Nova 1.6 8v not idling well

[Dougie_SRi]

Hello,

Having a slight problem with the 1.6 8v.

It won't idle well, it'll just manage to most of the time, but not smoothly. It'll cut out in traffic a fair bit too.

I've tried simply turning up the idle speed but this doesn't seem to help.

I was wondering what else there is to investigate. Is there an idle control valve on a Nova?

Looking at what each component is called in the Haynes there are the following components:

Supplementary air valve
Coasting air valve
Exhaust gas recirculation valve

Are either of these known for causing poor idle?

Cheers :)

[meritlover]

have you checked the basics before you go playing around?
there are many things that could influenece a poor idle, air temp, engine temp, base timing, low compression, idle CO adjustment, as well as the things you have mentioned.

[Dougie_SRi]

Has had a new head gasket and skim the other week and the timing is set dead on the marks. Has also had a coolant temp sensor recently. Symptoms are the same hot or cold.

How can the idle CO2 be checked? I know there is a screw on the afm.

[Adam]

At a mot/garage with a gas analyser.

[ck]

which engine is it you have?

[meritlover]

when did the problem start? after the Head Gasket replacement? could be some wrongly routed vacuum tubing (eg EGR open all the time) or something else amiss.

[Dougie_SRi]

E16SE.

It would idle previously but only with the idle speed turned up to 1100rpm. Was happy enough at that.

Can the EGR be binned?

Will be having a look under the bonnet of a few Novas on Sunday hehe.

[craig green]

EGR can be binned, though it seldom works on these anyway. Just remove it from the central branches of the inlet & put a plate accross it.

The idle valve is bolted to the back of the cam carrier where you'd expect to find a mech feul pump on a 1.3/1.2 OHC carb motor.

Check the inlet piping for holes, try spraying brake or carb cleaner at it.

Idle screw is anti-clockwise on the AFM yeah? Co is on the AFm. My guess is an inlet leakage...

[pul16v]

has the ingnition timeing been changed at all when the head gasket was changed ;- eg distributor removed ?? if so try getin a timeing light on it and check the marks are ok

does it run ok after its lifted off idle even if only afew hunderd revs ?
my e16se ran like crap on idle but fine when revs lifted a little all because the throttle inkage wasnt sitting back down on its little stop screw. after i set that it was lulvli n sweet again

[carrie_girl_wonder]

mines a 1.6 8v and it did exactly what you're describing,turned out to be the automatic choke.the people that carried out my mot didnt realise it was a 1.6 and adjusted it to a 1.2 fuel spec thing,so it was stallin and i had to keep reving it when i was stationary but then they adjusted it and now it over runs a tiny weeny bit but i cant be ****d to go back lol

[Will F]

Like Craig said, I would go for air leak first of all... you may even be able to hear it 'sucking' in air at idle if its that bad

[Stuart]

mines a 1.6 8v and it did exactly what you're describing,turned out to be the automatic choke.the people that carried out my mot didnt realise it was a 1.6 and adjusted it to a 1.2 fuel spec thing,so it was stallin and i had to keep reving it when i was stationary but then they adjusted it and now it over runs a tiny weeny bit but i cant be ****d to go back lol


are you SURE.......... the 1.6 8v gte/gsi engine has no "choke" on it. It has got a cold running map in the ecu but thats not the same lol.



Dougie, spray some easy start/carb cleaner over the hose between the afm and TB. If the revs increase then the pipe is fuggered.

[Dod]

I think Carries is a Cav SPi Engine where as Douggies is a Nova GSi/GTE Item.

Douggie, try the hose from the Air flow meter to the inlet for rips or tares. As the guys say, it seems to be an Air leak. Its displaying all the symptoms and with the bhead coming off and going back on, it wouldnt be difficult to rip a pipe.

[Lynsey]

My car has been bahving perfectly today- which is even more annoying as it's more unpredictable than it's goddam' owner! We are going to spend some time on the lil one tonight so thanks for the advice, will have a go at the things you have suggested ;)