Misfiring 2.4 petrol Maverick 1998.

[Geordie]

Hi Guys,

Hoping for a bit of help/advice. My Maverick has developed a misfire which usually lasts only for a couple of miles or so and then disappears. It starts up fine and then seems to start firing on three cylinders but it only seems to last a short while, as mentioned, and then runs normally. It started about a month ago and since then I have replaced all the plug leads, put in new plugs, replaced the distributor cap and put in a new rotor arm - all to no avail. It's due to go into the garage tomorrow and I just wondered if anyone go thow any light on what the probl;em may be?

Should have posted earlier but did'nt have the chance.

The only other thing I can say is that my wife normally drives it to and from work which is only a couple of miles or so so it only gets a good run when I take it out at the weekends.

Any help would be appreciated.

Geordie

 

[extreme-4x4]

did you try some injector cleaner in it.... if its always driving cold its likely it dont spend much time running off choke so could be a bit sooty in there

 

[Geordie]

Hi Extreme,

Thanks for the reply.

The answer to your question is that no I haven't, never thought of that but I will mention it at the garage tomorrow. I just hope it's something straightforward and not too expensive! It's only done 58,000 and apart from that it runs a treat even though I don't think I've ever had better than about 23mpg since I've had it.

I'll post on here once I've got back from the garage which is only a small local garage but he's serviced it for the past few years and it's always been spot on wghen it's come back - so fingers crossed.

Thanks again - much appreciated.

Geordie

 

[extreme-4x4]

good plugs on a petrol will help on the fuel consumption and injector cleaner will help too. as its a big engine for 2 mile trips and they dont get warm quick either . so id try some nice good plugs in it. the best you can afford

 

[Adz]

Once youve done that & if it solves the problem go out & drive it hard for a few miles t blow d cobwebs out :sly

 

[makeitfit]

Have you or her indoors had engine check light come on,even if it's gone out again?
I had a petrol one that did just that and I did all you did and more:doh
So ask your garage chap to plug into the ECU for a fault/error code list. That will tell you what's going on:thumbs

 

[Hewey]

Georgie,

Mine did exactly the same but only really when we had wet weather, I replaced the Rotor, Cap, Leads and Plugs and it seems to have cured it so I'm not a lot of help I'm afraid.

Good luck finding the problem though.

 

[ronypony]

What condition were the plugs in when you changed them....any oily deposits or other abnormal symptoms with the condition of the plugs ?

 

[Geordie]

Hi All,

Just to let you know that when the local garage collected the car it never let them down once - this after it's been misfiring all week! Anyway, he's given it a cursory check over and is having it back in next Monday to give it the full diagnostic treatment so we'll see what happens then.

I'll keep you up to date and thanks again for all the help.

Geordie

 

[Geordie]

Ronypony,

Sorry mate should have added this to the previous message.

The plugs, when I took them out weren't in bad nick at all. Surprising really, seen as 90% of its travelling time is less than 5 miles a day! They were sooted up but not too badly and normally I would have just cleaned them and put them back but because of whats happening I put new ones in - it hasn't cured the problem though.

The trouble is the misfire is not consistent. It'll happen two or three days on the trot then disappear for a day or so and then return.. If it's the EGR or MAF then I'm out of my depth so hopefully will find out something on Monday.

Thanks again.

Geordie

 

[ronypony]

Good luck with the garage m8....Had and intermittent misfire with a V6 Granada I used to have...was due to fouled plug on No 6...cause... goosed valve stem oil seal..plug would foul over a couple of weeks and start to misfire...

Have a read through this article...very informative about misfires

http://www.aa1car.com/library/misfire.htm