Omega Owners Forum

Omega Help Area => Omega General Help => Topic started by: Lizzie_Zoom on 11 November 2012, 16:12:23

Title: Confusing Issue
Post by: Lizzie_Zoom on 11 November 2012, 16:12:23
Whilst servicing my miggy, a plug lead (the shortest , right at the back of the engine; yes that one!!) fell apart whilst changing the plug. Tried to repair, but the engine was lumpy and the engine management light came on.

Bought a set of replacement leads from a local Vx breaker (just £15!) and fitted the replacement lead.

Engine management light now has gone out, but engine runs still lumpy. Also once becoming hot blue smoke appeared from under the car, and there was a smell of burning; electrical perhaps.

Any ideas from you guys please?
Title: Re: Confusing Issue
Post by: dbug on 11 November 2012, 16:22:27
Firstly welcome back Lizzie  ;)

Sure its electrical - possibly leaking cam cover gasket?
Title: Re: Confusing Issue
Post by: Lizzie_Zoom on 11 November 2012, 16:25:27
Thanks dbug :y :y

Yes, that's a good thought.  I will investigate, yet again, tomorrow. 8)
Title: Re: Confusing Issue
Post by: Entwood on 11 November 2012, 16:53:52
Welcome back :)

Blue smoke is usually oil, electrical cable burning is usually black smoke, but sometimes white

Lumpy running + blue smoke ... as said possibly cam covers, would also fit with the plug lead disintegrating if its been sat in a puddle of oil for a long time. New lead may well not work correctly if the plug well is that full of oil .....

Time to check those plugs wells methinks .. :(
Title: Re: Confusing Issue
Post by: Lizzie_Zoom on 11 November 2012, 17:03:01
Thanks Entwood :y

All the plug wells were perfectly dry. But of course I suppose an oil leak could be elsewhere ::)
Title: Re: Confusing Issue
Post by: symes on 11 November 2012, 17:28:12
check the connector inside the plug cap is a tight fit on top of plug-that was problem on mine ??? also check you havent split a vacuum pipe at the back of engine when you pulled the leads out-(done that before)
Title: Re: Confusing Issue
Post by: Lizzie_Zoom on 11 November 2012, 17:38:19
check the connector inside the plug cap is a tight fit on top of plug-that was problem on mine ??? also check you havent split a vacuum pipe at the back of engine when you pulled the leads out-(done that before)

Thanks :y

You have given me some fresh ideas 8) 8)
Title: Re: Confusing Issue
Post by: symes on 11 November 2012, 17:43:27
Thats from my problems on silver shed :( :( :(
Title: Re: Confusing Issue
Post by: robson on 11 November 2012, 19:05:03
Sorry cant help much Lizzie but good to see you are still with this group.I thought that you may have changed to a BMW or something. Ron
Title: Re: Confusing Issue
Post by: feeutfo on 12 November 2012, 08:06:49
Hi Lizzie, any oil in that pot?

New leads needed, at least.
Title: Re: Confusing Issue
Post by: Lizzie_Zoom on 12 November 2012, 09:04:14
Sorry cant help much Lizzie but good to see you are still with this group.I thought that you may have changed to a BMW or something. Ron

Thanks Ron :y :y

BMW? No way.  It is an Omega................or a new Merc E Class! ;D ;D ;D
Title: Re: Confusing Issue
Post by: Lizzie_Zoom on 12 November 2012, 09:05:49
Hi Lizzie, any oil in that pot?

New leads needed, at least.

No oil in spark plug holes Chris.  Already replaced one lead that was broken.

Thanks. :y
Title: Re: Confusing Issue
Post by: Entwood on 12 November 2012, 09:25:23
I wonder if there are two other possibilities .. both of which would point to the DIS pack ....(I guess you must have a DIS pack as you have leads !!)

Failure of the lead may have caused a problem to the DIS pack which has now failed, so giving the misfire

DIS packs are known to fail due to corrosion of the cores .... if the DIS pack had a problem would that in turn possibly cause the lead to fail ??

Having checked leads/plugs/plug wells my next check would be DIS pack....:(
Title: Re: Confusing Issue
Post by: Lizzie_Zoom on 12 November 2012, 09:30:00
I wonder if there are two other possibilities .. both of which would point to the DIS pack ....(I guess you must have a DIS pack as you have leads !!)

Failure of the lead may have caused a problem to the DIS pack which has now failed, so giving the misfire

DIS packs are known to fail due to corrosion of the cores .... if the DIS pack had a problem would that in turn possibly cause the lead to fail ??

Having checked leads/plugs/plug wells my next check would be DIS pack....:(

Thanks. Will do :y :y
Title: Re: Confusing Issue
Post by: Kevin Wood on 12 November 2012, 10:08:40
A couple of points. If it's running with a misfire one of the cats is going to get extremely hot. Maybe this explains the smoke from underneath.

It could well be that the coil pack has died as well. The extra stress from firing into an open circuit might well have done for it. Worth checking for a spark at cylinders 3 and 6.

It might be that the spark plug on the misfiring cylinder was soaked with fuel. I'd expect it to have cleared but might be worth drying it out over a gas ring - or just replacing the plugs if they are not new. (I guess they are if you were disturbing the lead?) If you've got the old one it might be worth swapping that back in just to be sure you've got a dry plug in that cylinder. Of course, removing the plugs and checking which ones are wet might be useful, just in case it's not the cylinder you think it is that's mis-behaving.

Also worth double checking that the leads are really on the right connectors at the coil pack. You wouldn't be the first to get the leads on @rse about face, because the correct connections are not how the leads go on logically (until you think about how a wasted spark setup works).

Finally, it's worth a paperclip check just to find out why the EML came on. A misfire doesn't normally do that on the non-DBW cars, so there might be a clue there.
Title: Re: Confusing Issue
Post by: Lizzie_Zoom on 12 November 2012, 15:55:02
Thanks Kevin. :y

You and Entwood have both strongly suggested the DIS pack.  This I now think is the answer to my woes.

I have spent this morning changing leads, plugs and generally checking all connections.  All it  has confirmed is at least one lead is "dead" with no spark.  Needless to say the swapping of leads/plugs made no difference at all.  All leads were reconnected to the DIS pack using the great OOF diagrams which I have kept in a special car file, so no errors there I am sure.  In anycase it made no difference to thee 'tractor' type tick over!

After getting soaked by rain, covered in dirt, very frustrated, and shedding a bucketful of tears (yes, us woman can do that readily if you all didn't all ready know!) and now having a lovely shower, and putting on clean clothes again, I have decided I am too bloody old (well I feel it!!) for this game of monkeys.  I am putting my skills and experience to rest and going to my trusted Vauxhall car breakers who specialise in Vx repairs.  Tomorrow they will fit a secondhand (all tested)  DIS pack for £25 + £40 for fitting all in. Sod it for £65 I will let the Vx 'experts' do the very fiddly job as they say they have done many DIS packs.  I will be in the dry enjoying a cup of tea!! ;D ;D 8)  My life is too short for anything less! ;D ;D ;D

Thanks for all the very worthwhile advice. It is great being back amongst you all:y :y
Title: Re: Confusing Issue
Post by: Kevin Wood on 12 November 2012, 16:13:44
They never break down when the sun's shining, do they. ;)
Title: Re: Confusing Issue
Post by: Lizzie_Zoom on 12 November 2012, 16:50:41
They never break down when the sun's shining, do they. ;)

NO!!!!!! ::) ::) ::) ::) ;)
Title: Re: Confusing Issue
Post by: Marie on 12 November 2012, 19:44:05
Welcome back bird.

dont blame you i have sat infront of my motor before swearing and crying at it because i cant do something and threatened with sending her to a garage to get a man to fix it and she ends up playing the game.

They always seem to play up when you least need it too when its cold, wet and miserable ;D
Title: Re: Confusing Issue
Post by: Lizzie_Zoom on 12 November 2012, 19:50:02
Welcome back bird.

dont blame you i have sat infront of my motor before swearing and crying at it because i cant do something and threatened with sending her to a garage to get a man to fix it and she ends up playing the game.

They always seem to play up when you least need it too when its cold, wet and miserable ;D

All too true Marie!

Yes, and I know my emotional limits.  Just need a strong Vx man to do his stuff tomorrow ;D ;D ;D

Thanks as well for the welcome back.  Glad to see other ladies are still here and have not been scared off like I was :D :D ;)
Title: Re: Confusing Issue
Post by: NF on 12 November 2012, 20:34:37
Nice to see you back on the oof again Lizzie
Title: Re: Confusing Issue
Post by: Lizzie_Zoom on 13 November 2012, 14:34:33
Nice to see you back on the oof again Lizzie

Thanks NF. :y
Title: Re: Confusing Issue
Post by: TheBoy on 13 November 2012, 18:17:17
Just need a strong Vx man to do his stuff tomorrow
You're just looking forward to seeing some hunk in greasy overalls bent over your car :P

Filthy woman ;D
Title: Re: Confusing Issue
Post by: Lizzie_Zoom on 13 November 2012, 18:50:29
Just need a strong Vx man to do his stuff tomorrow
You're just looking forward to seeing some hunk in greasy overalls bent over your car :P

Filthy woman ;D


That's me! :D :D
Title: Re: Confusing Issue
Post by: phill osey on 13 November 2012, 21:54:33
You're just looking forward to seeing some hunk in greasy overalls bent over your car :P

Filthy woman ;D

And just what is wrong with that  :P

Lee

I soooooooooooo miss not being able to do work on the cars now, all due to this damned arthritis in my hands, knees and back  :'(
Title: Re: Confusing Issue
Post by: TheBoy on 13 November 2012, 22:02:29
I soooooooooooo miss not being able to do work on the cars now, all due to this damned arthritis in my hands, knees and back  :'(
But quite enjoy watching some young man, complete with builders bum, bent over your engine?

OK, maybe not young man, just your ol' man ;D :y
Title: Re: Confusing Issue
Post by: phill osey on 13 November 2012, 22:16:05
Hello noooooooo I have NO objections to watching a fit guy, whatever his age bending over an engine woooo hooooooooo

Lee :D
Title: Re: Confusing Issue
Post by: TheBoy on 14 November 2012, 18:42:38
Hello noooooooo I have NO objections to watching a fit guy, whatever his age bending over an engine woooo hooooooooo

Lee :D
Well, 2 out of 3 isn't bad ;D
Title: Re: Confusing Issue
Post by: phill osey on 15 November 2012, 20:51:01
would prefer all 3  but hey as you say 2 out of 3 aint bad.... just need to know which 2 you meant

 :D :y

Lee
Title: Re: Confusing Issue
Post by: robson on 15 November 2012, 21:25:05
Lizzie If I can be of any help , Transport or an extra hand give me a call.  Ron