Ford KA choked and running on three cylinders (petrol)
soundboy
My daughter has a Ka 13i (OHV) its on a S plate (98) its started playing up.
The faults a bit awkward to describe but basically the engine sounds like
its choked and running on three cylinders (I.E. its running rough). I use to
know a lot about cars in the early days but the setup today beats me, ive
had a quick check for air leaks as I first suspected an air leak.
The cars not really worth a lot but I was hoping she could get about another
ten months out of it as the MOT will be out then.
anyway if any body has suggests I'd appreciated any help.
SB
Mrcheerful
plugs, leads, coil pack,
soundboy
"Mrcheerful" <nbk...@hotmail.com> wrote in message
news:gHoKl.22127$OO7....@text.news.virginmedia.com...
checking the coil
SB
Mrcheerful
the coil pack burns internally. using a spark gap tester on the cylinder
that doesn't run (best found by shorting the plug top to earth) should show
it up . the plugs are fired in pairs (1 and 3 and 4 and 2 IIRC) so you can
swap leads around and see if the fault moves with you
soundboy
I changed the plugs now, it was still rough but it went a little better, but
the problems still there. I'm assuming the coil works off a wasted spark
system but I'm not familiar with these systems at all. Today I investigated
a little bit more - I pulled the leads off one at a time as suggested and
noticed NO spark on pot 3 - so I swapped 3 & 4 pot HT leads around and there
was still no spark on 3 - but I'm not sure how the coils work, in my head I
see 4 coils in one pack - so I'd assume 1 part can go faulty but I have a
feeling I'm missing something here.
SB
Mrcheerful
Yes, one plug will spark and not be doing anything, while the other is
actually lighting something.
it has two coils (in the one lump) with a plug lead from each end of each
coil, so one spark is a positive spark, one a negative. What seems o happen
is that one end will burn internally, the other 'half' of the spark will
still work, hence even though there are only two coils you can lose one
cylinder.
soundboy
Very interesting indeed, thanks for the explanation
Jim
OUCH! You were doing well until then and really need to brush up on your
knowledge.
Mrcheerful
That is a cliffhanger! please enlighten me and everyone, I like to gain new
knowledge everyday.
soundboy
I have my new coil - now is there a firing order - or do I just fit the
leads as it says on the coil
example:-
coil number 1 goes to plug 1
coil number 2 goes to plug 2
coil number 3 goes to plug 3
coil number 4 goes to plug 4
I've never fitted one of these coils before.
SB
Mrcheerful
just as it says 1 to 1 etc.
soundboy
maybe you are too young to remember
SB
soundboy
"soundboy" <noaddr...@ntlworld.com> wrote in message
news:s2oMl.41937$5J5....@newsfe29.ams2...
oops 1342
Mrcheerful
uuuummmm, your firing order is still 1342, and I do have 46 years experience
(that I remember) Starting on a morris minor, topping up the battery while
standing in the engine bay and I still swear the engine was running,
although logically I think even my dad would have turned it off.
soundboy
yeah I guess what you are saying - but I don't think we have to think about
it too much these days firing orders that is.
I served my time on vauxhalls vivas, chevette, victors (FE)
but had a problem with oesteo arthritis 15 years ago - so had no choice but
to leave the car trade behind - which I mis like hell.
I still do bits but as you can tell here I'm damn rusty
SB
Adrian
were saying:
> uuuummmm, your firing order is still 1342, and I do have 46 years
> experience (that I remember) Starting on a morris minor, topping up the
> battery while standing in the engine bay and I still swear the engine
> was running, although logically I think even my dad would have turned it
> off.
My old man had me change the end on an extension lead when I was a kid -
except he forgot to turn it off at the other end...
tonewheel
(yorkshire accent) Luxury... (etc. etc.)