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Difficult starting, uneven idle, hesitation on acceleration.
First signs:
Began to miss slightly when idling
History of immediate problem:
Long hesitation on pulling away from traffic lights
Ran OK once up to speed
Soon afterwards unable to start after refueling
Was towed home
Changed fuel filter … which was overdue
Tested spark at plug … spark seems OK but maybe not very fat
No ABS light on dash
Able to start, but with great difficulty:
Some puffs of smoke from airflow sensor when almost it fires (have air filter off)
Doesn't start while cranking but just as key is released.
Then idling very erratically and needs nursing for say 5 seconds before revs rise to slightly above normal
Putting into gear brings revs down low and just avoids stall
Drives normally once revs up but slight hesitation on firm acceleration
Experienced one other issue pulling away after stopping to cross oncoming traffic, long hesitation and almost stalled. Because approaching a short hill banged into bottom gear (crawler) and was able to nurse until revs rose enough to pull away.
Distributor head replaced recently
Over Voltage control relay: Re-soldered component contacts at PCB to resolve ABS warning light on dash a short while ago … issue resolved
EHA valve replaced recently
Spark plugs replaced recently
Hi can i say to you -check earth points under the hood ,and the battery conections. Look for an air leak around manifold [small bore tubes] and fittings . These vacuum pipes also are used in the changing of the gearbox shift .So any pipe thats got the little elbow on may have a split in it so you loose vacuum. This may help just on fuel Delivery
Thank you Optimus etc. The suggestions are good, the schematic useful. Will check earthing and vaccum leaks (which I understand are testable by increases in revs when spraying starter aerosol around them with engine running).
I have also sussed that a faulty diaphragm in the accumulator can be checked by uncoupling the return pipe. It is only an exit to atmosphere and should show minimum (or nil) fuel escape. Still starts perfectly with two "priming" turn-ons of the ignition key.
Corie in your engine compartment you will find a llot of rubber elbows these have on a few of my cars split.Check as many as you can.Sounds like it may be sucking air. Also another easy one is the seal on your petrol filler cap it self. As you should have a vaccum in the tank ,you will notice this when you open up the cap . Then if you have a short,it can be seen at night,start your car and look for blue tracking spark. Good luck.
Even better Optimus. Especially the maintenance manual! Have not worked further yet. Did do an Italian Tuneup but no apparent improvement. Vacuum pipe test next.
Opti, I registered the problem with 2carpros . . . even made a $50 donation and got nothing other than get an electronic code check to see which spark plug is low . . . we can't get free diagnostic code checks in New Zealand! So any help is valuable. One discovery I made, the roller on the "idle microswitch" was so worn that the lever was sliding past it and not activating the switch! Drilled out the pin, turned a new roller from hardwood, replaced the pin and put a dab of solder on the end to hold it .... perfect! Now my starts are smoother and idle is constant. Still have a missfire to fix when idling.
Made another discovery today that may help other folk. A series of YouTube vids on 300E servicing. As poster is Australian his vehicle is Right Hand Drive.
Note that he also posts numerous Jazz vids too, so you have to search through. https://www.youtube.com/results?sear...y=riffraffjazz
01-26-2015, 08:13 PM
