twybrow
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| posted on 10/3/09 at 06:59 PM |
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Engine help needed please!
I went for a test start of my engine tonight, to check if the coolant hose issues resurfaced. Unfortunately, it threw up another more serious problem.
For a start, only 2 of the 3 (3 cylinder bike engine!) downpipes are getting hot, which suggests to me that cylinder No. 1 is not firing. I had put
this down to a dirty coil connection when I last fired it up, but I don't think this is the problem.
Can anyone tell me what to check and where, to figure out why this one cylinder is not working? I am thinking I should test the coil feed, injector
feed and probably the spark plug too (I bought some new ones today by chance!). Any ideas please people - I am getting desperate!?
I also have the engine warning lamp on, with code P1601 - MIL open circuit/open to ground. Could this be related or a red herring?
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BenB
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| posted on 10/3/09 at 07:13 PM |
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MIL= malfunction indication light so not very helpful....
I'd try swapping the spark plugs around and see if you can "move" the cool downpipe onto a different cylinder. If all else fails fit
new plugs.
It'd also be tempting to swap some injector plugs round- it'll likely be batch fired and even if its synchornous it won't cause harm
by firing the injectors out of sync, will just run a bit out of tune for a while until you flip them back. Might also be worth swapping the injectors
round, you might have a sticking injector....
If all else fails it's worth doing a compression test.
IE you need compression, spark and fuel. Process of elimination.
Is that error code definately right for the engine? It could be connected e.g. if the coil has broken down and gone open circuit. But I suspect
it's probably something much more basic that that....
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britishtrident
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| posted on 10/3/09 at 07:19 PM |
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I one cylinder isn't firing it will trigger a fault code.
If you have been running the engine with one cylinder not firing then even if the spark plug wasn't the cause, the plug will almost certainly be
fouled or wet.
So the first thing is to pull the spark plug out and examine it and then put a fresh plug in.
If that dosen't resolve your problem you have to check for an ht spark --- in the old days this was done by just pulling off an ht lead but
with modern systems this isn't a good idea, you can do one of two things either put an ht neon tester in series with the plug (Aldi were
selling these at very low price a couple of weeks back chances are your local store still has some left) or clamp any old but good spark plug to
the engine (open the gap up to 2mm or so) and connect the spark plug to it. Then get a helper to statt te engine for a couple of seconds while you
check for a spark.
To check of the injector is getting a signal the usual way is to connect a Noid light (ie any old 12v LED) to the injector plug.
However -- it just could be you have cylinder head gasket blown (hence the hoses getting blown of or a valve problem), I would advise a
compression test or even better a cylinder leak down test.
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t16turbotone
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| posted on 10/3/09 at 07:27 PM |
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i think british trident may have a good point with the head gasket issue, specially if youve been having problems with coolant pipes blowing off!!
compression test her!
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twybrow
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| posted on 10/3/09 at 07:30 PM |
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Thanks guys. Some useful info so far....
The coolant hose thing is just down to a crappy barb on the bikes thermostat. I have changed the hose to a non wire reinforced hose, which seem to
seal much easier.
I have a new set of plugs I was going to put back in, so I will whip out the old ones and have a look. I'm fairly sure I sorted this about 6
months ago, by cleaning the terminals to the coil feed. From memory (and mine is poor!) it threw up a coil failure fault, which I don't
currently have. I do like the thinking on the knackered/fouled spark plug, as it must have chucked a fair amount of fuel into the cylinder without
ever burning any of it!
I am always nervous of doing the plug/HT trick checking for a spark, as last time, I got the shock of my life (a very good indicator that it was
working!). I think I will leave that test until last!
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britishtrident
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| posted on 10/3/09 at 08:13 PM |
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Coolant hoses don't need a barb --- I have never ever had a coolant hose blow off in a my many years..
[I] “ What use our work, Bennet, if we cannot care for those we love? .”
― From BBC TV/Amazon's Ripper Street.
[/I]
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twybrow
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| posted on 10/3/09 at 08:19 PM |
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Just went to change a plug, and found that you need a special super slim spark plug socket to get to the plug.... Rubbish!
I really don't think I have a blown head gasket, but I won't rule it out just yet...!
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