Omega Owners Forum
Chat Area => General Car Chat => Topic started by: MutantCav on 04 November 2011, 19:23:50
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Just got a really cheap Zafira A with some engine issues...not had a chance to get the "My Naff Code Reader" on it yet (the EML is on) but I noticed that it ran ok with just a slight mifire until heavier acceleration then the constant EML light flashes a few times before being constant again and the engine at that point runs like a pig. Is this the car going into safe mode?? or something else??
Cheers, Chris.
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Could be a few things, those engines will shut cylinders down once numerous missfires are detected so coil pack is a possible but, read the codes as a starter
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I think it does have a bit of an oil leak...not particularly used to the 4 pot engines or how they are laid out...is leaking cam cover gaskets leaking oil into the plug wells a possible issue on these does anyone know?? Will be getting the codes tomorrow and will of course let you know :)
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....not particularly used to the 4 pot engines or how they are laid out... .....
One next to the other next to the other next to the other ......... pretty much as the name implies ::) ::) ::) ::)
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Thanks Andy B ;D I meant the layout of the engine, not the spark plugs lol Looks like it has a coil pack rather than plugs/leads??
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Only code coming up anywhere is P303 misfire on cylinder 3...also P300 multiple misfire when using the older "My Naff Code Reader" software but not with the later software...
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Is it a 1.8 petrol.
Those engines have problems with the e.c.u. It's mounted on the inlet fanimold and heat and vibration can cause them to breakdown.
Could just be coil pack though... fingers crossed!
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I should have said...its a 1.6...87k FSH cambelt changed at last service 2k ago...
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I've not seen a 1.6 personally but I'd guess it's the same as the small block 1.8's? Is the E.C.U. mounted on the engine?
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lol had one to fix last time i was in uk!!
know the owner, and a lot of people had told him to replace the coil pack they are known for problems< so he did, and it made no difference, he could drive it ten miles and 200 miles and it would do it very randomly, engine light came on and power died, he used to stop turn engine off and wait 5 mins then it would start and drive no problem till it went again,
it had "multiple misfires detected" according to the codes, knowing the head gasket was replaced the previous time i was on uk ::) so about a year old, I did the following,
new fuel filter
new air filter
new plugs, cleaned the stupid breather system,
then added a can of forte fuel system cleaner to the petrol in the tank(about a quarter)
went to the m40 j9, headed north to j10 at 6000rpm in 3 rd gear, :-Xcleared all old codes
filled tank with optimax,
used it for a week and not one problem, emailed him last night and he said its running fine no problems its now done a couple of thousand miles since this and so far the problem has not returned
NB before the head gasket was changed it had a problem with using oil, it could go through max to minimum in 500miles, searched around on the net and it appears that the headgasket was to blame, I personally think it was to do with the breather being blocked owing to long service intervals, as couldnt find a lot wrong with the headgasket to be honest :y
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Well on basis that a full service including cambelt was done 2k ago I will have a look at the breather system first...where is it??
Have improved the misfire a little as found one of the pipes from the plastic airflow thing had a split in it...cut the pipe down and its definitely a little better :y
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The fact that there is a code for a specific cylinder is a bit of a clue (you would get more cylinders reported as faulty for the likes of air leaks etc).
I would inspect the coil pack carefuly and if you can, doa test with a proper test plug to confirm what volts it can deliver
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Cant see how to get the coil pack off once the air pipes are out the way...
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The misfire seems to be consistent though...slight misfire on startup with reasonable acceleration, then after a minute or so, or maybe acceleration over 3000rpm it gets a fair bit worse and acceleration is poor
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Is it an 8V or a 16V
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16v...realised its probably when the auto choke cuts out that the misfire gets worse...Z16XE engine :)
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Really needs a proper test spark plus then.
Easy to get coil pack out on the 16V units
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Anyone got an engine bay layout pic for this??
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http://www.vauxhalldriversclub.co.uk/forum/showthread.php?t=5932&page=4
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Excellent, thanks Brikhead :y
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I unplugged the EGR...supposed to be a potential problem on these...made no difference, does that mean its goosed?? Or do you need to something specific to test it??
Took the coil pack off...looks new, no oil etc in plug wells, clean contacts all round
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What are the plugs like Chris ?
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I unplugged the EGR...supposed to be a potential problem on these...made no difference, does that mean its goosed?? Or do you need to something specific to test it??
Took the coil pack off...looks new, no oil etc in plug wells, clean contacts all round
Unplugging the EGR wont tell you anything as if they are stuck open, then there stuck open
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What are the plugs like Chris ?
Good question and one I will answer tomorrow when I remove them...should have done that today...misfire is cyl 3 according to "My Naff Code Reader"...do they go left to right 1 2 3 4??
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Yep, No 1 cylinder is the cambelt end
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Ok will get pics if possible tomorrow of the pack and plugs...pack looks mint condition though...going to take the throttle body off while I'm there and give it a good spray and soak with carb cleaner as it look pretty mucky...
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Yep, No 1 cylinder is the cambelt end
Thanks :y
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Ok took the plugs out and they are black and seriously coated...and the wrong type...so replaced them.
Cleaned throttle body and breather pipes...
running much better but still a bit of a misfire...
Also cut out once slowing into 1st on a corner...and occasionally badly misfires in 1st...
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OK another update...took the EGR off thinking about blanking it off and the sensor bit was covered in silty black powdery stuff...so cleaned that up too...
Would the wrong plugs cause loads of silt build up after just 2k do you think?
Also apart from plugs and EGR what else might need a clean up??
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Ok this is weird...took the plugs out again this morning to pour in a little neat redex into the wells...plugs 2,3 & 4 were nice and black as expected as the engine will be pretty mucky still...plug 1 is totally clean...so does that mean its not sparking at all?? If so does this suggest the coil pack is faulty??
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Ok this is weird...took the plugs out again this morning to pour in a little neat redex into the wells...plugs 2,3 & 4 were nice and black as expected as the engine will be pretty mucky still...plug 1 is totally clean...so does that mean its not sparking at all?? If so does this suggest the coil pack is faulty??
Yep, sounds to me like no.1 coil pack has failed.
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Thanks Kevin...any way to test it?
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Get a couple of the same part number from a scrappy, usually a couple of quid and at least one should work, substitute and see if it sorts it. If it does buy a new one.
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if its very clean could be being washed by blown headgasket?
is it losing coolant? if not then ignore this post!!! :y
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The whole coil pack is very clean...basically brand new looking...the very clean spark plug in cylinder 1 was new along with the rest yesterday...cylinder 1 also happened to be the worst condition of the 4 old spark plugs so this may well have caused the pack to fail...I might well just buy a new one tomorrow and see if it sorts it and if not then just take it back :y Although getting one from a scrappy be the way to go anyway :y
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Most stealers won't accept electrical items for credit.
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You are right Kevin...but its sorted the missing cylinder...unfortunately I can now hear there is a light airleak...so still a slight misfire!!! But definitely getting there as there is much more power now...
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Seems the engine is chucking out the contents of the oil tank on startup...puffs of smoke which go away but the oil is being used up at a faster rate than normal...no sign of an oil leak so does it need a new engine, fixing or can you get something to seal it up and stop the engine leaking oil?
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clean the breather box and pipes, these engines are known for high oil usage though, some use a litre on 100miles and a few use it in 500 miles!! vaux say its normal lol
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High oil consumption on them is down to poor servicing, the oil control rings get gummed up and can then cause the compression rings to fail.
Sometimes a powerful engine flush can help (followed by the required cleaning of the oil pickup)
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Garage checked and there is no compression on cylinder 1...I guess the compression ring has already failed??...is this a head off fix?