Motoring along nicely and then...

enthuzed · Post by **enthuzed** » Wed Mar 14, 2012 9:22 pm

Well, I don't get it, this car has been really good to me.

Okay it was a warm day today, and I'd done about 100km on 95 unleaded (which I wouldn't normally use) & I was taking it very easy.

The car started to ping so I backed off and as I gave it slight acceleration it would ping instantly. When I pulled up very shortly after the thing was running like a chaff-cutter. Down on power, running rough, I didn't think it'd be plug lead but I checked them anyway.

When I came back to it after an hour it still ran like shit. So I limped it home and checked a couple of things.

I thought the timing might be out so I checked the dizzy - it was tight

I collected about 100-150ml of fuel in 2 or 3 seconds of cranking with the fuel line off and it was in a nice steady spray, also clear and clean looking.

Is the pump on the fritz? How do I check it properly?
I'm light on for tools, manuals and equipment at this moment...

Other ideas???

JA83 · Post by **JA83** » Wed Mar 14, 2012 9:35 pm

blown head gasket?

fugazi · Post by **fugazi** » Wed Mar 14, 2012 11:43 pm

Yep, blown headgasket or a melted sparkplug...

enthuzed · Post by **enthuzed** » Thu Mar 15, 2012 7:59 am

It doesn't explain the pinging...a blown headgasket wouldn't do that.

I still think it's something with the fuel system.

How do I measure the flow?

CaptShiner · Post by **CaptShiner** » Thu Mar 15, 2012 8:16 am

Well you would do the obvious (which you may have already done) which is check the filter. After that, checking the fuel system would comprise the following.

1. Test fuel pump elictrically with multimeter to ensure it is operating with proper voltage
2. Test fuel pressure, can be tested via a regulator or you can buy an inline guage.
3. Test flow rate (previous test would normally uncover this) but you can buy an expensive guage to measure it or you can wire the pump manually have the fuel line run to a bucket and give the pump 30 secs of power. Then check the amount of fuel in the bucket, extrapolate everything out to determine how many litres per hour it is flowing and there is your answer.

Hope that helps, doesn't sound like a fuel problem as you would have problems starting, or it would sometimes just cut out all together. I would imagine it is a head gasket too.

Cheers

Shaun

starionc · Post by **starionc** » Thu Mar 15, 2012 10:11 am

Are you running all the standard computer etc?
Check all of the vacuum lines and test/swap your Map sensor on the fire wall. (the thing that controls the boost) That's the MAP isn't it??
While your at it, check the voltage from your alternator!

Also, check the Diaphragm on your dizzy, If it has a hole in it you wont get the vacuum advance your timing needs. That could cause it to ping?

To check the diaphragm, pull the vac line off the intake manifold that goes to the dizzy and gently suck on it and see if it holds the vacuum from your mouth. And don't complain about the taste of petrol. It's good for you! NOT!

Most of this info is useless if your running MPI with an after market computer :roll:

Hope this helps

Cheers Jason

niss720 · Post by **niss720** » Thu Mar 15, 2012 12:37 pm

Where did you get your fuel from? I had this problem over the weekend also...

redzone · Post by **redzone** » Thu Mar 15, 2012 3:45 pm

Blown head gaskets can cause pinging due to the flame ring causing a hot spot..

fugazi · Post by **fugazi** » Thu Mar 15, 2012 6:50 pm

redzone wrote:Blown head gaskets can cause pinging due to the flame ring causing a hot spot..

As would a faling/glowing sparkplug.... and when pinging the headgasket goes kaputt!

enthuzed · Post by **enthuzed** » Thu Mar 15, 2012 7:57 pm

Thanks guys...bugger it...it doesn't sound good.

I'll have to comp test it and check the plugs.

It was Mobil's 95, I don't buy fuel from the independents unless I have absolutely no choice...

niss720 · Post by **niss720** » Thu Mar 15, 2012 8:43 pm

Yeah i put 95 in at caltex and it was pinging, put in 98 at bp and it's fine now. A few of my mates have had the same problem recently but I could just be caltex's shit house fuel in Adelaide only?

enthuzed · Post by **enthuzed** » Thu Mar 15, 2012 10:19 pm

But I'd done 100 kays on it that tank already and it was running like a charm.

niss720 · Post by **niss720** » Tue Mar 20, 2012 10:01 pm

Yea true mine was fine for a wile but yea if you have done 100kms most likely not the problem, any luck diagnosing The problem yet?

enthuzed · Post by **enthuzed** » Wed Mar 21, 2012 8:09 am

No I haven't looked at it yet, just finished moving house which included moving a couple of other non-running Starions.
Pain in the ain when they don't drive...

enthuzed · Post by **enthuzed** » Sun Apr 15, 2012 2:14 pm

So I drained the tank, pulled the pump strainer & tank filter out. Nothing wrong with them so replaced them & refilled with BP Ultimate. Changed the fuel filter near the mani too. Still runs like shit. Looking at the electrical side of it now...

Austarion

Motoring along nicely and then...

Motoring along nicely and then...

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