Well that has been so much fun...
Background - took over my daughters Vitara Estate several months ago with the idea of seeing what a 2l V6 auto Vit was like. It was occasionally every few weeks acting up but you know, mostly it was great.
Until it wasn't... Started to get those irritating CEL flickers, then a more regular fault condition that would randomly throw the thing into limp mode of various complexity and severity.
Tried mechanics. Nup, just a recommendation to move it on ASAP. Tried ignoring the problem so it would get bored and wander off to bug someone else - slightly less effective again.
Tried bugging GwagonSteve in case he could fix it by remote control - preferably while I drank beer and poked the fire or something...
Read hours of historical posts that have left me with a severe feeling of Deja-Vu and a recurring squint from trying to scan through about 312 threads that might have a mention of the magic button that releases the magical overnight Zook repair leprechauns.
Didn't work either.
So reverted to pulling crap off and looking at it in case something obvious dropped out and made things better again... Discovered the plugs are gapped at about 3.2mm - suspect the mechanic didn't remember to gap them, well that's the stumble and rough running at high revs fixed then. Ordered a pre cat O2 sensor because it's the only thing left I have not replaced.
Standing there thinking this thing ran way better than this when we first got it and wishing I still smoked so I could set alight to it or something when for no reason I decided to work out why the right bank rocker cover has oil all over it but the nuts are tight and the fresh oil is from above when suddenly I focus on some studs. Idly wondering how they get tightened I reach out with out much thought and push the manifold apart with one finger... Suddenly fully awake I realise I can't be looking at studs there. Because. There. Are. Supposed. To. Be. Nuts On. Them...
FFFNUGGGINNE Fark feck fff..
So for how many years have the nuts been gone considering the corrosion levels - now I get why the engine is running good during warm up then hyper rich or lean depending on the intake leak and engine moving around with heat. Now I get why the O2 sensor is loading up and tripping the CEL. FFS points ignition and carby engines have their dramas but are about 10% of the drama to trouble shoot...
