expands and cracks the plastic, letting more water in and so on until the windings eventually break down to earth.
The DIS screws tend to shear off. On the 2.0 you can get to the bottom of them with a penetrating spray by peering up from underneath, between exhaust and bell housing.

TheBoy · « **Reply #10 on:** 30 June 2007, 22:05:28 »

Quote

I know wht you mean ill take a look. cheers

Noticed you do system checks. How far away are you from rutland? dont trust my local vx dealer as they broke my headlights on the mot and then refused to pay for a new set . and their arnt any other real good garages about.

Marie

Where's Rutland?

I'm on Northants/Oxon/Bucks border.

But save your money - yours can be paperclipped

Marie · « **Reply #11 on:** 30 June 2007, 22:08:05 »

near lincolnshire/peterborough/cambridgeshire area.

ill try again with the paperclip tomorrow and get back to you

cheers

Going for a pint

Night guys

Marie

DaveL · « **Reply #12 on:** 30 June 2007, 22:15:13 »

Welcome to the forum Marie,
looks as though you have had a few answers to your question so i cannot and any more.

Been a long time since i was stationed at Cottesmore and cannot recommend any garage down there. The Sun Inn though is another story and the Rutland Arms in Exton.

Can you still get Ruddles?

Cottesmore is near Oakham and about 4 miles off A1 from the Ram Jam Inn turnoff.

8-)
DaveL

Marks DTM Calib · « **Reply #13 on:** 01 July 2007, 08:38:40 »

Which dealer was it....sycamores?

Marie · « **Reply #14 on:** 01 July 2007, 09:04:45 »

yes it was. worst experiance i have ever had. said they would have the car for a few hrs (for service and mot) 2 days later they gave it back and without the mot as they broke the lights.

never going there again ever!

Ronald_McBurger · « **Reply #15 on:** 01 July 2007, 09:23:09 »

Quote

I am an aircraft engineering technican in the Royal Navy working at RAF Cottesmore. .............

Hi Marie

Small world. I spent 2 years at RAF Cottesmore (TTTE) in the late 1970's. I had the honour of being the very first mechanic to get my hands on the ornado GR1 when it landed in 1981. Very fond memories. Also helped deign the badge

If the tuck shop is still in the far corner of the line squadron mess room, it may well have my name on it. I started that! And yes, it was very profitable!!!

Harriers? Great fun. One of the all time best aircraft made. My personal favourite was the Shackleton at Cosford, The Vulcan at Waddington and the Phantom F4.

Oh well. Back to the Omegas then.

Marks DTM Calib · « **Reply #16 on:** 01 July 2007, 09:47:42 »

Quote

The Vulcan at Waddington

And thankfuly we will shortly have a flying one again!

Mmmm....the sound of 4 Olympus 201's howling.....

Admin · « **Reply #17 on:** 01 July 2007, 10:02:55 »

Really must go to one of these air shows some time to understand all this.....

With regards to your problem, yes it is most likely to be DIS pack failing.
I would also check the seal along the bottom of the windscreen for splits. I am thinking there may be a split allowing water to drip down onto the DIS pack, causing premature failure.

wakeyomega · « **Reply #18 on:** 01 July 2007, 10:07:18 »

Quote

Really must go to one of these air shows some time to understand all this

Unfortunately not Waddington air show today - According to the radio this morning todays show has been cancelled due to waterlogging. Great shame for spectators and all those who spent many months organising. At least next year we will see a Vulcan!

Marks DTM Calib · « **Reply #19 on:** 01 July 2007, 10:09:50 »

I always remember the Vulcan because

1) It always cleared the beer tents because it was so loud

2) After the display there were car parks full of cars with flashing indicators and alarms going off.

3) Something that big just looks like it shouldn't be that manouverable......and hence why Rolly Faulks insisted on it having a fighter style control setup....

Dave Thomas (one of the display pilots)....is a nutter

Marie · « **Reply #20 on:** 01 July 2007, 12:13:35 »

Quote

I would eliminate any possible HT & water problem first.
Are the spark plug wells dry? No oil or water lurking in there?
Could easily have a faulty HT lead, take them off and measure the resistance, it will be around 5k for the longer ones and is proportional to length. You are looking for one which is unusually high resistance or open circuit.
Check the insulation and boots at both ends for splits or signs that someone has pulled on the lead.
Clean the HT posts on the coil pack with WD40 before replacing the leads and try to clean up all the surfaces between the posts.
Is water dripping onto the coil pack from the scuttle? there is a join directly above the coil pack. Also check that the rubber washers / seals are present where the wiper shafts pass through the scuttle.

Oh, welcome BTW

Right guys, had a look at the following:

the plugs are not too good but are working will be replacing them this week. no oil or water in the holes.

had a look at the ht leads, they look sound got to get a volt meater from work to measure the resistance. all the surfaces between the ht leads and the coil pack are clean (cant say much for my hands

)

checked the wiper shafts and scuttle and all the seals their good too.

The paper clip test ...... well tried and tried again got the right pins and all it does is turn off the ecu light nothing else happens. any ideas?

going to shoot and get some oil for her as she could do with some.

ron.

Marie

Kevin Wood · « **Reply #21 on:** 01 July 2007, 12:28:05 »

Last time I was at Cottesmore I was flying past in a glider watching Tornado take-offs. Very impressive rate of climb!

.. and the Vulcan

Saw one of them from the air too over east anglia. Must have been early '90's and IIRC it was about 2 weeks before the last one on the display circuit got grounded. I rocked my wings at him and the rate of roll he demonstrated in response was most impressive!

Kevin

Craig_R · « **Reply #22 on:** 01 July 2007, 12:36:17 »

Marie I have a brand new exhaust centre section for a 2 litre estate if you need it its Not VX its 3rd party It might solve any exhaust noise you have

Craig

Marks DTM Calib · « **Reply #23 on:** 01 July 2007, 16:51:34 »

That cambelt failure repair was a bit steep.....had the cambelt and tensioner set not been replaced at the 40K/4 year interval or had the water pump let go?

I assume when the power plant was repaired that new head bolts etc were used and torqued down correctly.

Do you ahev access to a vac gauge, can you carry out a vac test to see if there is any instability etc in the needle?

Marie · « **Reply #24 on:** 01 July 2007, 21:11:42 »

was it, compared to the other garages this price looked good. it had been replaced at 40k i had new bolts etc when we had her repaired. dont know of a local vac garage.

have changed the spark plugs today and had a good look around again she seemed to be ok on start up but seems like shes skipping a beat. it feels like shes blowing from the manifold? this happens to be at the same time as the skipped beat. can anyone tell me if i can take the manifold cover off with out having to remove any pipes extra.

could the manifold be the route cause of the problem? havnt got a clue what to do with her. shes driving me nuts

going to take her to work on wednesday and get the guys at work to have a look see.

GaryB · « **Reply #25 on:** 01 July 2007, 21:33:01 »

If it is the DIS pack, I am sure that I have a 2.0l somewhere, and I can probably find somebody going up to Cottesmore way next w/e from Northwood - if not, then there are other ways to get it there. A submariner is allowed to help a WAFU after all..............

Craig_R · « **Reply #26 on:** 01 July 2007, 21:48:42 »

You at NorthWood Gray ? 3 mins around the corner from me and my mate is based there for 2 years PO Glen Simpson

Craig

GaryB · « **Reply #27 on:** 01 July 2007, 22:08:51 »

Craig,
Yep - I don't know your mate, but I probably know somebody that does!

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Author Topic: i really could do with your help...... (Read 2456 times)

Ronald_McBurger