[remickz]

Hey Guys,

On the weekend the Vitara got a very bad missfire, its on the front most cylinder (#1?) with the longest lead.
It would seem that its only in lower RPM (up to maybe 2200rpm until i cant feel it), and only after the vehicle has had some use or warmth, from cold, or after a 20 minute break, i have a minute or two of normal steady idle.

I changed the plugs, still the same. I checked the lead and its about 5K ohms, which seems reasonable, but i have a new set on the way.
Anything else i should check, would a weak coil be next?

Thanks

[remickz]

Well its not the leads, just replaced with some new bosch ones, still the same, from cold missfire begins after about 1 or 2 minutes.
Next thing i can try is the coil, Does anyone have a spare they can loan or sell for me to try, West Melbourne area?

Thanksl

[royce]

how have you determined its no 1?

Did the old plugs have any oil or brown staining on the porcelin that might indicate the rocker cover is leaking into the plug tubes?

[remickz]

Thanks for the response Royce.
I have determined #1 by removing the lead while its running, and no change in the missfire. If i remove the next plug it obviously gets a lot worse.

I will check the plugs and tubes in a little while.

Thanks;

[remickz]

I have attached a photo of one of the spark plugs that was replaced. They all look fine. Just under a year ago when i got the car, all the rocker cover gaskets and spark plugs were replaced.
It now has the new set of plugs and leads in the car.

[royce]

can you compression test it?

cap look ok?

[Rossco]

X2 have a look at the cap and contacts inside the dizzy. Also I have had a similar problem before and it turned out to be the spark arcing through the lead to a bit of grounded metal it was touching. Took me two days to find, may seem silly but just try moving the leads around/ away from anything that is grounded.

[remickz]

I am guessing head gasket now unfortunately. Puffing small amount of whiteness (steam i guess) on the misfire, loosing my coolant, and as you can see on the pic, nice amount of white gunk on the oil cap and dipstick.

Just makes me a bit mad as i have recently put the new headers on the car, done the oil/filter and coolant; makes me wonder if i did something wrong with the coolant such as a big air pocket or something.

Ahhh decisions, i have all the gaskets etc from a VRS gasket set, i think its time to just give it to a mechanic to fix.

[DarkHorse]

Hopefully it's just the gasket, not a crack in the head itself.

[foolsp33d]

DarkHorse wrote:

Hopefully it's just the gasket, not a crack in the head itself.

Or the block

[reeceh]

If you pull the head off check the block first. Otherwise it would be a waste to get the head done. Unless you find a rebuilt/new block. I was unlucky with a fucked block so I end up buying a vgc import motor for $1450

[remickz]

I have ended up giving the car to my father in law, him and his friend will remove the head in a few days, then we will see what the problem ended up being.
Hopefully they will fix it no problems, and have a good car then.

[remickz]

Hi Guys,

Car is running all fine now. The head was removed, and it would seem that the front head bolts where pretty much loose, allowing water etc to get under the head gasket.
The head was cleaned and checked for cracks, all good, and the shop skimmed it a very small amount just to be safe. Head gasket was still in great shape, but replaced anyway, along with Timing Belt, bearings, valve stems, gaskets, water pump.

So along with the new Auto it has, new plugs, leads, radiator hoses, drive shafts, rear main seals, i am hoping the car is in good shape now..... Just need to decide to keep or not.