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Oh dear.... Engine woes... Fixed!!!

Posted: Fri Jan 25, 2008 3:03 pm
by Rich H
Hi all,

Just take the elise out after a few weeks of lay up, started fine, ran fine, everything ok. went out for a mini run to check everything and it was all going well until on the run back at about 5k-5.5k revs the engine note changed suddenly and I lost a bit of power. Clutch in and coast, it seems to idle ok but as soon as power is applied it sounds like a v8 bob-bob-bob-bob etc and runs rough.

There is definatly a loss in power but not much and it's popping and banging on overrun and it sounds like its running on 3 and a half cyclinders. Waiting until it cools to pull the plugs, anyone got any ideas?

I'm wondering if a vernier has slipped? It runs and has reasonable power, probably should have stopped but was only a short distance from home.

Any other ideas what could cause this? HG? Head? Rings? etc...

Its done 65k and the temp is good. Not done many miles since last service etc.

What is the going rate for a decent K these days anyway?

Rich
/worried faction

Posted: Fri Jan 25, 2008 3:08 pm
by woody
Sounds like the symptons mine showed during the summer - after a lot of fecking about, it turned out to be the coil lead had chaffed through.

I'd put money on me being wrong though :D

Posted: Fri Jan 25, 2008 3:14 pm
by GregR
Oh sh!t mate - that sounds very similar to what happened to mine in the summer. However, mine got to the stage that when power was applied, it coughed and would die. Reason? Dropped cylinder liner :x

Posted: Fri Jan 25, 2008 3:38 pm
by steve_weegie
Hi Rich,

I'll play the mindless optimism card and go with woody here. I had exactly the same problem a few months ago and it turned out to be the HT leads - new leads and it was sweet as a nut!

Dont think it'll be the vernier slipping as you'd likely goose all the valves and it would run worse than youre describing.

How is it at idle? Less air in the cylinders means less work for a dodgy HT lead to do?

Good luck,

Steve

Posted: Fri Jan 25, 2008 3:40 pm
by Rich H
Panic over!

Took the plugs out, when I pulled number 1 lead off the other end fell out of the dizzy :oops: Number 3 was loose too.

Just fired it up again and its fine.

Phew, lucky escape...!!

Cheers chaps!

Rich

Posted: Fri Jan 25, 2008 3:43 pm
by Baggy
That is most definitely a sign.

You should immediately go to the bank, withdraw the £450 a rebuild would have cost you and go to the pub..

Posted: Fri Jan 25, 2008 3:44 pm
by steve_weegie
Great news, panic over! :thumbsup

Best get out for another run ;)

Posted: Fri Jan 25, 2008 3:45 pm
by woody
RICHARDHUMBLE wrote:Panic over!

Took the plugs out, when I pulled number 1 lead off the other end fell out of the dizzy :oops: Number 3 was loose too.

Just fired it up again and its fine.

Phew, lucky escape...!!

Cheers chaps!

Rich
Ow, I was kinda nearly right but not really then.

Glad it's sorted, there's nothing worse.

Posted: Fri Jan 25, 2008 10:51 pm
by Rich H
Just driven it 100 miles too, never missed a beat ;)

Cheers chaps!

Going to nivest my £450 in a compressor I reckon...