Random timing issue

Driving yesterday and all of a sudden the car back fired and started pinking, I limped it home. I've checked the dizzy and it hasn't moved, last time it was adjusted was about 6 months ago. Checked the dizzy cap just incase aswell, no problems there. So I slackened off the dizzy and it made it worse, so I've put that back to where it was, no difference. Whats next, check the plugs?

The cars a daily runner so I need it to get to work. Any speedy replies would be appreciated. Its an e16se btw. :thumb:

My e16se GSI pinked really badly, it was the square top cam cover with black dizzy and siemens ECU, the cause was a poor gearbox earth aswell as the co level ( ie fuel to air mix ) was far too weak, the guy set it up for me and the difference was fantastic.

check the plugs? it depends how confident you are its a timing issue, if you know it is then check the timing belt and strobe light the ignition

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Originally Posted by Jon_nova1

check the plugs? it depends how confident you are its a timing issue, if you know it is then check the timing belt and strobe light the ignition

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the timing can not be checked with a strobe on the late E16SE as they don't have a ignition timing mark on the bottom of the engine, the only mark I found on mine was on the crank cog to line up the valve timing,

(edit) I should point out that the early e16 in my GTE has a notch on the bottom pulley and a pointer on the block to check and set the timing but no pointer on the gsi engine.

Just checking the plugs now Jon. They seem a bit black and sooty. Just checking there all sparking. I'm fairly confident its a timing issue, as it feels similiar to the issues I had when I first got it. I could be wrong of course. Just seems strange that its been driving fine and all of a sudden its started playing up. It could be **** fuel because I filled up just before it started happening.

Here's the trusty old picture of plug colours from Haynes for you. :)

http://i284.photobucket.com/albums/l...park_plugs.jpg

is the afm jammed open? or the silly cold start bypass valve? i think its overfueling, so one of the sensors is making it read funny.

ecu light codes???

another thought, has the timing belt slipped?

might be worth checking the cam timing aswell incase its jumped a tooth

Right I'm pretty sure the dizzy cap was at fault, I just re-checked it and it seems there is deposits around two of the points, cleaned them up and it runs alot better although not perfect. So I've ordered plugs, leads, dizzy and rotor arm all coming tommorow that should cure it. I will check the timing and mixture at the weekend.

Thanks for all the replys, helpful as always, +rep on route :)

edit: Mowgli, Southie and Jon, it appears I've been bumming you too much, so no plus rep, sorry

Scratch that, its just as bad. Seems ok until it warms up then its starts pinking/bogging down loads. I just travelled at 50 down the M40 with like C1s and lorries overtaking me. I gotta get it sorted asap as its a depressing state of affairs. Is there a chance it could be fueling related?

for gods sake get it looked at... check the cam timing, then get it plugged in somewhere good, you'll give the png a bad name driving that slow

I haven't got any PNG stickers on my car, no free advertising here buddy. I'm the sort of sad **** that turns tesco bags inside out :P lol

On a serious note, is there anyway of testing the coil and module that sits underneath the coil?

Is it an early or late spec engine?

Early I think, it came from an G reg

Well what shape is the top of the cam cover? What make is the ECU? and what colour is the dizzy cap?

Round top on the cam cover, Bosch 0227 291 053 ecu, orange dizzy cap

Good, that the early engine, the later square top cam cover has a siemens brain, Bosch AFM, and Lucas black dizzy.

Your coil should be the round cylinder type and iirc it tells you how to check it in the haynes manual.
The timing mark on the bottom pulley will have a pointer at the bottom of the block to check timing.
My money would be on a fueling issue rather than timing.
Sorry I can't be anymore help but I'd get the co levels checked asap.

Coolio, thanks for your help Bazil. I'll cheak out lines, pump etc.

More likley it's a fuel/air mix problem rather than fuel delivery,

ive head of the contacts in the afm wearing out or getting dirty, might be worth checking

Pulled off the send and the return and blew them out with an airline and fitted a new inline filter. Still the same :(

I will check the connection on the AFM now, cheers burgo.

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Originally Posted by djshaggeh

Pulled off the send and the return and blew them out with an airline and fitted a new inline filter. Still the same :(

I will check the connection on the AFM now, cheers burgo.

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i mean actually inside it, one sec and ill dig out a pic

Pulled it off, checked the pins. they looked fine but gave them a little scrape anyways, seems a little better but still not right :(

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Originally Posted by burgo

i mean actually inside it, one sec and ill dig out a pic

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Oh I see, cheers burgo.

i attended a seminar at one of the old vboa winter events at stoneleigh back in the day & it was about l3.1 jetronic systems, done by a blokey from bosch GB. he was adamant that 99% of all efi problems could be solved with wd40 & a rag.

ps. for any of you who are thinking of doing it, he did not have a funny uniform & a white stripe on his face.

in here :p

http://i12.photobucket.com/albums/a2...s/DSCN2262.jpg

you can see the track the arm sweeps across, as mowgli says abit of wd40 on a rag and gently clean the strip, or if you've got it proper contact cleaner.

/me goes to the stock cupboard and pulls out 3 cans of budget brand wd40 and a roll of tissue

Edit: cheers Mr B, I have the unit sat infront of me I'll give it a go :)

it looks like the gubbings from one of those old dial phones..........i'd forgot what they looked like

Cleaned it up, it was quite dirty. Stuck it back on no difference :(:mad::cry:

Theres a petrol station next door, I may fill up the tank, stick a rag in the petrol tank and drive it towards the nearest chav group and do some yipee-kay-yay shizzle just so as its not a waste.

i had this same problem years ago and never got to the bottom of it, i think the only thing i didnt try was a new ignition modual, ive still got the new one i bought for it in me wardrobe lol. oh that and i didnt try a NEW dizzy, i tried a different one though.

I'll say it again



CO MIXTURE lol

Ok ok! Ill give it a go. I aint got a haynes manual with me, where abouts are the screws?

mine has had a nagging ecu light fault for about 2 years, every time i revved it over 3500rpm, it faltered & the light came on, once up to 5k, it cleared itself, or if i let off the throttle, it cleared..

last sunday, i was out for a trip & all of a sudden, there was a judder & it has cleared properly, no lights & it runs fine...

i hate unfindable faults too..... i wonder if its anything to do with the egr thing

There is only 1 mixture screw and it's on the afm iirc with a little black cap on it, carefully remove the cap and the screw is under it, as for adjusting it I'm in the dark as I put mine into a Bosch expert.

Before adjusting anything have you checked all your engine earths?

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Originally Posted by djshaggeh

Ok ok! Ill give it a go. I aint got a haynes manual with me, where abouts are the screws?

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thats on the air flow meter aswell lol do you want a pic?

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Originally Posted by djshaggeh

Ok ok! Ill give it a go. I aint got a haynes manual with me, where abouts are the screws?

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one on the afm, one on the inlet... i have no idea what does what though

mixture only adjusts the idle mixture I heard somewhere (2nd hand info) one on the TB would be the idle screw if its the one im thinking of, can only think of one on the tb though so its a decent chance

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Originally Posted by mowgli

one on the afm, one on the inlet... i have no idea what does what though

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The one on the inlet is for setting the idle speed

ta Bazil, i have never bothered to mess with them as i don't have a co2 thingy, & i just get the mot man to adjust it

in the haynes manual it calls it the "idle mixture adjustment screw" so doubt it will do anything above idle

oh and i dont think the egr valve causes this problem as i had mine removed

the CO screw is in the sticky outy bit on the face closest in this pic

http://i12.photobucket.com/albums/a2...s/SAM_0848.jpg