Niggly Problems VN V6 Calais

[patto]

Hi all...
Its been a long time since i have been back to this forum so i am glad to be back. Ok, i figured i may as well come back with a vengence and ask a bunch of questions about issues i am having... so here goes.

Firstly: My head gasket blew a few months ago and ever since it has been fixed, i can smell petrol fumes (only when engine is cold) in the cabin. This NEVER used to happen. Any idea???

Secondly: I have a sneaky feeling that my trip computer (distance to empty) is lying to me. I have 48L of fuel in the tank, i am averaging 11L/100Km says the trip BUT it says that i only have 280Km till empty...hmmm, strange no?

Finally: I am having a weird issues recently where very occasionally the engine seems to run on only 5 cyl. When it happens its like it backfires slighty and stalls and then i cant start it. Its very rare that it happens, but i hate having my car unreliable. Also just yesterday i noticed that when i took a uturn real quick, the engine power cut until basically there was no body roll and i straightened. Now i have already replaced the fuel pump and the leads/sparkies/DFI and coil pack are all relatively new... so anyone got any ideas??? OH and i tested the diagnostics with the cable and the flashing engine light and it says all satisfactory!

Until now, i have NEVER had any issues with my calais and I look after it well so you can understand my frustration.

Cheers
Patto

[vks]

hey mate with ur final problem i tried doing a system check on mine aswell and first time nothing came up but after a few tries of starting having it miss, it turned out to be a combination of throttle positioning sensor and set of spark plugs it fixed the problem on my vn. You can pocket a few tps switches from pick' n 'payless. goodluck

cheers chris
let me know if it helps

[immortality]

possibly also the crank angle sensor behind the balancer on the front of the engine. do a search, i think there was another thread on here somewhere with the same symptoms as you. as for the trip computer, it sounds like the calibration numbers may be out. if you know anybody with a late model commy, say VX, VY i think there owners manual actually tell you how to set the calibration numbers but from memory they should both be either 625 or 650.

[patto]

Thanks for the advice guys... will have to give the system check another go and see if i can make it tell me something other than satisfactory.

Chris - i'll have a fiddle with the throttle pos sensor and see if i can make it fault, i'll check the repair manual as well to check what tests i can do.

immortality - i'll check out the crank angle sensor too. Yeah with the trip computer... my manual tells me how to change it also but you have to do a bunch of fricken real life driving steps to be able to calc it, bloody frustrating. Guess i am just going to have to do them.

Also i did a search but was unable to find any other posts regarding fuel smell in the cabin or the loss of power. if you happen to stumble across a very similar thread, feel free to drop a link here.

Oh and currently my distance to empty calibration is set at 499, can any one else tell me what theirs is set at?? To view it, just change the trip computer display from the current fuel usage to the next set, holding down the reset button will show you your "how much fuel is in the tank" calibration, change the display again to the third set and hold the reset button, this shows you the distance to empty calibration.

Cheers

[vks]

no worries patto, i was under the impression if the crank angle sensor was faulty the engine wouldnt start , there is also a bit of info in gregory's service manual thats sais if code 41 occurs (engine will not start). You can also try reseting the fault storage memory in the computer. You take the main engine fusible link out of the socket (pretty sure its a 30A) leave it out for 10 seconds then put it back in start the engine and put your foot down and hold it at 3000rpm for 10 seconds again and it will reset the computer. If a code comes up you know thats a fresh one.

cheers chris

Goodluck keep us posted

[88GreenVN]

Oh and currently my distance to empty calibration is set at 499, can any one else tell me what theirs is set at?? To view it, just change the trip computer display from the current fuel usage to the next set, holding down the reset button will show you your "how much fuel is in the tank" calibration, change the display again to the third set and hold the reset button, this shows you the distance to empty calibration.

Cheers

Both distance and fuel flow calibration numbers are 625 (mine is 635)
Its in the owners handbook somewhere.

To calibrate - You record fuel used as per trip computer in the car and at the pump and do a divide. You will get a new number to put in.

The other is fuel remaining in the tank. 63, 68 or 80L - being on level ground....
When you fill - pick a flat driveway and check reading before you leave.

[patto]

Thanks everyone...
I will see how i go and report back if i find anything
Cheers
Patto