Lets troubleshoot a Meriva -Phixed!

[beko1987]

Right, I decided to have a look at it whilst at work, see if I can troubleshoot it fixed!

 

MAF off - was clean, cleaned it off with brake fluid

Pulled the battery for half an hour - reset it good

Checked the throttle body - the first job I did was clean this when we got it and it's clean, moves easily and isnt broken

Coil pack off - I thought it smelt slightly of burning inside the rubber spark plug plugs, amy and my mate disagree but fuck them. Looks fine apart from that

Plugs - this was interesting

 

Pulled the 2nd one (from the left) out first. mate took a picture

 

 

flash off

 

 

flash on

 

plug 3 was much the same, plug 1 was black but dry and plug 4 had half the ceramic bit that holds the tip broken off, I scraped it off the metal end...

 

So I have 4 new plugs on reserve at ECP. I wire brushed them all a bit cleaner and re-fitted everything.

 

The EGR is already blanked off. I took it apart and cleaned the gasket up, and hylomard it but it has a slight leak now. I fed a bit of hylomar into it whilst running which sorted it out...

 

Took it for a spin. TBH I filt it ran better but I havent driven it in a while, and it sounds like a limo compared to the ZX. Got 3/4 miles and up to 40 (having kept the revs very low) and the engine light started flashing and I heard a misfire. Turned around and went back. Misfire was less and the light stayed off under 30, but over 30 the light came on.Went up to 45 and the misfire was awful. She's back home now... Amy was hanging out the bedroom window listening as I pulled up and said she heard the misfire...

 

New plugs and I'll see. Then I'll wait for my OBD thing. Any vauxhall bods able to comment and advise? I'm still thinking the AS motto I'm afraid...

[philibusmo]

Here's your problem.

[Skizzer]

Let's shoot a Meriva (Yey!!)

Fixed that for you.

 

 

(Sorry, that wasn't much help, was it?)

[messerschmitt owner]

Q. Vauxhall meriva

A. Bridge

[cort16]

Did someone not say earlier a flashing eml  on these means a duff coil pack?

[beko1987]

I agree with you both (all!), as long as I fix it enough to sell as a fully working awesome car part ex it against something else at some back street garage I dont care! And I might learn something.

 

Coil pack is still front of my mind, but I want to read the codes first to check, then I'll buy the one in my watch list... Looking at the plugs it needs them anyway, so no loss there I suppose!

[steve_earwig]

Just keep changing parts until the fault clears

 

- Your friendly Vauxhall dealer.

 

Can't actually see anything bad with the plug, black rather than brown? Could just be the camera/my monitor of could be the mis-fire I guess. Did you swap them about? Try the plugs but wait for the code reader before you change anything expensive.

[twosmoke300]

Twas I who mentioned coil pack. Flashing eml is a misfire bad enough to potential damage the cat.

Usually caused by a coil pack on one of those.

[Pillock]

Mssr. A Ross might be a good person to ask since doesn't he work at a Vauxhall dealer?

 

Does the misfire happen at 40mph in any gear or does it appear related to engine speed?

[beko1987]

Just keep changing parts until the fault clears

 

- Your friendly Vauxhall dealer.

 

Can't actually see anything bad with the plug, black rather than brown? Could just be the camera/my monitor of could be the mis-fire I guess. Did you swap them about? Try the plugs but wait for the code reader before you change anything expensive.

One was black, the rest were brown. And corroded.

 

I'll play with my code reader first before buying the coilpack. Will a code be stored as the engine light is off when its not flashing...

[twosmoke300]

Yeh but it will just say it has a specific cylinder misfire or just multiple cylinder misfire . Am I right in saying you have one long coil that does all 4 plugs ?

[vulgalour]

Check the rubbery coil pack tubes.  My brother's OH MY GOD had disintegrating tubes which caused the plugs to arc out, a misfire and I think an EML problem  the solution was initially to superglue the tubes back together, then to raid a scrapyard for spare tubes before the genuine Vauxhell ones arrived and this cured that problem.  Sadly, it did not cure all the other problems.

[beko1987]

Yea one long slab of sealed plastic!

 

I took all the rubber tubes off and looked at them, they looked spot on, no corrosion or anything.

 

There was a bit of oil here and there but it was everywhere due to the rocker cover gasket and its dry now so I've cleaned it up and will keep an eye on it!

[Cavcraft]

Cavcraft's simple five steps to coded success:

 

 

FCR

 

EML (OFF)

 

BCA

 

ATM 

 

LOL

 

[ruffgeezer]

Has this got the same lump as the Zafira?  The one I had a running fault with had cooked the ecu, which is handily mounted on the engine.

[beko1987]

Yes and yes, I've read that too, I fooking hope it hasnt!

[Lacquer Peel]

SCRAP IT.

[HillmanImp]

ATM 

 

Now, maybe the internet has ruined me but I am really not sure how this is going to help?

[michael1703]

Try ATOGM

[rml2345]

Don't most auctions pay into an account nowadays?

[Split_Pin]

You're making the same mistake I made.

 

Change the MAF for a known good one. Cleaning it with brake cleaner is no use at all. It's a buggered electrical component.

 

Also, do the pedal test to get the fault codes for free.

[twosmoke300]

A maf won't cause a misfire though.

[Cavcraft]

Now, maybe the internet has ruined me but I am really not sure how this is going to help?

 

Because he could go forward to the past and not buy the car in the first place.

[Split_Pin]

It gives similar symptoms though.

 

In any case, the pedal test needs to be carried out to find out what's wrong, for free.

[steve_earwig]

I just Googled that (because I'd not heard of it before) - http://www.vauxhallownersnetwork.co.uk/index.php?threads/vauxhall-fault-codes-pedal-trick-test.202018/ (post #4)

 

 

Try ATOGM

I Googled that too :shock:

[lisbon_road]

Ideal if you have a friend with a similar car you can swap the coil pack with (and then just keep driving!).  Well perhaps not but makes diagnosis cheap.

[Joey spud]

Got any breakdown cover ?,call them out and they will code read it foc...

[beko1987]

Ha Amy mentioned the breakdown cover, I then asked if she fancied driving out and waiting hours for them to turn up, I'd feel bad calling them out to home, although if the code reader I bought doesnt do it then I may do that!

 

I'll try the pedal test tonight, see what happens! Me and my mate did try but the sequence for his old 2010 disastra isnt the same as it didnt work.

 

Don't know anyone with a car with the same engine (probably a good thing!). Any shiters near Thame with a 1.6 fancy swapping and coming for a drive quickly?

[Joey spud]

I much prefer breakdowns at a home address as they are less stressy for everyone and normally theres a fair chance of a brew..

[beko1987]

I'll try the pedal test, then the code reader then invite one lucky AA bloke round for tea and bourbon creams then!