[Samurai81]

So, I've had what seems like a small miss whenever I'm trying to run in petrol saving mode (usually at around 50 kph). Doesn't do it under heavy load and starts real easy. Recently its become really annoying so I've had it in at the auto sparky to get sorted. Result is they are scratching their heads and just dont seem to know where to go with it. The bill is rising. We've replaced all the coils and spark plugs, done on board diagnostics while running a couple of times, put injector cleaner through the petrol system, tested all the vacuums and a few secret stuff thats over my head ( I turned up and they were running lpg into the air filter to lean/richen it out).
Its a pretty reputable sparky centre - they usually work on BMWs, Mercs, Porches, and even a Bentley so the Zook is in good company but they are becoming stumped.
The next suggestion is to pull the injectors and get them cleaned. Off the wall ideas welcome.
Steve.

[joeblow]

Did they change the rubber snouts on the coil packs?

[royce]

pulling the injectors out should of been the first thing they did, any mechanic knows that

[JrZook]

royce wrote:

pulling the injectors out should of been the first thing they did, any mechanic knows that

x2!

There and good mechanics that start with the simple is cheap stuff related to the issue and then there are expert mechanics which jump straight to more complex solutions first!

Samurai81:

In fuel saving mode I assume you mean light throttle. As royce suggested start by getting the injectors cleaned and then see what happens then.

[Samurai81]

To be fair to the sparky, I got the motor pretty wet recently and saw sparks shooting out the exhaust as I made an essential and urgent journey to catch a boat. I ended up having to get 3 coils (complete with tubes) replaced through that incident but the missing has got worse since. They've effectively eliminated everything electrical for the problem now so I really wanted confirmation (and got it thanks) that the injectors are the next likely components to check.
Steve.

[royce]

if it got that wet its got to be worth checking out all the plugs for corrosion too, just fixed a sierra that sometimes had no power to the coil and tracked it to the tinyest amount of corrosion on the coil power lead in the big multi pin plug next to the glovebox

[Samurai81]

Yep, replaced all the plugs too. Fortunately daughter's boyfriend works at Repco.
Steve.

[Samurai81]

Okay, so now I've had all the injectors cleaned and checked. The spray pattern looks fine. Hasn't made a blind bit of difference to the performance. The miss is still there and the longer it goes on the more I notice it. Is pretty bad during warm up then once warmed is noticeable under acceleration but not under wide open throttle and its really bad in fourth gear (revs just under 2000) trying to maintain 50 kph ( I now cruise round in third gear in 50 k zones).
Getting 450 km out of a tank of gas @ 10 km / litre on standard road tyres. It'll be back to the sparky once I 've paid the bills for the previous work.

I also sorted out my clutch problem. Ripco have an "alternative" thrust bearing for when customers complain the standard clutch doesn't work properly. In my case its about 5 mm deeper and has now solved the problem of the clutch not fully working once everything was up to operating speed. Problem is the gearbox had to come out again = big $$ on mechanics hours. My mechanic is trying to do Ripco for the extra labour.
Steve.
,

[JrZook]

So can you give us an update on exactly everything that has been previously done to try and resurrect the issue?

[Samurai81]

Bought it in April 2010 with 110000 km on it.

Had an occasional "check Engine" light up and a miss. Got it diagnosed with crook O2 sensor. Replaced and no further Check engine lights but they couldn't detect the miss.

Used it for commuting 36 km each way to work. Same car sparky worked on minor wiring issues through the year doing stuff like wiring spotties and daylight runners. Got to live with the miss until this year after doing 1500 km on summer holiday. Had it diagnosed again. Still no faults showing.

Had a minor meltdown in May when I had to rush to work after washing the engine fairly robustly. Ended up getting water through the coil packs and 3 of them failed. I replaced all of them. Also removed the cat and fitted extractors. Engine ran again but there was no change in the miss.
Air filter changed regularly. Haven't changed fuel filterbut the engine goes pretty well when I cane it. It farts and misses worst when cold and at about 1800 rpm trying to do 50 kpm in fourth gear.
Changed plugs - no improvement.
Blocked off the EGR - no change.
Had the injectors cleaned and the spray patterns checked - no difference in performance.
Now have 130000 km on the clock. Starts and idels well. Doesn't run on when the ignition is cut. Water temp comes up fast and the needle remains steady in the middle of the gauge.

Waddyarekkon?

[atari4x4]

Hey Steve, I came across this on Zuwharrie... could be worth looking into?

http://bbs.zuwharrie.com/content?topic=117464.0

http://townhall-talk.edmunds.com/direct ... f0f1b43/70

[Samurai81]

Thanks for the link Gus. I've been away for a couple of weeks and left the Vitara with my autosparky for one last time. He used it as his runaround and to get to grips with the fault. He has fixed the stuttering by manually timing the engine. I guess you could say the old way but he reckons he backed off the timing by up to 15 degrees and now it's like a different car. I'm yet to do an economy check on it but it has get up and go and dosn't pink at all. Temperature remains constant in the half way position.
The camshaft position sensor story is a worry. I didn't read the entire thread but did see some reference to the V6 2.0 in it.
Still trying to sort out the clutch. Costing me a fortune.

Steve.