Omega Owners Forum

Omega Help Area => Omega General Help => Topic started by: John-R on 06 December 2011, 18:29:56

Title: Uneven Idle
Post by: John-R on 06 December 2011, 18:29:56
Car started being silly today (2003 2.6).
Very lumpy when idling - a bit like when a spark plug disintegrated, but there was no "spanner" light.
When I start off, the rough running continues and occassionally, the "engine block" light flashes, but after about 2000rpm, smoothness returns.
Serviced about 3 weeks ago - plugs, oil, filters - and has run very well since, but then this!!!
Any ideas where to start?
Thanks
John
Title: Re: Uneven Idle
Post by: cem_devecioglu on 06 December 2011, 18:31:09
first check point, clean your ICV..
Title: Re: Uneven Idle
Post by: Debs. on 06 December 2011, 18:45:40
Does the 2.6 have a DIS pack? or is it 'coil per plug'? :-\
.......I had similar symptoms when the casing on my 2.5`s DIS pack split due to rusting core; bursting open the resin encapsulation......Horribly rough misfire off-idle up`till 2K rpm.
Title: Re: Uneven Idle
Post by: RobG on 06 December 2011, 18:50:24
first check point, clean your ICV..
Not on a 2.2,2.6 or 3.2 Cem. All 3 are DBW ;)
Title: Re: Uneven Idle
Post by: cem_devecioglu on 06 December 2011, 18:52:27
first check point, clean your ICV..
Not on a 2.2,2.6 or 3.2 Cem. All 3 are DBW ;)

 ???   :-[
Title: Re: Uneven Idle
Post by: tunnie on 06 December 2011, 19:42:40
Could well be a coil pack breaking down, do the pedal trick to flash the codes. See whats what  :)
Title: Re: Uneven Idle
Post by: John-R on 07 December 2011, 11:17:23
I thought about the coil pack but because there's no spanner light on the dash I guessed it was not an electrical problem. I did have a used coil pack fitted by Darth LooKnee last year. 

Update - Mig ran like a pig on the school run today (about 7 miles). Eventually was running lumpy all the time and the engine block light flashed again. Short stop on the return leg and when I started up again the bugger ran fine.

Could this be fuel issue? Did get quite low yesterday before the problem started so wondering if some crap got into system and has now worked it's way out? Or could it still be a coil pack breaking down - strange there's no "misfire" code or any other code for that matter.
Title: Re: Uneven Idle
Post by: jonnycool on 07 December 2011, 13:54:17
Sounds like you are having a misfire even if the code isn't showing, especially seeing as the 'engine' light is flashing. If you continue to drive with a misfire you'll get unburnt fuel igniting in the hot cats and ruining them. This, I believe, is the reason for the flashing light.

Common problem on 2.6's is water dripping on the n/s coilpack, causing it to break down. Worth getting it out to see if you've got water or oil in the plug wells to rule it out
Title: Re: Uneven Idle
Post by: cem_devecioglu on 07 December 2011, 16:02:16
not every component on the car will give you engine management light , like coil pack ..
however  you may have EML because of the disturbed ignition and its side effects on sensors
so you may see misleading error codes.. 
 
please check this link
 
http://www.omegaowners.com/forum/index.php?topic=90581.0 (http://www.omegaowners.com/forum/index.php?topic=90581.0)
Title: Re: Uneven Idle
Post by: Kevin Wood on 07 December 2011, 16:44:33
These engines shut down individual cylinders when a misfire is detected in order to avoid unburnt fuel getting into the CATs hence why it sometimes improves after restarting.

Do the pedal trick and see what engine codes you ahve stored. Also, remove each of the coil packs and the plugs and check for oil or water in the plug wells, obvious signs of damage to the coil packs and rubber plug boots, and slso make sure the spark plugs are in decent condition and not loose.
Title: Re: Uneven Idle
Post by: John-R on 07 December 2011, 18:55:28
Looking to buy 2 coil packs - man they're expensive and I'm guessing £75 each is a reasonable price.
I've found a pair and it says system code CU1190 & CU1186.
Does this sound right to you guys ?
Plugs should be ok as they were changed 3 weeks ago.
Anyone know where I can get a good used pair of packs or does anyone have any?
Title: Re: Uneven Idle
Post by: Kevin Wood on 07 December 2011, 19:01:58
Don't buy any parts until the problem has been properly diagnosed. It's a waste of money. ;)

Have a look for engine codes using the pedal trick and let us know what surfaces. :y
Title: Re: Uneven Idle
Post by: omegod on 07 December 2011, 19:20:32
Best checking for codes first John, If I didn't have serious manflu I would bring my code reader round but feel free to pop round at the weekend and see if you can catch it when the eml is lit to see which pack is problematic.
Title: Re: Uneven Idle
Post by: John-R on 07 December 2011, 20:16:29
Cheers Jonathan.
As long as we only catch the eml - you can keep the manflu ;)
Title: Re: Uneven Idle
Post by: Andy H on 07 December 2011, 20:20:06
Car started being silly today (2003 2.6).
Very lumpy when idling - a bit like when a spark plug disintegrated, but there was no "spanner" light.
When I start off, the rough running continues and occassionally, the "engine block" light flashes, but after about 2000rpm, smoothness returns.
Serviced about 3 weeks ago - plugs, oil, filters - and has run very well since, but then this!!!
Any ideas where to start?
Thanks
John

I would start by rechecking the work done previously.

Perhaps something silly like the multiplug loose on a coil pack :-\
Title: Re: Uneven Idle
Post by: omegod on 07 December 2011, 20:28:38
Cheers Jonathan.
As long as we only catch the eml - you can keep the manflu ;)

At least you have changed the oil again at last  ;) prob something simple
Title: Re: Uneven Idle
Post by: John-R on 07 December 2011, 20:29:24
Well, even though the spanner light isn't on, the pedal trick gives me 0300, 0304, 0300, 0304. So misfire on cyl 4 - is that the side prone to water collection ? 'cos this started after a particularly heavy hail storm yesterday and the whole front of the car was covered for an hour or so after a journey so wondering if the some of the gathered hail could have melted and found it's way in?? (clutching at straws here).
Anyway not going out again tonight, it's too cold. Hope your MF is better on Saturday Omegod !!
Title: Re: Uneven Idle
Post by: John-R on 07 December 2011, 20:32:43
I've learnt a lesson last year - oil gets swapped every 5,000miles max - Darth's warnings still ringing in my ears !! :-[
Title: Re: Uneven Idle
Post by: John-R on 18 December 2011, 23:54:41
Thanks to EBay (£65 - non OEM) and Omegod, now have a new coil pack on 2-4-6. Car now running sweetly again.
Just a couple of points: Is there any way of stopping the water collecting on that bit of sponge under the scuttle 'cos that's obviously where the damage to the coil pack has started.
Secondly, very disappointed in a garage I thought I could trust. Due to the hassle removing the cable tray above the coil pack, it appears they didn't bother to change the plugs on the even bank. They'll be getting a revisit.