Na8 misfiring & engine shutting off

[manga_blue]

Just out of curiousity..... how did you clean the AFM?


IIRC they're pretty sensitive, so it doesn't take much to ruin one.

sprayed brake cleaner in it and let it dry.

The only safe way to clean an NA8 or NB MAF is to spray it with either isoropyl alcohol or a special circuit board/contact points cleaner. No other solvents and no touching the internal wire.

For washing the engine itself you shouldn't use any products containing caustic soda. It attacks aluminium and electrical contacts.

[nelson92]

Just out of curiousity..... how did you clean the AFM?


IIRC they're pretty sensitive, so it doesn't take much to ruin one.

sprayed brake cleaner in it and let it dry.

The only safe way to clean an NA8 or NB MAF is to spray it with either isoropyl alcohol or a special circuit board/contact points cleaner. No other solvents and no touching the internal wire.

For washing the engine itself you shouldn't use any products containing caustic soda. It attacks aluminium and electrical contacts.

Ill keep that in mind for next time, funny thing is after i had cleaned the afm and throttle body, it ran like a dream its only after i had washed the car this happened, and i only cleaned the exterior only.

[93_Clubman]

funny thing is after i had cleaned the afm and throttle body, it ran like a dream its only after i had washed the car this happened, and i only cleaned the exterior only.

So it's had the misfire since you bought it in early May '12, except after you cleaned the AFM & TB:

and I've always had this misfire until recently I cleaned out the throttle body, afm and it started to run perfect but today it started to misfire again and even shut down

[bruce]

Did you remove the AFM when squirting in the brake cleaner, or did you leave it on the engine?

[manga_blue]

I hate these intermittent faults. If it were my car I'd open each of the main engine connector plugs and earth straps, check them out closely for water/oxide and give them a clean with IPA. That means CAS, MAF, TPS, O2, coilpacks, engine harness and the earth straps at front right, rear left of engine and to PPF back near the diff. If it still misses at least you've got a base for finding out which sensor is causing it. Your friend's probably right though. If it's a sensor then MAF is the most likely one. Can you borrow one for a test?

[nelson92]

funny thing is after i had cleaned the afm and throttle body, it ran like a dream its only after i had washed the car this happened, and i only cleaned the exterior only.

So it's had the misfire since you bought it in early May '12, except after you cleaned the AFM & TB:

and I've always had this misfire until recently I cleaned out the throttle body, afm and it started to run perfect but today it started to misfire again and even shut down

yep early may this year and yep after that too.

Did you remove the AFM when squirting in the brake cleaner, or did you leave it on the engine?

i removed the afm.

I hate these intermittent faults. If it were my car I'd open each of the main engine connector plugs and earth straps, check them out closely for water/oxide and give them a clean with IPA. That means CAS, MAF, TPS, O2, coilpacks, engine harness and the earth straps at front right, rear left of engine and to PPF back near the diff. If it still misses at least you've got a base for finding out which sensor is causing it. Your friend's probably right though. If it's a sensor then MAF is the most likely one. Can you borrow one for a test?

so far whats happened is, on friday it rained, i assumed my car would run like sh*t on the way home from work, but it was fine until i was almost home it decided to misfire once or twice and today driving to work and back, it misfires a couple of times and that was it.

i have absolutely no idea, but im gonna be checking under the dash cause when it switched off on me, i heard a sound from under the dash, something like a loose connection.

[93_Clubman]

im gonna be checking under the dash cause when it switched off on me, i heard a sound from under the dash, something like a loose connection.

Could also be an aftermarket immobiliser with an intermittent fault, or one that has been partially disconnected & is shorting. Also worth noting that the OEM ECU is under the dash on the passenger side footwell firewall.

[nelson92]

im gonna be checking under the dash cause when it switched off on me, i heard a sound from under the dash, something like a loose connection.

Could also be an aftermarket immobiliser with an intermittent fault, or one that has been partially disconnected & is shorting. Also worth noting that the OEM ECU is under the dash on the passenger side footwell firewall.

You may be right with the shorting.

today i decided to get under the dash and see if there were any loose wires or anything and while i was moving the harness around, i tried to start the car, it cranked but didnt fire, mate came around and whacked on the test light and no light. he tried going under and moved some looms around and it fired.

im thinking about getting a auto electrician to come around and clean up the mess under there.

any suggestions?

[93_Clubman]

im thinking about getting a auto electrician to come around and clean up the mess under there.

any suggestions?

Have you identified an immobiliser amongst the mess under the dash? If so, & you don't feel confident enough to sort it yourself, either due to limited auto elec knowledge, unknown brand of immobiliser & therefore a lack of immobiliser manual, or lack known immobiliser manual availability, then definitely get someone to assist with sorting the issue. Of course it could be that someone has already hurriedly removed an immobiliser & left the wiring in a mess. Again, if you've not got the knowledge to do it def get assistance. Wiring diagrams for NA8:
http://neomiata.com/garage/index.php?pa ... 1990-1996/

Btw, when looking for the appropriate manual, the NA8 was first released in US as MY1994.

[nelson92]

im thinking about getting a auto electrician to come around and clean up the mess under there.

any suggestions?

Have you identified an immobiliser amongst the mess under the dash? If so, & you don't feel confident enough to sort it yourself, either due to limited auto elec knowledge, unknown brand of immobiliser & therefore a lack of immobiliser manual, or lack known immobiliser manual availability, then definitely get someone to assist with sorting the issue. Of course it could be that someone has already hurriedly removed an immobiliser & left the wiring in a mess. Again, if you've not got the knowledge to do it def get assistance. Wiring diagrams for NA8:
http://neomiata.com/garage/index.php?pa ... 1990-1996/

Btw, when looking for the appropriate manual, the NA8 was first released in US as MY1994.

Thanks for that 93_clubman.

There is a immobiliser, the brand is autowatch. I find that it works fine but I'm sure there is a short somewhere, just not sure where to look.

I'd appreciate it if a forum member can help or assist me or If he/she has done it before, I'm willing to throw some beans over.

[93_Clubman]

There is a immobiliser, the brand is autowatch. I find that it works fine but I'm sure there is a short somewhere, just not sure where to look.

I'd appreciate it if a forum member can help or assist me or If he/she has done it before, I'm willing to throw some beans over.

I'm located in Sydney Liverpool area.

Good luck Tom - perhaps a local can assist. Someone posted a few months ago that were going to try removing their immobiliser, but have since gone quiet I think. It can be a difficult job for obvious reasons. Btw, Dynamco & Autowatch Australia merged last year: http://www.dynamco.com.au/

[nelson92]

There is a immobiliser, the brand is autowatch. I find that it works fine but I'm sure there is a short somewhere, just not sure where to look.

I'd appreciate it if a forum member can help or assist me or If he/she has done it before, I'm willing to throw some beans over.

I'm located in Sydney Liverpool area.

Good luck Tom - perhaps a local can assist. Someone posted a few months ago that were going to try removing their immobiliser, but have since gone quiet I think. It can be a difficult job for obvious reasons. Btw, Dynamco & Autowatch Australia merged last year: http://www.dynamco.com.au/

Thanks for the suggestions and quick replies 93_clubman, i appreciate it, will keep this thread posted.

cheers
tom

[nelson92]

ok car seems to be driving sweet, can finally say im enjoying it after owning it for a few months now.

the problem was a loose wire from the immobiliser that controlled the fuel and spark.

cheers for everyones input.

tom

[93_Clubman]

Good to hear a problem was identified & that it's now running well.