9 replies to this topic

[chrisxr2]

Right drove back from the gym yesterday and car is running like a bag of spanners, sounds like just running on 3 cylinders. Manifold gasket needs replacing and could do with a rolling road but running fine otherwise previously. Checked plugs, leads, had dizzy cap off.; It is actually firing on all 4 cylinders as neighbour has those daft flashing attachments to put on plugs and check. Videos below. Now improved.

Edited by chrisxr2, 12 April 2012 - 04:06 PM.

[Ethel]

You mean actually firing on all 4?

I'm not sure how your spark tester works but still have a look at the plugs, it could still be fouled. Try swapping the plugs between cylinders and see if the fault moves with them. A compression test would also be worthwhile, but you may have answered your own question with that leaky gasket. You'd expect it to improve under load (open throttle) if it is an air leak.

[chrisxr2]

Sorry my bad, all 4 cylinders. have taken some better footage so you can here how bad it is, seems the sameish under load.

[lsto]

What part of the gasket is leaking dude? If its the intake manifold gasket then she could be drawing in too much air which would cause it to run like a pig, check the plugs too, its always a good start.
Also try removing one HT lead from the plugs to see which cylinder is actually dead or poor, if you take the first lead off and it runs worse then you know that cylinder is working, try the next then the next, only removing one lead at a time. If you take a lead off and the engine stays the same then you know that is the cylinder that is at fault.
Careful not to get a shock off the lead whilst your doing this. I am not responsible for any potential injuries

[yellowmonster]

Sounds like a Subaru Justy/ Suzuki Alto to me .. aka it's defenitely running on three cylinders.
As mentioned above: probably plugs/ignition, could be headgasket as well...
Do a compressiontest.

[chrisxr2]

Will any old garage have a compression tester or will i need someone that deals with older stuff? Anyone in lincs near grantham have one?? If it is the Hg then surely best not to be driving around in it, to garage for faultfinding etc. How hard a job is changing the headgasket?? Is it worth doing just to eliminate it??

[lsto]

99% of garages will have a compression tester dude. If it was a head gasket you would have at least one or more of the following symptoms:
1.Rough running, which yours is,
2.Loosing water, check the coolant level,
3.Pressurising the cooling system, so after a short run if you remove the rad cap it would throw most of its coolant out (please dont burn yourself, I wont be held responsible!!!)
4. Overheating,
5. Yellowy/grey sludge under the oil cap and in the rocker cover.
Most garages can perform a 'sniff' test to determine if the head gasket has blown too.
And changing the head gasket aint hard IF your a competent home mechanic, but get it diagnosed first, it'll be a lot cheaper.

[bmcecosse]

Check the valve gaps - could be a burned valve, or head gasket. If it doesn't improve with another set of spark plugs -off with it's head.

[Blatherskite]

99% of garages will have a compression tester dude. If it was a head gasket you would have at least one or more of the following symptoms:
1.Rough running, which yours is,
2.Loosing water, check the coolant level,
3.Pressurising the cooling system, so after a short run if you remove the rad cap it would throw most of its coolant out (please dont burn yourself, I wont be held responsible!!!)
4. Overheating,
5. Yellowy/grey sludge under the oil cap and in the rocker cover.
Most garages can perform a 'sniff' test to determine if the head gasket has blown too.
And changing the head gasket aint hard IF your a competent home mechanic, but get it diagnosed first, it'll be a lot cheaper.

For point 3, start with cold engine, bonnet oen & radiator cap off. If the water in the radiator suddenly jumps out, then the head gasket is not well. Might take a while until the thermostat opens.

If it is the head gasket, be sure to get a qualty replacement - I had one with "front" and "top" stamped into it wrongly, so only one was correct... Naturslly, it blew after only a month or so.

Edited by Blatherskite, 12 April 2012 - 07:55 PM.

[chrisxr2]

It does not have 2 4 or 5. Will try plug change and 3. Thanks all for advice so far.