VZ problem

[Max2]

hey fellas,

I know jack about engines etc so was hoping you guys may be able to help me out with some info so I don't sound like a right muppet when I go to the mechanic and then they rip me off.
Anyways my 2005 VZ wagon was starting to shudder in the rear when I went to accelerate whilst doing about 90kms. I was in 4th gear and it only seemed to shudder when in low revs, when the revs came up it was fine. I limped home but when I got to a red light on the way it was really spluttering and about to stall whilst stationary at the lights. When driving at 40-50 it seemed to shudder a lot more. At home while opening the garage I could smell a rich, burning, smokey type smell coming from rear/exhaust area (sorry bout the explanations I not too sure how to describe it).
If anyone has encountered the same problem or may know what this could be please let me know, I'm stressing a bit that it's a major.

Thanks heaps guys
Max2

[slammedvz]

is it missfiring? coil pack more than likely

[Max2]

is it missfiring? coil pack more than likely

misfiring....um when I hit the gas it seemed to struggle and hence the shudders, is that misfiring?
What's a coil pack mate and what's its function? sorry dum dum here lol

[Max2]

ok i googled coil pack, know what it is now
sounds like that could be a possibilty, thanks slammedvz

[impulsive]

with no mech experience, chances are if you cant diagnose it you prolly cant fix it.. i would be visiting a mechanic to be sure..

[impulsive]

check your tailshaft couplings however, sounds like an issue i had recently..

[Max2]

with no mech experience, chances are if you cant diagnose it you prolly cant fix it.. i would be visiting a mechanic to be sure..

definitely won't be fixing myself, just hoping to get a bit of info so I sound like I half know what I'm talking about when I go to the mechanic.
thanks impulsive

[richardpalinkas]

do you know when your spark plugs have been changed? how many km on the car? spark plugs are meant to be changed at the 120,000km service intervals.

[Max2]

it's done 118,500 kms so due for a service soon, It hasn't had new spark plugs while I've had it since 74,000kms.
Do you think it could just be stuffed plugs?

[jav360]

If it misses at idle you can try unplugging each coil individually to trace which cylinder is misfiring, you should notice a difference in engine revs and tone when each coil is unplugged, if there isnt a difference then you will know which cylinder is misfiring.
Then check the sparkplug or even swap the coil to a different cylinder and do the same test, then if the misfire in that cylinder you've found the coil pack is gone.

Hope this helps.

[commo99]

dose it backfire

[VZ_commo91]

Exactly the same problem I had. Turns out it was a coil pack.

[heyitsEnricoPallazzo]

If it misses at idle you can try unplugging each coil individually to trace which cylinder is misfiring, you should notice a difference in engine revs and tone when each coil is unplugged, if there isnt a difference then you will know which cylinder is misfiring.
Then check the sparkplug or even swap the coil to a different cylinder and do the same test, then if the misfire in that cylinder you've found the coil pack is gone.

Hope this helps.

Bad idea to unplug COP ignition when operating. Or any electrical or electronic device for that matter.

[CAPRILICIOUS WL]

Bad idea to unplug COP ignition when working. Or any electrical or electronic for that matter.

Opps Iv done that on my previous car to diagnose which coil was buggerd.
Couldnt think of another way of working out which coil is causing the problem.

If you have loss of power it's most Likely a coil, if it just does a shudder noise at certain revs of certain speed it could be ur torque converter.

These are your coil packs:


3 on each side if the engine underneath the intake manifold plenum.


Not too hard to do urself if ur a lil mechanically minded.

Good luck
Dave.

[Max2]

dose it backfire

no doesn't back fire

[Max2]

thanks Dave and everyone, gonna take it in next week, will let yous know what it is

[Max2]

It was a coil pack in the end, they had to take the manifold off and farked the gasket so I got charged for that too!
all sorted now tho so thanks again fellas for the advice

[CAPRILICIOUS WL]

If you have loss of power it's most Likely a coil, if it just does a shudder noise at certain revs of certain speed it could be ur torque converter.

These are your coil packs:


3 on each side if the engine underneath the intake manifold plenum.


Not too hard to do urself if ur a lil mechanically minded.

Good luck
Dave.

It's good to hear uv got it all sorted

Usually the gasket has to be changed whenever u lift the intake manifold. They should have replaced it with the metal one which is reusable and shuld have cost u no more than $50.

How much did it cost for the coil if u don mind me asking?

Cheers
Dave

[Max2]

It's good to hear uv got it all sorted

Usually the gasket has to be changed whenever u lift the intake manifold. They should have replaced it with the metal one which is reusable and shuld have cost u no more than $50.

How much did it cost for the coil if u don mind me asking?

Cheers
Dave

cost me NZ$881 all up for the coil pack change, new gasket, service (oil and filter change and checks) and new spark plugs.
I think the coil (part only) was roughly NZ$150 and I got charged NZ$118 for the gasket!

[CAPRILICIOUS WL]

Ouch, lol
That's a decent price for the coils, some mech tried ripping me off by charging me $220 for a single coil, but I knew where he got his parts from and I put him on the spot and paid only $116 for one.
It was after that that I taught my self how to do everything on my car my self.

Well it's good that uv done coils plugs and service all together now u know u have a healthy running engine.