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Running problems on LPG

boxdog

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Guys and girls, I have a VZ Exec sedan which is running on dual fuel (has a Sprint Gas system installed). While running on gas, it's started to develop some annoying (minor, I guess) problems. It's just had its first year service on the LPG system and just before I booked it in the gas system shut down and wouldn't run at all - the LEDs on the meter flashed at me and it beeped. The guys that serviced it reckoned it had a faulty mapping sensor or something which Sprint replaced under warranty.

Soon after the gas service I noticed it would idle a little badly and when under load the engine would shudder and lose power like it was missing on a cylinder. It ran fine on petrol (I use 91 RON right now). I took it back and the guys replaced the spark plugs because they weren't done for some reason. That fixed THAT problem, but now it's still a bit crap.

Even when the engine is warm it idles a little badly when on gas. I really notice it funnily enough when the aircon is on - the car will shake at the lights because the engine is idling roughly, and then when I take off it hesitates a bit before giving me any form of power more useful than a morris minor!

Any ideas? Should I take it back to the gas guys again and complain?
 

Benboy

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Guys and girls, I have a VZ Exec sedan which is running on dual fuel (has a Sprint Gas system installed). While running on gas, it's started to develop some Any ideas? Should I take it back to the gas guys again and complain?

YES - for goodness sake, TAKE IT BACK.
 

poweredbycng

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Could be due to any number of different reasons. How many km's on your car? Could be a dead coil or two (remember that ignition components that are just 'acceptable' for petrol will be unsuitable for gas) or a calibration issue.
 

boxdog

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Hey, well I took it back to the service guys (Rhodes and Heron in VIC, they're really good) and Perry there plugged in the computer and had a look around. He is adamant that one or more of the coil packs are shot and recommended to replace the lot. At $110 each x 6 + $77 labour that's a pretty bloody expensive proposition!!!

In the meantime he made the gas mix a bit more rich (150 up from I think 100 or 110) and it's made it even worse idling but now when I take off it doesn't seem to pause anymore.

Do you really need 6 of them? Can you just replace the dead one? Sigh...
 

richardpalinkas

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you can just buy one, just ask him to replace the faulty ones. or buy one yourself and swap it around the plugs til it runs fine
 

poweredbycng

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When one coil goes, it's wise to do all six of them. Once you do your plugs and/or coils, disconnect the battery for a bit to reset the ECU. Once you've done that, give the car a good run for 15min or so and you should have a pretty good base to work with for re-calibration of the system.

We have a VZ SV6 running a Sprint Gas system installed in 2007 which has never missed a beat - but then again our installer has always been top-notch...
 

boxdog

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With due respect..How is it wise to pay 6 times more than you need to when they're about $110 each?? :) Are they consumables ie. are they expected to fail on a regular basis?
 

poweredbycng

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Yes, coils are a consumable item, particularly if you're running LPG. They should last 150,000km-ish but there are no guarantees...
 

JBDrifter

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I've replaced two coils in the last year after having the exact same symptoms you have experienced. Replaced one the first time, and about three weeks later I started experiencing the issues again, so replaced another coil. Has been good now for at least the last 6 months. If it happens again though I'm just going to replace the whole ignition system (all 6 coils and plugs). It was a pain both times trying to find the problematic coil.
 

boxdog

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Hmm. Are they hard to change over? It's a shame they're a "consumable". FYI the car is at 102k and I installed LPG about 87k. Recently had the spark plugs done in the LPG service too. It's only stuttering on take off now and idle - not during load, which is good, but yeah..I am tempted to give it a go and buy one to try changing it but wonder if it's worth the pain
 
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