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Tempermental Ecotec

2K views 22 replies 13 participants last post by  MrCav  
#1 ·
Got a weird one here, car idles rough at times, but doesnt cut out.
When it idles fine, it can cut out randomly.
It misfires sometimes, when this happens it won't rev about 4500rpm, this is solved by switching engine off and back on. Had a few proper "BANGS" when it misfires. Got a stainless exhaust, decat pipe, and an induction kit which will soon be getting binned (was on car before i got it)

Any ideas? Camshaft sensor has been done as far as i'm told, recent engine change had the garage checking the wiring since it was doing similar when they had it in there, but maybe someone here knows more ?

2litre ecotec by the way.

Cheers
Mic
 
#6 ·
How do you do a compression test? I'm guessing it ain't no peice of piss lol
never dione one myself, but you need a compression tester to do it, from what ive read in the haynes manual, it seems fairly easy- remove a plug and put the compression tester in its place and crank the engine over essentially= but u have to remove a lead from the coil
 
#8 ·
could be the crank sensor playing up. That usually put the EML on though and stores a fault code.

Might be worth taking it out and cleaning it off, and cleaning the contacts where it joins the loom too - could be something as simple as that.
 
#11 ·
Hi, is it a full stainless system or just a back box? if its a full system i might be intrested in buting it after you take it off.

I've had 2 ecotech cavs, 1st one used to Rev up and down at idel for no reason, but an old man wrote it off for me,,, end of problem :p

the second one had a problem that kept coming back. it would ldle fine, but sometimes cut out for no reson at the lights, or worse still at high speed when you put the clutch in to change down a gear, Scaery stuff indeed. then it started to roughly idle, got sick of it so much that i binned the engine for a v6. I went thro a lot of plugs, so check your plugs if they covered in oil like mine were, then the cam cover gaskets need changing, as oily plugs and leads make the ecotech run like Sh*te.

Also clean out the throttle body and all breather pipes, often get completely blocked.

Hope you get it sorted but mine was so annoying
 
#12 ·
switching the engine off and on when moving will make it bang! (mine did ) so no problem there :D

4500 is limp mode so you should have a engine code fault show up

does the engine light come on just on the ign and go out when started ?? (bulb?)

when its running ok does it have bags of power to the red line? (will rule out compression)

Just a few simple pointers to help solve your problem hope they help

let us know how you get on
 
#13 ·
Got a weird one here, car idles rough at times, but doesnt cut out.
When it idles fine, it can cut out randomly.
It misfires sometimes, when this happens it won't rev about 4500rpm, this is solved by switching engine off and back on. Had a few proper "BANGS" when it misfires.

mines been doing this for nearly 18months now,only recently the misfires getting worse,and the temp goes up when moving and drops when sat still idling:think but ive been advised to check plugs leads etc first,if you find a cure....please share:Cool2:
 
#14 ·
Got a weird one here, car idles rough at times, but doesnt cut out.
When it idles fine, it can cut out randomly.
It misfires sometimes, when this happens it won't rev about 4500rpm, this is solved by switching engine off and back on. Had a few proper "BANGS" when it misfires.

mines been doing this for nearly 18months now,only recently the misfires getting worse,and the temp goes up when moving and drops when sat still idling:think but ive been advised to check plugs leads etc first,if you find a cure....please share:Cool2:
looks like theres a theme going on here as i've had same probs for last two months but my managment light comes on when it happens. i've checked and sorted all the usual suspects and had ecu reset etc.. the only thing i ain't done is change the wireing loom and lambda sensor will post up the results of this next week:crying_2:
 
#16 ·
Well I was driving it tonight, and a wee play with a civic vtec, and the cav held its own pretty damn well, so it seems to have plenty of guts when it is running fine, i'm thinking it may be down to the hot weather. It only seems to run bad when its sunny lol? At night it's back to its old self.

And yeah it is a full stainless system, but no i wont be selling it mate ;)

PS All bulbs working fine, so fook knows. BLOODY VAUXHALLS!!
 
#18 ·
the ecotec cav is a strange machine indeed. its rarely a catastrofic failure just anoying untraceable problems all the time....
Quick hijack!!

spot on there jason :Cool2: everyone seem to think the engine problems are gonna be major expensive and dive in with a wedge of money buying every conceivable ancillary on the market if not a whole engine!!

If there was a way to fook off all the sensor sh*t IMO it would be a very reliable engine

I batter mine down the motorway every morning the cams rattle its used 10litres of oil in 20 months done 136.000 miles it will still see the clock even now ... If it exploded tomorrow it owes me nothing and 100 quid later I'd be back on the motorway doing it all again :bananasmi
 
#19 ·
If there was a way to fook off all the sensor sh*t IMO it would be a very reliable engine
you can but carbs are expensive and eco lovers wont put an XE in - even though they dont give half the problems.
as for this one - it seems like the exhaust may have a leak and its letting air back in? or it could be the O2 sensor is saying its running lean (exhaust) and feeding too much fuel through to compensate? try it on a stock exhaust and if it cures it put yours back on and get it mapped.