VL endless problems!

[VS Goon]

Okay everyone, I need help with my VL.
It's had sooo many problems i'm almost about to give up!

Originally it would run fine, then one day was really underpowered then my brother got it bogged, after a while of revving it hard and getting stuck deeper, he gave up. So one day about 3 weeks after, I towed it out, started it and would run really rough and even foot to the floor it would take 10 seconds to rev to even 5 thousand.

First it wouldn't start or even try to start, it had fuel and plenty of spark (checked spark at the leads, should have checked at plugs though!)
So I replaced the internal fuel pump, tried to start again and had the same problem, had fuel pressure and spark but still wouldn't start. So i decided to check to check the plugs. The plugs were black as and kinda oily, so i cleaned them up with some sand paper and compressed air. At first I cleaned the 1 & 6 plug just to see if it made any difference and bam, it started straight up. So i decided to clean all the plugs and it ran about the same as only cleaning the 1 & 6 plug (blew a bit of white smoke at idle and a fair bit at any higher RPM, also when i'd rev then back off it would die down alot and occasionally stall). I also heard a ticking which im 99% sure is the injectors (had two people confirm it), i also ran a bottle of lifter free in it to be sure and it didn't change anything.
After that it would still blow smoke and almost stall so I check the AFM, and went to super cheap and bought a can of AMM cleaner for $25.00, sprayed it on there, waited a bit, put it together and started it again, it did idle a bit better but still blew smoke and would almost stall when i stopped revving. I checked the voltage of the AFM and it was low (lean i think) about 1.23V at pins 4 and 3. I tried turning the screw and that number didn't even budge. The leads have a resistance of about 1000ohms which is fine.
so i've decided to turn to you guys


I'm at my wits end! I've had so many problems, at first the engine had a massive knock and one day decided to blow a hole out the block, with the piston getting stuck half out too. So I got a replacement motor and got someone to put it in and it ran fine for a while then one day didn't run right by being underpowered as i said.

So please everyone, I NEED HELP!

[calais24/7]

try a working afm and a working cas maybe?

[VS Goon]

I only know one person who has a VL and they're fairly busy at the moment but then they have some free time i'll definitely get them around to give it a try
I have thought it might be the cas but can't really see why and don't have enough money to try it only to find out that isn't the problem


Thanks mate

[oldtiger57]

Go through this site to find--how to dismantle the dizzy,you will get to the CAS,where there are 3 screws-make sure they are done up tight-all is clean,NO DUST,put back together--see how it runs.
Had much the same problems as you--as described above,this solve it!!

[VS Goon]

Can you tell me what problems you had? I'll definitely give it a go
Thanks

[HSV5L]

It must of been built on a monday or a friday i have had cars like that with endless problems good luck with it cheers Travis.

[calais24/7]

yeah there good engines when their running properly but fk they can be a pain in the ass and cause massive head aches, good luck mate and let us know what it was for future reference
cheers

[detox_nath83]

i rekon CAS as well..look in my sig below is my how to on how to change the CAS....

[nasty1]

welcome to world of vl's

wait until you try making it fast then you will have problems

[VS Goon]

Okay everyone, thanks for the input!
I just figured that cause it still spark then the CAS would be fine. \
Also like to add that the plugs are very black again, no rounded electrode. Just blacker then Obama.

I'll take the CAS out tomorrow using detox_nath83's How-To, and report back with my findings. I don't have another CAS to put in so i'm hoping for something obvious so I know that it's the problem.

Cheers everyone, Nick

[detox_nath83]

i don't think removing and installing it will rectify your problem...

CAS are temperamental man even though u r getting spark it may be intermittent.,,,.

then i would look at the AFM as well. another problematic part :P

[VL_5SPEED]

while its running remove the afm lead from afm and if it still runs the exact same its your afm

ill be the first to say its not your cas

[VS Goon]

detox_nath83 - I was hoping to see some red dust or something broken so i definitely know it's the CAS, I don't really have enough money to get another and find out it's not the problem

VL_5SPEED - I have tried that and it idle a little bit, and i mean the tiniest bit lower without it but it won't rev past 2 thousand with it unplugged, then when i plug it in, it's fine

Cheers everyone, I'll be taking the CAS out today just for some fun

[VS Goon]

What's everyone's opinion on it being the temperature sensor?

[VS Goon]

Okay, so today I decided to remove the CAS and found a slight bit of corrosion on the dissy housing, nothing too bad so i just wiped it and put it all back together.
Then decided to do a bunch of other stuff, including - WD'd the PCV valve, cleaned the spark plugs again, put plastic tube over the spark plug leads so they can't touch and adjusted the idle.
Now it doesn't stall when i stop accelerating, it keep a nice RPM. Only thing I'm worried about is it still runs slightly rich and doesn't idle 100% satisfactory.
Anyone got Ideas?? Cheers, Nick

[nasty1]

put new plugs in and dont clean old ones

[VS Goon]

Okay thanks mate, I'll head down to super cheap when I get a chance.
Anyone know which plugs are best for a Stock (apart from exhaust) Naturally Aspirated, 3.0Litre VL?

[calais24/7]

the reckomended ngk ones, there are 4.50 each.

[VS Goon]

Okay cheers guys, I'll do that when i get the money and let you all know how i went, any other thoughts on the problems will be appreciated

[VS Goon]

And also why they got so fouled up in the first place?

[detox_nath83]

fouled because running rich man....

either O2 sensor/ or CTS (coolant Temp Sensor), fuel reg, or blocked air filter.. air leaks in the intake pipeing(in the ribbed piece) near afm. check all clamps pull apart ribs carefully to see if any may have cracks

[VS Goon]

Is there any way I can test the o2 sensor or CTS?
I'll swap out the fuel reg today and the air filter is brand new and I've also tried others and it does the same thing
I'll have a look at the ribbed piece in a minute
and when i rev it i can hear a loud vacuum noise around the intake manifold towards the firewall but can't quiet pinpoint the location

Thank heaps for your help man, can't wait to get this thing in RWC!!
Only need some rust fixed and a new front windscreen

[detox_nath83]

well u could have a vac leak man either around the inlet plenum.(back of it.) where a steel line runs down to the vac modulator on the Auto box if u got an auto.
or under/near the throttlebody is a few vac lines. u could put a vac gauge on and see if u got a leak.. should have about -18-20psi at idle and when u rev it it would level to atmospheric pressure, not have more as such..

as for the CTS get car to running temperature.. unplug the CTS plug and see if your engine revs speed up... then plug it back in and see if your engine revs come back down. as for O2 sensor go here as there is a few tests to run and im not writing it all up How to Test an O2 Sensor | eHow.com

-
Your O2 sensor is in your exhaust manifold and looks like this if u didnt know already...

As for PLugs man go the recommended ones for a vl NGK Spark Plug BPR6ES-11 ........ (11 = 1.1 gap)

[nasty1]

To test for leaks spray wd40 and look for bubbles like you would with a puncture on a bicycle

[VS Goon]

nice setup detox_nath83.
I'll have a check for vacuum leaks in the morning, the CTS does seem pretty dodgy, the plug barely stays in there cause typical VL, its brittle and broke the clip
The O2 sensor is very black and carboned up, also i've heard that it needs to be earthed, I painted the extractors a while ago and am worried that it's not earthing, therefore not working

Okay mate, I'll get a few (well, 6) and put them in but I want to make it not run rich before then so they don't get completely fouled again

Cheers Bow down, i'll give it a go

I'm not usually a religious guy, bless all you guys, I hope in the future your cars treat you very nice