Galaxy 2001 V6 2.8 Misfire Issues

[dagsky]

Hey all,

 

I've done a search on the forum for this issue and the vast majority of answers all seem to relate to the coils. However in my case i am not sure that it is a coil problem. I have had some of the coils replaced, 2 were replaced on one ocassion, another 2 on a second ocassion and just recently had them tested and have been told they were fine (coils from euro carpart), however i can not be certain that the bloke testing the coils is very competent.....

 

The car is a 2001 V6 2.8 Auto, i beleive the engine code is AYL and is petrol. The vehicle also has a gas conversion done. The vehicle has done approx 180k.

 

When you start the vehicle it sounds very rough and seems to be misfiring. When you drive it seems to misfire as it goes along, when you are driving fast perhaps above 60mph the jerk/misfire seems to go away. No matter what temp the vehicle is, it will always misfire. When stationary in drive, it may sometimes stall, when pulling up to become stationary putting it in neutral seems to stop it stalling. When stationary or begining to to come to a stand still you have to be careful as if you do not brake it will lurch forward on a misfire.

 

The Gas (LPG) system has been checked and tested by the installers and is working 100% fine according to them and has been disconnected to see if it makes any differece. Regardless of type of fuel being used, the car still runs the same.

 

It has had the timing chain recently replaced as it was suggested that the old one may have stretched and therefore the timing is out, it has had the cam sensor changed, another 2 or 3 sensors changed, some vacuum hoses were changed that were apparently broken, and the brake servo was changed a few months back prior to all this starting. One thing that has NOT been changed as yet as i'm ticked off at throwing money at this, is the temp sensor which apparently may or may not be the issue! I have had the electrics checked out which apparently is fine, i have had the fuel injection checked and that is fine, the ecu was tested and apparently that is fine.

 

Something i should point out is that whenever the car used to get washed water used to run into the engine somewhere and would cause one the coils to pack up after 3 or 4 washes, on discovering this problem, the engine has always been covered during washes and have not had this problem again......

 

I think this is about all the information that i can think of at the moment. Oh i spoke to ford and they tell me this car does NOT have a coil pack, but it has 6 individual coils @ approx

[Mirez]

Ford are indeed correct on this one, each plug has a pack plugged onto the top of it - this is a coil and HT "shaft" in one assembly.

 

You should have the fault codes read, the car is able to tell you if its detected a misfire and on which cylinder its occurred. The coil assemblies are much cheaper online though (and much cheaper from VW since its their engine after all) - you can pick them up from about

[dagsky]

thanks for the reply, could you post me a link of said coil assembly?

 

With regards to fault codes, the only one that comes up is camshft sensor which has been replaced twice and water temp sensor which has not been changed yet BUT i am told that it wouldn't cause the misfire. Computer says NOTHING about cylinder misfire....

[Mirez]

http://www.telnet.org/~doogie/jpg/comparison.jpg

 

Camshaft position sensor will cause the problems you have - if its been replaced then you need to start checking the wiring instead.

[cyborg]

Did you change the Timing Chain Tensioner Bolt ? its possible it not holding pressure thus not keeping tension on the chain I say this when you drive faster the pressure increases making problem go away.

 

On the flooding coils I solved mine by adjusting the bonnet back a bit and since haven't had a problem.

[dagsky]

Did you change the Timing Chain Tensioner Bolt - I couldn't say to be honest as i didn't do the job myself, it was done by mechanic. Is this something that would normally be changed in the process of changing the timing chain? If it is then i think he might have changed it but i will ask him if he changed it or not.

 

As for the cam sensor, is this something easy for me to get to and try and change myself as with electrical items there is a possibility that even a replacement one might be faulty AND i think i have read on here that they are different colour sensors ( blue & grey) and the wrong colour one does make a difference apparently! Or i might be mistaken about the colour situation as that may relate to the temp sensor. Please correct me on which the item the colour sensor relates to.

 

If its not the cam sensor at fault, MIREZ could you tell me what wiring needs to be checked out?