Dreading LS1 Misfire!

[Nemesis_Dawn]

Hello.

My VX SS has a terrible misfire with a rough idle that is throwing no codes.

Here are a few things I've noticed.

1: car starts right up, so I don't think that the fuel pump is bad

2: when it's idling rough and I try to press on the pedal, sometimes a loud popping noise comes out of the intake (it's K&N CAI) and the car feels like it's about to stall (now it does, it didn't before).

3: Fuel filter is relatively new.

4: Injectors are pulsating and cleaned recently, so no problems there, BUT when I disconnect one or two injectors there's barely any difference.

5. When the idling gets worse, the intake gets louder and louder as if it's sucking too much air.

6. The problem wasn't sudden, it got worse and worse over time the more I tried to run and drive the car in this state.

7. When I leave the car idling for a bit, an overwhelming smell of gas can be smelled in the cabin. I tried looking for the cause of this before but to no avail.

I would go to a mechanic, but I live in a suburb area so I don't wanna risk driving the car.

If there's something else I should check, or need any info please let me know.

 

[ltdslip]

Pull & check condition of spark plugs,
Replace plugs & leads,

 

[_R_J_K_]

Had something extremely similar on another car (even down to the popping from the intake) and it was the leads, replaced them and it was fine. Could be that a couple have just come loose. If the spark plugs are old or not gapped correctly it can produce the same sympoms, also check your spark plug part numbers against the manufacturers catalogue to actually see if they're the correct ones.

 

[Nemesis_Dawn]

Pull & check condition of spark plugs,
Replace plugs & leads,

Had something extremely similar on another car (even down to the popping from the intake) and it was the leads, replaced them and it was fine. Could be that a couple have just come loose. If the spark plugs are old or not gapped correctly it can produce the same sympoms, also check your spark plug part numbers against the manufacturers catalogue to actually see if they're the correct ones.

Although I suspected the spark plugs and wires, they're relatively new. They're almost 3 years old only and have been driven for 20k or so miles.

So far I've tested the coils by removing the plug and putting a screwdriver near it, and they produce a spark.

And I've listened to the fuel injectors using the same screwdriver, and they all produce a clicking noise, even though the connectors are filthy and need to be rewired.

I've uploaded a video to share with you guys to see how the engine is behaving. I've noticed that it got worse the warmer it got too.

 

[ltdslip]

How clean is the throttlebody?
check PCV hoses for cracks

 

[mpower]

recheck the leads, just because they are deemed fine doesn't mean they still are or have not come loose.

 

[_R_J_K_]

Although I suspected the spark plugs and wires, they're relatively new. They're almost 3 years old only and have been driven for 20k or so miles.

So far I've tested the coils by removing the plug and putting a screwdriver near it, and they produce a spark.

Faulty leads will still produce spark, just abnormal or weak spark or spark that suffers from some kind of leakage from the leads. Those leads are at an age where I wouldn't be ruling them out, over 30,000km and 3 years of heat cycling. It won't be all of them that are bad either if it is them, only one or two, but you replace them all at the same time as a rule of thumb.

 

[BlackVXGTS]

That is one very dusty engine. When was the last time the air filter was changed? An hairline crack in a spark plug can also cause a misfire.

 

[Trevor loves holden.]

That is one very dusty engine. When was the last time the air filter was changed? An hairline crack in a spark plug can also cause a misfire.

He lives in the desert, Saudi Arabia

 

[Nemesis_Dawn]

recheck the leads, just because they are deemed fine doesn't mean they still are or have not come loose.

Faulty leads will still produce spark, just abnormal or weak spark or spark that suffers from some kind of leakage from the leads. Those leads are at an age where I wouldn't be ruling them out, over 30,000km and 3 years of heat cycling. It won't be all of them that are bad either if it is them, only one or two, but you replace them all at the same time as a rule of thumb.

Update.

I replaced both the wires and plugs, didn't help one bit. Although the plugs were covered in black soot and two had a small hairline crack. These are TR6IX iridium plugs.

I'm beginning to suspect that it's either the bad wiring for the injectors are making them go haywire, or that the fuel pump is failing. I ruled out the fuel pump at first due to the fact that the car starts right up whether it's warm or cold.

Should I just replace the whole engine harness? If so, can I use a harness from an '04 Pontiac GTO? Since it fits a left handed commodore easier. Or is it different from the VX's?

And do the harnesses you guys have in Australia fit the import models easily? I can't seem to find someone that can ship them to Saudi Arabia either...