Cam sensor?

Done a leakoff test?

No change pulling an injector plug? It should cause the engine to splutter it will be running

on 3 cylinders. If you pull the wires off one and there is no change then that one is not

working. The others should cause the idle to drop or cut out.

 

Checked cam sensor as far as I could. It's grey which I gather are the dodgy ones? Will change as a matter of course.
No facility to do a leak off test at the mo. Am hoping it's not injectors! Did pull off each injector connector, car ran worse each time, still hear the occasional metallic ping too. Car is fine as it warms up.
Think I'll change cam sensor see if it helps. Am not suffering any other issues, no limp mode or cutting out. Baffled....

 

Sorry, probably being thick but I don't have a very clear picture of the issue.

Does f_super (original with formidable software?) give a code, or how does it indicate a misfire?

With the car cold, do temperature sensors more or less agree (air,fuel,coolant)?

Does misfire happen immediately, or only once engine has wamed up a bit?

If you use f_super to display fuel temperature, does it only start to happen after a certain temp is reached (say approaching 40c for example).

 

"FSUPER throwing up random misfire"- for me sounds like dirty injectors/ nozzles (but I can be wrong). There are some cleaning liquids you can try, but better results can provide ultrasound cleaning.

Beginning of the end :backthen:

 

Oldbod, I'll have to run FSuper again to get those figures.

Dirty injectors would surely mean constant problems not just from cold for a few minutes? Use Millers regularly and have just used a bottle of Forte along with a fuel filter change

 

Did the filter change make any difference? Genuine bosch/ford/delphi filter?

At 183k, things are entitled to be a bit worn. More things to consider

Couple of hard acceleration runs in a high gear, preferably uphill, to see if it goes into limp mode when pushed. This may help decide if injectors are worn and the issue, or if you just have idle issues.
recoding injectors (resets learnt adaptations)
Temporarily unplugging blue connector on fuel pump (to see if measured fuel temp is affecting it) - warm up till irregular idle is present first.
Fit egr blanking plate for test jic

Grey cam sensor is the later (ie more reliable) one.

If you have f super 2 cable with forscan, log requestd and actual freul pressures.

 

Bosch fuel filter fitted - no difference. Old filter showed no debris.

Yep, at 183k I am considering myself fortunate to have had a reliable car for so long! (Bought 5 1/2 years ago with 127k. Car was leased to RBS so had full history. Spoke to garage that serviced it, told me car had no major work)

Have driven car hard a few times but no limp mode or flashing glow plug light or EM light.

Have tried recoding using FSuper and Formidable software. Unsure if successful! Does FSuper work with Forscan?

I'll try unplugging fuel temp sensor from pump.

No blanking plate fitted - worth getting one for test purposes I guess as v cheap.

As my car is last of the Mk3's, many items I've read show these to be the least problematic.

If I can nail the problem before pulling injectors then great!

Thanks for the help - I'll post back results as soon as I can

 

Real fsuper that runs formidable doesn't work with forscan. The product badged as fsuper2 generally does because its a badge engineered elm327 cable...

Recoding with fsuper is supposed to work on later cars. Usually the indicator it has worked is it sounds like an old taxi for a while...

 

Ah mine is an FSuper2 so I'll have a play

 

Hi again everyone. Have managed to run some tests using my FSuper2 and Formidable. FORScan doesn't appear to work with my FSuper2 :-(

Have taken a few screen shots but when I read the DTC's I have now got this -

P0409 Exhaust Gas Recirculation Sensor A Circuit

P0100 Mass or Volume Air Flow A Circuit

P0204 Injector Circuit / Open - Cylinder 4

So can anyone translate?!

Am I looking at EGR failure (not blanked currently) and/or MAF failure and/or Injector 4 problem?

I did clear the DTC's ran the engine again for a short while and they didn't reappear. This is really starting to baffle me....

Can post screen shots if necessary but not sure how as a simple Copy & Paste won't work for some reason!

Thanks

 

Some of those codes might be historical, so clear the codes and see which ones come back.

 

Codes cleared - nothing back so far. Will take the car for a run and check again

 

Have been for a drive and no codes logged. Now thinking this may be more mechanical? Non-constant metallic pinging noise when cold - possible piston slap? Not apparent once warming up/warm. Appears to come from proximity of number 4 cylinder/RHS of the engine.
Baffled.com

 

Flywheel?

 

Cheap diesel?

 

Engaging clutch makes no difference. Have pulled crank sensor, clean as a whistle. I don't suspect DMF at this stage.

Use Shell diesel. Have had multiple fill ups since symptoms first occurred (about 8 weeks ago). Use Millers on most fill ups.
Engine idles well once temp hits approx 45c.

 

I'll keep investigating but can live with it for the moment.

Will report back if I find anything else!

All suggestions welcome

 

Any white smoke on cold start up?

 

Valve clearance? Using formula f?

 

No smoke of any colour on start up. No issues with starting.

Same oil used since I bought it - Triple QX Synthetic from ECP. Oil and filter changed every 6 months (approx every 5k)

Valve clearances? Didn't think there was any requirements to check or adjust?

 

You'e quite right, there are no settable adjustments. But some members whose opinions I respect say that the startup period is quieter using formula f than other oils - it just seems to really suit the hydraulic tappets. Why I don't know, might be detergents, might be cold viscosity profile, not a clue. Never used it myself, car died before i ran out of the triple... my lifted rocker shaft was more apparent cold and started from that end, just to really brighten your day...

Egr blanking can cause more noise for some, while others find it makes no difference at all. I suspect this is down to individual combustion chamber characteristics; probably dont need much to make the difference - a little carbon build up, the higher temp from no egr, and...

Nothing to do with belt i suppose.