check power train error coming on when given it some stick
i get the error come across the screen and it runs like its on 2 cylinders or done a head gasket whenever i almost floor it. then i turn the car off, and on again and it idles and drives perfect as long as u dont give it a bit.
its an ex fleet exec wagon on duel fuel, 115k and ive only had it 2 weeks, shortly i was gona change all filters and oil and sparkplugs, maybe coils and o2 sensors as well???
also it made no difference which fuel it was on, and it runs flawlessly on both fuels.......until u tramp it.
Alloytec Racing
Plugs & Injectors is where i would be starting, has it had a recent service (12500km)
Life starts at 200km/h
Or one of the front O2 sensors.
Its a Crank angle sensor fault , check your Harmonic Balancer too the rubber centre may be partially torn out , when you floor it the engine calls for full vacuum advance but if the crank angle sensor isnt working properly theres no vacuum advance happening......
i think i remember someone on here mentioning that the crank angle sensors arnt on the harmonic balancer on vz'sOriginally Posted by colgf
"Licked by janitor"
it might pay to check the coil pack... mine used to miss fire when i'd floor it, then go back to normal, after a while the misfire just stuck till i got a new one.
Go for gold, if not gold go for bronze, it's golder than silver
"Licked by janitor"
easiest way to find out is get a mechanic to read error codes or check your self with the trip computer...
Go for gold, if not gold go for bronze, it's golder than silver
I have the exact same issue with my car, which has developed over the last month or so. Initially when I gave it a bit of a squirt, check powertrain message came on and the engine idled like crap and got an awful 'stutter' at cruising revs. After an engine restart it went back to normal and the error went away. Then last week, same again, gave it some squirt, warning came up, engine was rough, except I restarted my engine the warning wouldn't go away, but the engine was running ok. It took about 5 more restarts over the next couple of days to clear the error.
North City Holden wanted to charge me $130 (Automasters and Ultratune wanted $75) for the privelege of checking it, so I bit the bullet and bought an Elmscan5 unit and I'll check it myself, after the first time it's paid for itself, just waiting for it to be delivered. Hoping its an oxygen sensor as they are relatively cheap and easy to replace. Someone else mentioned it might be the harmonic balancer/crankshaft sensor, are these easy to replace?
yeah well its my missus car and as u descibed is what happened to it, it got worse and wouldnt go away, then it would after 2 days and so on...... anyways changed all 4, O2 sensors tonight and i took it for a spin and gave it to it, and its fine, felt a tiny bit of kangaroo jumping when accelrating past 60km at one stage but, still hav to do plugs and the rest of service hopefully on the weekend.
walker brand sensors, made in U.S.A off ebay for 110 for the backs and 145 for the fronts each. 22mm spanner to change, very fiddly on the front ones wish i had smaller hands.
would be very interested in how that scan tool works, let us know how u go.
how do u check with the trip computer?
anyone know if im sposed to disconnect the battery or anything after changin the sensors? or get some tool to tell the computer?
As far as I know you can't check with the trip computer anymore. I know in older cars with ALDL you could 'flash' out the error codes on the dash. If you can do it with the trip computer I'll be peeved, as I just bought that scan unit :|
If you want your system to take them into account with fresh data for fuel trims etc, then disconnect the battery, pump the brakes for 30 seconds, then leave disconnected for a couple of hours. Otherwise they will eventually automatically adjust trims, air intake etc, just that you'll be working from your existing data, rather than a clean slate.
I plugged the scan tool in this morning, error code is p0303 - engine cylinder 3 misfire.
I'm assuming this is a coil pack, which means removing the intake manifold to get access to yes?
yeah u would assume it would be that i suppose. yeah u have to remove manifold for access.
the main prob has disappeared on mine but it still hesitates every now and then so im thinkin coils too.
where did u buy the scan-tool from and how do u rate it...money well spent?
I bought an Elmscan5 Compact from eBay, then found out I could have gotten it for the same price at scantool.net . Just loaded the included software, plugged it in and it worked like a charm. I'm quite familiar with ALDL diagnostics (as I made the ALDL how-to on here) and this was a lot easier than making your own, and for $100 it was money well spent, I already have a few guys lining up to borrow it for their Commodores.
did u end up changing the coil/coils that are troubleing ya?
finally got round to servicing the car on the weekend..... i did bosch platinums at 1.1mm gap, fuel,air,and oil filter and new gm 10w-30 oil and cleaned the throttle body, and gave the gas injectors a little squirt of throttle body cleaner while i had the manifold off. took it for a spin afterwards and she had heaps more get up and go, and has been goin good all week until today.
and all 4 O2 sensors are changed also......it still runs rough takin off at lights and today"check powertrain" came on and it needed a restart to run good again, its got to be the coils i think. might look into a scan tool or bite the bullet and take it to a shop.
Hey mate...
I haven't had a chance yet, by the time I get home from work there isn't usually enough light to do the work on the driveway, so it will probably be a Saturday job. I'm knocking off early today and might get a chance to do it, I've already bough a replacement plenum gasket, so I'm pretty much good to go. I'm just going to swap the bad coil over to another cylinder, if the fault turns up on the new cylinder, then I've probably found the cause.
With the V6 alloytec, whats the numbering order on the cylinders? I'm assuming its:
Back
5 6
3 4
1 2
Front
good idea, it wont matter cos if u get a code for a diff cylinder you'll know its that coil.
cant find the elmscan one on ebay, but they have one that says for vz's and upwards i think, and thats a handheld device for $150 incl postage. can u disable "active torque management" with these scan tools, do u know?
they have obd2 compliant ones from china for like $40-60 but dont trust the shipping too much, its been 19 days so far for my $7 i-phone fm transmitter from hong kong.... not holdin my breathe, its only 7 bucks.lol
The cheapest legitimate Elmscan5 tool you'll find is here: ElmScan 5 Compact Scan Tool - PC Based Scan Tools - Scan Tools - ScanTool.net
Thats the exact one I have and it works a treat. It'll end up being around AU$100 including shipping. I'm quite sure these ones can't disable torque management, only Tech2 and similar can (big bucks).
Also, I worked on the car a bit tonight, removed everything to get the plenum off but couldn't make it come off, its like I've missed a bolt or something. BUT! I did notice that a small vacuum line at the rear of the plenum was never connected, anyway I put pipe etc all back in place, including the previously disconnected vacuum tube. Took her for a spin and did exactly what I did before to create the error, nothing! Even putting it in power mode and dropping the throttle and thrashing it, it still doesn't error, strange!
Still have to get the plenum off to replace the gasket now, need to figure out why the thing won't budge.
yeah thanx for that. did u remove all 6 bolts, there is one hidden over the back?
when i serviced mine i gave it a good thrashing too and it was flawless but 4 days later and it started sh*&ing itself again
just took it for a spin then and it hesitates bad on gas especially during takeoff but flick it to petrol and its fine, might have to take it to ezygas or something im thinking.
"Licked by janitor"
i think when using the trip computer it only show's "major" problem codes. But i seem to remember pressing the "mode + up + down" keys in some order and you get into the diagnostic mode where you can check engine temp, digital tacho, fuel readings and voltage meter as well as "problem codes"
Go for gold, if not gold go for bronze, it's golder than silver
The error came up again today, again under heavy acceleration, after being good since my last post. Guess I'll be taking the plenum off again and swapping the coils over to check it out.
operation HQ under way.
my father in law has had the same sorta issue with his ex cop vz sedan. but on long trips it would cut out at 1/4 tank to start with and than 1/2 later on aslo the check engine light would come on and loose power than cut out. he also has extended crank for it to start. we finally pulled the tank out and found the lines in the mra unit to be fine. bit the bullit and bought a new fuel pump and fitted it to ther old mra uni tfor $89 came with new hose and looks just like the orignal pump and line. now its been 2 weeks and no problem, hasnt done a trip yet but im confidant its fixed.
i have also had issues with timing chains cams manifold gaskets etc etc etc.
I think I'll try coils first before anything else. At least they are easy to swap over and test (although expensive to replace).
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