Engine Stumbling

[swanny1970]

Hi All

 

Got a problem that I initially thought was connected with wiring, but now thinking maybe not!! OK, car starts fine, drives brilliantly for about 2 minutes, then the engine starts stumbling and and boucing, quite horrifically! If I put my foot down on the accelelerator, it will over ride the problem temporarily, but it will start bouncing again within minutes. I originally pulled the car over, left it ticking over on idle and wiggled a load of wires by the injectors. After about a minute, the engine would rev up slightly and purr like a kitten. The Gal would continue to drive perfectly until I turned off the ignition, turned it on again and the problems would start all over. I have had a good look at the wires and can't see any splits or breaks, but have discovered another temporary fix to my problem. After the 2 minutes of driving when the bouncing starts, if I pull over and let the engine tick on idle, after about a minute, the engine revs up slightly and corrects itself without me opening the bonnet. Now, I was thinking that me wiggling the wires was correcting this, but obvisouly not. Wondering if the engine is shaking that violently that the wires are wiggling themselves! Definitely feels like a fuel issue, but what could be causing this? It is obviously something that only needs to be "fired up" once after the ignition is turned on, as after the initial bouncing, once it has corrected itself, the car drives like new. Could it be an air lock in the fuel line and is there a way of checking?

 

Thanks in advance

 

Regards, Peter

[JohnnyH]

Im not expert but It does sound like fuel starvation which could be a number of things, the first thing i would try is changing the fuel filter.

 

Also i would make sure that non of the fuel lines are folded restricting flow of fuel.

 

Also you say it bounces as in running on three cyclinders sort of bouncing? if thats the case you could have a ht lead that is worn though rubbing agaist something or just out of age.

 

hope it helps :lol:

[swanny1970]

Hi Johnny

 

Thanks for the reply. I have changed the fuel filter not that long ago and the problem was there before the new one was fitted, so think that should be ok. Had a look at the fuel lines yesterday and none seem to be folded or restricted in any way. I have recently changed the coil packs, HT Leads and Sparks and am running out of options! Was wondering if anyone could tell me if there is a relay that is related to the fuel that maybe could be causing this problem? As I said, once the engine bounces and corrects itself, it runs as sweet as a nut until the ignition is turned off. So it is pointing towards something that only needs to be connected or fired up once after the ignition is switched on. Thanks for your help, keep it coming please!!!!

 

Regards, Peter

[insider]

You could try checking and cleaning your idle speed control valve.

[Stevoo]

Where do you live, easiest options is to plug an OBD2 reader onto your car, it may have throwen up some codes.

I had simular problem, came out to be the coil packs had burnt out. need two of them and the wiring re done. Now runs a ok.

[swanny1970]

Hi Stevoo, I live in Liverpool mate. Just recently replaced the coil packs with new ones myself and the car has loads more power, just this irritating problem. What wiring were you talking about that you had re done? Hopefully getting nearer to getting to the bottom of this, tearing my hair out with it!

 

Kind regards,

 

Peter

[Stevoo]

The wires that run from the coil packs to the bulk head, they are knowen to burn out from engine heat. had to cut them and re wire.

 

Try un plugging your MAF sensor, on your airbox. if it runs the same then you need a new one. if it runs worse then its working ok.