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[RN55ONE]

I drove my car on saturday - was perfect as usual.
However, this morning when I started the car it sounded a little odd.
Anyway i drove for around 5 minutes and the ride was very jerky and engine sound was not right.

It sounded like a Subaru on tickover, when I put my hand near the exhaust tip, I could feel the exhaust gas coming out in bursts rather than a continually.

No engine management light, Ive tried warming up the car and seeing if it still does it which it does.
What are the symptoms of a miss-fire? maybe a spark plug is knackered?
Any ideas on how to test for an issue?

[Brikhead]

Your issue does sound like a cylinder or two not firing, not easy to do on a v6 but I'd disconect each plug lead in turn whilst the engine is running to track down which cylinder isn't working.

Be aware that if you are careless you will receive quite a nasty jolt from the H.T. system, around 40,000 volts, not enough amps to do any real harm though (unless you have a weak heart).

[RN55ONE]

ok will do thanks.

[albitz]

Do the paperclip test.See if you have any stored codes.

[RN55ONE]

Hi,
I have done the paper clip test, I keep getting 1 2, which is usual.
Is there any other sensor/component that may be on its way out that I should check?

Also, going back to to the suggestion of disconnecting each plug in turn, how would I know if one is not working?
For example, all 6 are connected, and I take 1 off, how will I know if it is that one that is the problem?

Can I simply leave only one connected and try ticking the engine over, if it ticks over slightly then I know it is OK.
I then disconnect this one as I know it works, I then move onto the next one and see if that ticks the engine over slightly?

[symes]

when engine running its lumpy-correct--as you remove one spark plug cap engine worse then that cap ok--if no change in engine response then that cap is faulty one-
only remove one cap-check-replace cap
hope that helps you understand

[RN55ONE]

I have just tried removing the drivers side HT leads to the spark plugs.
Upon taking the lead out from the spark plug well, I noticed there was oil on the spark plug.
I took the spark plug out and the spark plug well was full of oil.

Does this mean I need the camcover gaskets changing?
They were only changed in 2010.

[RN55ONE]

Also, on the drivers side, the closest sparkplug well is full of oil, the middle one only has a few drops, and the last one (closest to the windscreen) is dry as a bone.
I have noticed that the middle HT lead makes a spark (makes a clicking sound) when taken out slowly.  But the other two do not.
I then proceeded to take the other two HT leads out, then try the middle HT lead in the other two spark plug wells. It once again made a clicking sound. Does the mean the other two leads are not working? Is there a way of testing the other two leads?

On the passenger side, I am finding it difficult to remove the HT leads. Is there a technique to it (as there is a lot of stuff in the way). I have tried loosening the plenum off the engine and moving it, but when I put the ignition on and try starting the car it simply cuts off. (Probably due to me disconnecting the throttle cable and too much air entering the manifold).

There is quite a lot of mayo in the filler cap also. I only do longish journeys and have not noticed this before when doing services.

Ideally I really need someone to take a look at it for me. I am based in Wednsebury (M6 jct9 or jct10).
Is anyone free to come down and take a look - paid work obviously.

[duggs]

Would suggest you definately have the answer...Gaskets and probably plugs also will sort your problem out.

Don't wait too long though because you may balls up the dis pack also....I did !

The gaskets changed in 2010...were they genuine GM ?

[RN55ONE]

Hi,
yes genuine GM gaskets.
I spoke to the local garage today and he said he'd recommend changing the actual cam covers also.
He said they tend to warp.

I then spoke to vauxhall to get a price on the cam covers, he said they only do the alloy ones now for 120 quid each (includes gaskets). But after reading about the plastic vs alloy ones, ive decided to go with some more plastic ones.
But it seems as though vauxhall do not stock them anymore, so i am unsure where to get these from (brand new).

Do you think once the gaskets are replaced it would solve the HT lead not spakring problem?
The HT lead connected to the sparkplug well which is dry dosnt seem to spark (no clicking sound). Is there a way to test each of the HT Leads?

[Entwood]

The covers only warp if over tightened by a gorilla !!

When the camcover gaskets were last replaced a) were they torqued CORRECTLY b) were the breathers cleaned PROPERLY.

I purchased this car 5 years ago, the cam covers were changed within 6 months, and are still working perfectly. The breathers are cleaned every oil change, which is 5000 miles or about 6 months.

Done properly, and looked after properly, there is absolutely nothing wrong with the designed system ..

[RN55ONE]

yep the cam covers were tighten correctly using a torque wrench and breathers were cleaned.
(Was done by a well known OOF with many many years of experience).

Since then, its had 4 services, eachtime breathers cleaned - this is why I am totally baffled to why its happened.

Once there is oil in the sparkplug well, how do I extract it?

[noel]

yep the cam covers were tighten correctly using a torque wrench and breathers were cleaned.
(Was done by a well known OOF with many many years of experience).

Since then, its had 4 services, eachtime breathers cleaned - this is why I am totally baffled to why its happened.

Once there is oil in the sparkplug well, how do I extract it?

you could try using  a syinge

[Brikhead]

I have noticed that the middle HT lead makes a spark (makes a clicking sound) when taken out slowly.  But the other two do not.
There is quite a lot of mayo in the filler cap also. I only do longish journeys and have not noticed this before when doing services.

If two leads aren't sparking then either those leads aren't plugged into the coil pack, or the leads are faulty, or the coil pack is faulty.

Once there is oil in the sparkplug well, how do I extract it?

Kitchen roll will remove most of it, or find a syringe/turkey baster, etc.

I'd be worried about the mayo if it's only just started to appear and your driving habbits haven't changed...

[sneakypenguin]

as what has been said above really. You won't be able to get all the oil out so expect some blue smoke when you start her up. Also make sure who ever does the cam cover gaskets uses the gen vx black sealant. When I first got mine, gave it a full service then didn't touch it again for a year, was looking at the plugs and a few of the wells were full of oil and it had been like that for around 11months with no running problems at all. Change the plugs and see if that helps, if not, look at the ht leads and coil pack.

Another thing I would suggest is get a multimeter and see if your alternator is pumping out the right juice, just before I sold mine it started to run like a dog, flat battery, rough idle, hesitation.

good luck

mick