MR2 MK1 HELP Misfiring /running on 2 cylinders?

[mikeijay]

Hi all

My MR2 MK1 had a radiator problem so I took it to a garage to have a new one fitted.

Car ran fine, but on the way home it was a nice day so I took it to the car wash. (whoops!) Since leaving the car wash, I have not been able to drive the car propperly. It drives as if it is only working on 2-3 cylinders.

When I had a look under the HT connections on the plugs was full of water. I dryed off everything, used some WD40 / Damp start to ensure the plugs were dry, recently changed HT leads.

In idle it sounds perfect, white smoke out the exhast etc, however when I accelerate (esspecially over 25 miles) it sounds like it only runs on 2/3 cylinders.

Has anyone got any ideas?

(I had to travel and left the car for a week, thought it would dry out. It hasn't!)

Thanks all!

M

(MR2 M1 b - 88 - T-Bar)

[MartG]

Check for moisture inside the dizzy cap - otherwise just spray anything electrical with water dispersant ( e.g. WD40 ) and leave to dry. If you can get it running the engine heat should help the drying process.

[Bender Unit]

Yank the plugs and clean them, if they wernt sparking due to the water they could be fouled.

Run the engine at idle and pull a HT lead off 1 at a time. If the engine note dosnt change then you know that cylinder is casuing you problems and can narrow your search (make sure you dont get a blast from the lead though!).

Check the diz cap, clean off the contacts with a screw driver blade etc.

Possibly coud be that the igniter has failed / on its way out. Mine would do this, run fine at idle and then crap upder load.

[mikeijay]

Thans guys for the help!

Under the dizzy cap was lovely at wet. cleaned it dry and used some WD40. Checked plugs, some look a bit blackerned - done about 3500 on those plugs, maybe a change due?

Will try the removing and testing once at a time to narrow down issue (when i have some daylight)

however it ran a little better after cleaning the diz cap.

At the moment, it runs but there is def powerloss when I put my foot down. just not wanting to rev much - Sounds nice in idle though.

getting there!

[aw11rally]

Plugs can suffer terminal damage from getting wet, I dont know how or why but I've read it in a few places and experienced it plenty of times with the Mk1 rally car.

Try changing them, you may get some improvement.

Also, did the car overheat due to the knackered radiator?

[mikeijay]

Thanks, they were quite drowned (in murky oily water) so that might expain how come they look so used now. I'll nip out to the autoshop and pick some decent ones up.

The car must have overheated when the radiator died. I caught it farily quickly in traffic when i noticed the temp needle shoot up. the next thing i know it was like a 80s rock concert on the A406!

mind you, on inspection of the radiator it was about the same solidity as a hob nob. it might have been overheating for a while longer!

thanks

[aw11rally]

If the sparks dont sort it out maybe try checking the compression.

The 4A-GE seems to be able to cope with a bit of heat but its worth a check as it costs nothing.

[jimi]

WD40 isn't all that great for use on the ignition HT components IMHO
Over the years I've seen it cause as many problems as it cures. I'm not saying it's bad or doesn't work, just that it's not a wonder cure for water problems on the HT components, a bit of time and some dry rags will work just as well if not better.
I'd advise you to wipe down everything (on the HT side) you've sprayed with WD40 with a dry rag i.e. the inside of the distributor cap and the HT leads.
Take your plugs out, dry them with a rag paying particular attention the to the ceramic insulator at the top side of the plug, give the business end a quick wire brush then stick them in the oven for 15 minutes (or on a hot radiator) then refit and try again.