Bad Idle

[Karen Bushell]

Hi

My 440 (1.8i) has started to run lumpy at idle - the best way I can describe
it is that it is a phutt phutt phutt through the exhaust and the exhaust
gases themselves 'pulse' from the tailpipe rather than being ejected in one
continuous flow. I am aware that these engines are not the smoothest around
but the idle was definitely smooth when I purchased the car.

Any ideas anybody?

Thanks in advance

Ade

 

[Karen Bushell]

The engine is a 1800 petrol inline 4 singlepoint injection. It is a 1994
car, recently (main dealer - 80K) serviced and had new plugs dizzy cap etc.
The problem has crept in over the last couple of years but has now reached a
point where i want to get it fixed as for me it ruins what is otherwise a
superb car.

Ade

 

[Peter Milnes]

These cars tend to get "clogged up" a bit as they are used. I can only suggest
the use of a fuel/fuel injector cleaner every five fillups and a thorough clean
of the inlet tract equipment. In fact anything that will cause your problems.
Did they gap the plugs correctly before fitting them? Do you use the car on
short runs, long runs or a mix of both?

Cheers, Peter.

: The engine is a 1800 petrol inline 4 singlepoint injection. It is a 1994
: car, recently (main dealer - 80K) serviced and had new plugs dizzy cap etc.
: The problem has crept in over the last couple of years but has now reached a
: point where i want to get it fixed as for me it ruins what is otherwise a
: superb car.
:
: Ade
:
:
: : > I don't know much about that car, but the type of problems you describe
: are
: > common to most. Is it a gasoline engine? Does it have fuel injection? What
: > year is the car? Has the car had a tune-up lately? Plugs, rotor, cap,
: > timing? Did the problem start quickly or has it slowly been getting worse
: > over time?
: >
: > Brick_0
: >
: >
: > : > > Hi
: > >
: > > My 440 (1.8i) has started to run lumpy at idle - the best way I can
: > describe
: > > it is that it is a phutt phutt phutt through the exhaust and the exhaust
: > > gases themselves 'pulse' from the tailpipe rather than being ejected in
: > one
: > > continuous flow. I am aware that these engines are not the smoothest
: > around
: > > but the idle was definitely smooth when I purchased the car.
: > >
: > > Any ideas anybody?
: > >
: > > Thanks in advance
: > >
: > > Ade
: > >
: > >
: > >
: > >
: > >
: > >
: >
: >
:
:

 

[Stuart Gray]

These cars tend to get "clogged up" a bit as they are used. I can only suggest
the use of a fuel/fuel injector cleaner every five fillups and a thorough clean
of the inlet tract equipment. In fact anything that will cause your problems.
Did they gap the plugs correctly before fitting them? Do you use the car on
short runs, long runs or a mix of both?

Cheers, Peter.

: The engine is a 1800 petrol inline 4 singlepoint injection. It is a 1994
: car, recently (main dealer - 80K) serviced and had new plugs dizzy cap etc.
: The problem has crept in over the last couple of years but has now reached a
: point where i want to get it fixed as for me it ruins what is otherwise a
: superb car.
:
: Ade
:
:
: : > I don't know much about that car, but the type of problems you describe
: are
: > common to most. Is it a gasoline engine? Does it have fuel injection? What
: > year is the car? Has the car had a tune-up lately? Plugs, rotor, cap,
: > timing? Did the problem start quickly or has it slowly been getting worse
: > over time?
: >
: > Brick_0
: >
: >
: > : > > Hi
: > >
: > > My 440 (1.8i) has started to run lumpy at idle - the best way I can
: > describe
: > > it is that it is a phutt phutt phutt through the exhaust and the exhaust
: > > gases themselves 'pulse' from the tailpipe rather than being ejected in
: > one
: > > continuous flow. I am aware that these engines are not the smoothest
: > around
: > > but the idle was definitely smooth when I purchased the car.
: > >
: > > Any ideas anybody?
: > >
: > > Thanks in advance
: > >
: > > Ade

Sounds like it may be running too rich at idle. Check the colour of the
plugs, if you have access to a Haynes type manual they have a page with plug
colours to determine how the mixture is. When was the air filter last
changed? Has your mpg dropped? Mebbe it's just your idle speed has dropped
too much causing the lumpiness. If you have a rev counter, check the idle
speed it shows. I don't know the 440, but most engines idle at @ 800/900
when hot.