View Full Version : Help, My Magna is Dyin'
JarRah
28-01-2007, 09:19 AM
Hey if anyone can give me an insight into whats wrong I'd really apprecitate it.
Well here it goes, I got my TF re-registed on the 24th so the car was running fine otherwise I wouldn't have gotten rego. Drove to a mates place and left the car there for the Big Day Out.
It wasn't driven from the night of the 24th till 11:30pm on the 26th. Driving home from my mates and I notice that between 1000 & 2000rpm the car hunkers down and struggles to move if I pushed the throttle past half way. Then once it passed 2000 it would launch ahead.
So I found that If I just took off delicately everything was cool. At this time I just though the injectors had gotten clogged. But last night I was at work (delivery Driver), went around a corner and went past 1/2 throttle so the car did its hunker down thing then launched after 2000 but there was a clicking noise for a second and now the car is acting heaps weird. If I push it too hard any where in the rev-range in most gears it hunkers down or launches oddly.
The only way I can drive it is to keep it in low gears, high revs and drive heaps delicately. Going to a mechanic tomorrow but would just wanna know if anyone has a idea whats wrong. The car only has 165,000 on the clock, had a oil change 2000km ago, had the transmittion fluid changed in late september. I just dont know how a car could sh*t its self in two days, especially after just passing rego.
coldamus
28-01-2007, 10:35 AM
Those symptoms are similar to what I had recently in my 1st Gen. It turned out to be just a faulty spark plug lead. I'm not saying your problem will be the same but it could be something similar and not necessarily expensive.
Mine suddenly started running so badly that there were clunking noises coming from the front end. I thought I had damaged the suspension, drive train or engine mounts. Eventually I realised it was the engine clunking. It would start up ok but as soon as it was under load, it would kick, buck and splutter. Once it got further up in the rev range, it would smooth out. I was sure it was a major problem.
After a thorough check and not finding anything obvious, I started thinking injectors or maybe clogged fuel filter but then I noticed that I got zapped anytime I put my hand near the No. 1 spark plug lead.
When I took that lead off, it made no difference whereas the engine stopped if I took any of the others off. So I swapped the leads from my other Magna and the problem was immediately fixed. I couldn't see anything wrong with the defective lead. The damage can be internal.
Try checking your plug leads, the rotor button and distributor cap and the plugs themselves. If your valve stem seals are worn, plugs could have gotten oiled up while sitting for a couple of days.
_x_FiReStOrM_x_
28-01-2007, 10:48 AM
But last night I was at work (delivery Driver), went around a corner and went past 1/2 throttle so the car did its hunker down thing then launched after 2000 but there was a clicking noise for a second and now the car is acting heaps weird. If I push it too hard any where in the rev-range in most gears it hunkers down or launches oddly.
Firstly... this kind of problem is hard to diagnose without actually physically seeing/driving the vehicle.. but anyway..
Umm can you tell if its a misfire at all (does the car idle like it has a stage 20 cam)? or does the car just surge and/or stumble? And will it do it if you rev it in neutral, or only when actually driving in gear?
Firstly, have a look at your spark plugs. If any are damaged/excessively worn/or excessively fouled, replace them. If theres still no progress, disconnect all HT leads at spark plug ends and place them back onto the plugs, so they make contact but do not actually clip back on. Then with the car running; using a pair of plastic or wooden tongs/pliers, or rubber handled pliers.. remove each lead from the spark plug one by one and replace them before moving onto the next. You'll hear the engine sound change.. it will sound rougher and start shaking. Keep doing this plug by plug until you find one that, when you pull it off - makes no difference to how the engine runs (hope you know what i mean... sorry for poor explanation). If you do find one like this, it indicates that this is the problem cylinder. Start by checking/replacing the spark plug on that cylinder and if that doesnt solve, replace the HT lead. If nothing so far has indicated any problems, replace the fuel filter.
Also, what kind of clicking sound was it... if it only occured on the corner then it may well be an unrelated problem (cv joint).
Let us know how you go and if the fuel filter & plugs doesnt solve things report back and i'll tell you the next steps to take.
JarRah
28-01-2007, 02:30 PM
Firstly... this kind of problem is hard to diagnose without actually physically seeing/driving the vehicle.. but anyway..
Umm can you tell if its a misfire at all (does the car idle like it has a stage 20 cam)? or does the car just surge and/or stumble? And will it do it if you rev it in neutral, or only when actually driving in gear?
Firstly, have a look at your spark plugs. If any are damaged/excessively worn/or excessively fouled, replace them. If theres still no progress, disconnect all HT leads at spark plug ends and place them back onto the plugs, so they make contact but do not actually clip back on. Then with the car running; using a pair of plastic or wooden tongs/pliers, or rubber handled pliers.. remove each lead from the spark plug one by one and replace them before moving onto the next. You'll hear the engine sound change.. it will sound rougher and start shaking. Keep doing this plug by plug until you find one that, when you pull it off - makes no difference to how the engine runs (hope you know what i mean... sorry for poor explanation). If you do find one like this, it indicates that this is the problem cylinder. Start by checking/replacing the spark plug on that cylinder and if that doesnt solve, replace the HT lead. If nothing so far has indicated any problems, replace the fuel filter.
Also, what kind of clicking sound was it... if it only occured on the corner then it may well be an unrelated problem (cv joint).
Let us know how you go and if the fuel filter & plugs doesnt solve things report back and i'll tell you the next steps to take.
It more stumble and surges, it does it a bit when its in neutral but its more noticeable in gear when under load. I don't know when any other parts have been serviced as the guy I bought the car off was an idiot and somehow lost the service manual so I dont know how old the fuel filter is. The spark plug or leads solution kinda fits to the power problems ie no power then launching but theres still the clunking noises coming from the engine that are kinda making me nervous that this is gunna be expensive
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