Only running on 3 cylinders why?

Post by **spareuser** » 02 Oct 2007, 20:54

Hi Everyone, hope someone out there can help!

Coming home from the inlaws the other day and out of the blue my van started losing power. Its a 1.9 DG waterboxer.

I replaced plugs, old ones smelt of fuel and were quite black, haynes says this is due to rich fuel mixture.

I noticed that the breather pipe from the carb to the engine was in a bad way so replaced.

While engine was running I removed HT leads 1 at a time. when I removed lead to plug under air filter (not sure which cylinder number this is) I heard a slight cough noise but engine tone did not alter. I also tested the HT lead by swapping over to different cylinder with same result on plug under air filter.

This must suggest a fault with the engine not the electrics, what could it be?

If its valves, can this be done without removing the engine?

Tappets sound VERY noisy if van has not been started for 3 days

I'm not at all into mechanics so i'm hoping its something simple, but I bet i'm not that lucky!

Hope someone out the can help

Post by **big red bus** » 02 Oct 2007, 21:08

1.9 dg are commonly known for noisy tappets when left for a period of time. have you tried sark plugs/ dizzy cap/ rotor arm. good luck

Post by **spareuser** » 03 Oct 2007, 07:33

Yes, new plugs fitted, checked HT leads so know i've got a spark.
Had van running on drive yestereday for 20mins tappets quieted down ok but still only running on 3 cylinders.

Website · Post by **syncrosimon** » 03 Oct 2007, 08:18

I would change the spark plugs again, as it is not unheard of to get a faulty one.
On the original plugs, if the effected cylinder was foobah then the colour of the plug would have been different from the others.
You could do a compression check to see what is going on. The engines are a bit lumpy as standard, are you sure that it is only firing on three? Do you have a timing light? If you have, you can hook it up to each cylinder in turn to see if you are getting a spark in the wire.
good luck
simon.

Post by **HarryMann** » 03 Oct 2007, 08:29

Prob best to get a compression check across all four pots before this thread starts going round in circles, then you know where you stand with the core engine and can move on and make decisions...

Post by **toomanytoys** » 03 Oct 2007, 08:29

Not just 1.9's that can suffer noisey tappets, 2.1's too...

pop the plug out and check that you have a spark at the plug too..

What oil are you using? It must be at least a 15w40 and if a tired engine then a 20w50..
How far are you driving it? if its just being started and run for short periods then this makes the tappets lose pressure.. needs a good run up the road to get them back up to pressure..

could easily be a valve stuck open too.. has it been stood? pop the rocker cover off and check that a valve isnt stuck open...

Post by **umgum** » 03 Oct 2007, 11:55

mine is a 1600aircooled it`s one of the valve springs on mine that has snapped

Post by **Hacksawbob** » 03 Oct 2007, 13:34

get a volmeter and test the HT leads, set it to OHMS (resistance) HT leads should be 4+

Post by **spareuser** » 03 Oct 2007, 18:38

Hi all,

Thanks for all your tips, I have borrowed a compression tester and will run some tests at the weekend.