VXPL
Member
- Joined
- Jun 22, 2014
- Messages
- 42
- Reaction score
- 0
- Points
- 6
- Location
- Brisbane, Queensland
- Members Ride
- 2001 VX S Pac Manual
Hi guys,
I've had a bit of a strange problem with my VX the last few months that I haven't been able to solve and I'm wondering if anyone has encountered the same thing as I haven't been able to find any info on it.
Whats happening is once everytime I start the car and drive off somewhere I'll lose some power and get a really horrible crazy clacking noise the car retards the timing and the noise stops the check engine light comes on and doesn't happen again until the car has been turned off then started again. This can happen immediately after I drive off or ten minutes later and I can never get it to replicate the problem when I'm not driving even letting the clutch out slightly with the handbrake on to put it under some load does nothing (not something I've done often)
Sometimes it's barely noticeable most times its mild and once it left the car unable to drive up a hill till I stopped for about 5 mins and turned the car back on so whatever it is reset.
I have been trying for months to work out what it is as it's the only car me and my partner have, we don't drive far or unless we absolutely need to at the moment because of this and it's becoming frustrating.
So far leads and coils have been replaced and plugs were only 1000kms old when this started. Although I had my alternator die and it started happening after the alternator was replaced however I've had this alternator tested and it's working fine the only codes I got last time I checked were fir the knock sensors which presumably are responsible for retarding the timing and keeping the problem under raps, I've also recently pulled all the plugs out made sure there gap was still correct at 1.4mm and cleaned the ends of them the two under my leaky rocker cover had some burnt oil on them presumably because of that bit otherwise they all seemed okay still I've uploaded a photo I took of everyone of them (maybe you guys can spot something I couldn't) and I've got a video of the sound it makes though I managed to get a video on a farily mild version of the noise but if you turn it up you can definitely hear it. Youtube link is at the bottom of the post.
Things are very tight at the moment and I don't have money to just take it to holden for there scan tool check either I've hooked it up to my laptop but wasn't able to get it communicating with the ECU properly (DIY cable, I've got a lot of electronics experience) but I could still reset faults like the airbag after I removed the drivers seat to clean the carpet at one point. I'm not new to working on cars and I've got all the gear to fix it once I know what's wrong (please don't take that the wrong way I'm not trying to be arrogant I'm just stating I'm not a complete idiot) so if you've had the problem before or can think of something I haven't It would be greatly appreciated.
Also it's worth noting that both me and my partner drive like grandparents so it's not due to being thrashed.
I've doubled up on a couple of photos where there was different angles showing the ends differently. Also it's worth noting that I think the gunk on the end of one of the spark plugs is from scraping something off the side of the block when I first put it in. I doubt the engine would run if it spat chucks like that.
The Noise is a bit faint here but you can hear it, its definitely easier to hear when i play it on my phone though compared to my pc speakers the extra base makes it heaps harder to hear ill put a better video up if i can get one https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=6AJaTyCMOKE
I've had a bit of a strange problem with my VX the last few months that I haven't been able to solve and I'm wondering if anyone has encountered the same thing as I haven't been able to find any info on it.
Whats happening is once everytime I start the car and drive off somewhere I'll lose some power and get a really horrible crazy clacking noise the car retards the timing and the noise stops the check engine light comes on and doesn't happen again until the car has been turned off then started again. This can happen immediately after I drive off or ten minutes later and I can never get it to replicate the problem when I'm not driving even letting the clutch out slightly with the handbrake on to put it under some load does nothing (not something I've done often)
Sometimes it's barely noticeable most times its mild and once it left the car unable to drive up a hill till I stopped for about 5 mins and turned the car back on so whatever it is reset.
I have been trying for months to work out what it is as it's the only car me and my partner have, we don't drive far or unless we absolutely need to at the moment because of this and it's becoming frustrating.
So far leads and coils have been replaced and plugs were only 1000kms old when this started. Although I had my alternator die and it started happening after the alternator was replaced however I've had this alternator tested and it's working fine the only codes I got last time I checked were fir the knock sensors which presumably are responsible for retarding the timing and keeping the problem under raps, I've also recently pulled all the plugs out made sure there gap was still correct at 1.4mm and cleaned the ends of them the two under my leaky rocker cover had some burnt oil on them presumably because of that bit otherwise they all seemed okay still I've uploaded a photo I took of everyone of them (maybe you guys can spot something I couldn't) and I've got a video of the sound it makes though I managed to get a video on a farily mild version of the noise but if you turn it up you can definitely hear it. Youtube link is at the bottom of the post.
Things are very tight at the moment and I don't have money to just take it to holden for there scan tool check either I've hooked it up to my laptop but wasn't able to get it communicating with the ECU properly (DIY cable, I've got a lot of electronics experience) but I could still reset faults like the airbag after I removed the drivers seat to clean the carpet at one point. I'm not new to working on cars and I've got all the gear to fix it once I know what's wrong (please don't take that the wrong way I'm not trying to be arrogant I'm just stating I'm not a complete idiot) so if you've had the problem before or can think of something I haven't It would be greatly appreciated.
Also it's worth noting that both me and my partner drive like grandparents so it's not due to being thrashed.
I've doubled up on a couple of photos where there was different angles showing the ends differently. Also it's worth noting that I think the gunk on the end of one of the spark plugs is from scraping something off the side of the block when I first put it in. I doubt the engine would run if it spat chucks like that.
The Noise is a bit faint here but you can hear it, its definitely easier to hear when i play it on my phone though compared to my pc speakers the extra base makes it heaps harder to hear ill put a better video up if i can get one https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=6AJaTyCMOKE
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