Engine Problems - 3 cylinders

Bevan · Postby **Bevan** » Fri Jun 29, 2007 12:00 am

Hi All,
I was about 5 minutes from home today when my car all of a sudden ran like crap. There is no power and extreme hesitation getting any sort of revs up, even to 3 or 4 grand. When I got out of the car it stank like unburnt fuel.

It feels like it's only got 3 cylinders actually and i'm quite certain that's it. So i've figured I've either dropped a lead or a spark plug. Just to clarify, I need to do the following:

1) Start engine
2) Unplug the leads one at a time and hope that one of them doesn't mak the car run any worse
3) Replace the spark plug in the faulty cylinder

This will at least get me to work and to SuperCheap to grab a new set of plugs.

My leads were only replaced last year with new Magnecor leads, which i'm sure have a certain guarentee, so it shouldn't be them.

Could this problem be anything else?

Thanks,
Bevan

Insurgence · Postby **Insurgence** » Fri Jun 29, 2007 12:43 am

The old buggard-up-ignition-coil trick?

but usually happens at a specific temperature.. stranger things have happened

http://aus-cartalk.com/viewtopic.php?t=17286&highlight=

Bevan · Postby **Bevan** » Fri Jun 29, 2007 10:15 am

sh*t sh*t sh*t sh*t

Pulled out the leads, number 3 spark plug was corroded, oh well, at least I know what the problem was.

BUT the friggin Magnecor leads snapped off in the well!!! (there's only 2 for the NB8B) I look down pots 1 and 3 and I can see black rubber around it.

Any ideas on getting them out? Now my shopping list is 4 spark plugs and 2 new leads.

Anyone know how to get them out now? I basically need to get the broken part of the leads out from around the spark plugs.

Bevan · Postby **Bevan** » Fri Jun 29, 2007 10:22 am

Got hold of Mania thankfully, poor David is really sick.

Basically, I need to get a coat hanger and try and get below the bit that's come off and hook it up.

Uncle Arthur · Postby **Uncle Arthur** » Fri Jun 29, 2007 10:43 am

Bevan wrote:sh*t sh*t sh*t sh*t

Pulled out the leads, number 3 spark plug was corroded, oh well, at least I know what the problem was.

BUT the friggin Magnecor leads snapped off in the well!!! (there's only 2 for the NB8B) I look down pots 1 and 3 and I can see black rubber around it.

Any ideas on getting them out? Now my shopping list is 4 spark plugs and 2 new leads.

Anyone know how to get them out now? I basically need to get the broken part of the leads out from around the spark plugs.

Personally I'd make that 4 new leads. If 2 were worn enough to break, then what's stopping the other two?

Uncle Arthur · Postby **Uncle Arthur** » Fri Jun 29, 2007 10:44 am

Bevan wrote:Got hold of Mania thankfully, poor David is really sick.

Basically, I need to get a coat hanger and try and get below the bit that's come off and hook it up.

Why not try and get some very long thin needle nosed pliers from Bunnings/Repco/wherever???

You'll do less damage with that than with a coathangar

bigdog · Postby **bigdog** » Fri Jun 29, 2007 10:55 am

Where's the car Bevan? I've still got the leads I replaced on mine in the shed - they were working fine, just preventative maintenance. Happy to lend a hand - we could swap a coil from mine to check the problem, it certainly sounds like leads though.

ampz · Postby **ampz** » Fri Jun 29, 2007 11:15 am

Yeah coathanger is your friend!

Don't worry, it isn't strong enough to do any damage down the plug well, just bend the tip up and go fishing.

Regarding the lead, cant you just buy 1 lead from Supercheap to get you out of trouble?

Isn't your model like a coil on plug setup that fires 2 plugs from the 1 coil?
Maybe you can get just the lead you need to cover the Magnecor ones...

Bevan · Postby **Bevan** » Fri Jun 29, 2007 11:46 am

Hi guys,
I got the rubber things off. Coathanger worked a treat! Apparently, they are just hard rubber bits that hug the plug, and just pop back into the, lead, so I'll just do that. Thanks for the offer though John! Actually, I'm pretty sure i've still got my original leads too.

Got the plugs out and they are dry-fouled. I got a used set that I can put in to get me to work. Can I give the fouled plugs a light sand? I've done that and it's taken the carbon off. They are Iridiums and they look in good nick apart from the build up. Are they safe to put back in on the weekend?

And yes Ampz, you are right. Pots 2 and 4 are coil-over ignition, and 1 and 3 have they leads in them.

Cheers,
Bevan

Bevan · Postby **Bevan** » Fri Jun 29, 2007 11:58 am

Ah sh*t,
It's not holders that go inside the leads, The end of the actual lead snapped off in the exact same spot.

Oh well, I'm just going to have to wait till the g/f gets home and she can drive me up to Supercrap or Maxda and get some leads and new spark plugs. :roll:

Doggy, My car is at my g/f house in Castle Hill, so it's OK, i'm not stranded or anything.

bigdog · Postby **bigdog** » Fri Jun 29, 2007 12:26 pm

go with OEM Mazda leads bevan, they do the job fine IMHO. Any basic plug lead will get you going - just won't seal on the head to keep moisture out.

bigdog · Postby **bigdog** » Fri Jun 29, 2007 12:31 pm

Do you want me to get a set from West End and run em up to you later this arvo? I have to pick up Daughter in law from work in CH at 5.

Bevan · Postby **Bevan** » Fri Jun 29, 2007 12:59 pm

bigdog wrote:go with OEM Mazda leads bevan, they do the job fine IMHO. Any basic plug lead will get you going - just won't seal on the head to keep moisture out.

Just rang Mazda and they want $101.50 for the leads... :shock:

There's on 2 leads, a REALLY short one, and a long one. It's cheaper for me to get the Magnecors.

bigdog wrote:Do you want me to get a set from West End and run em up to you later this arvo? I have to pick up Daughter in law from work in CH at 5.

Thanks heaps for the offer mate.

Apart from their abnormal pricing, he couldn't get them in until Monday and suggested I try MX5 Mania. :lol:

The g/f will be back in the next few hours so I'll be able to go around to Mania then. I wonder if i'll be able to get a replacement under Magnecor's 10 year warranty. Doubt it.

Bevan · Postby **Bevan** » Fri Jun 29, 2007 2:30 pm

Dammit. Mania can't get leads in until Monday either. I'll have to pop home and pick up my old set of OEM ones. They were fine before taking them out.

Oh well, I may as well go out and install my stereo then. :lol:

Andy Wana · Postby **Andy Wana** » Fri Jun 29, 2007 2:42 pm

Bevan,

I got my Magnecors from Thundercords in Granville not so long ago.
http://www.magnecor.com.au/

Thundercords
Unit 2, 20 Crescent Street,
GRANVILLE, NSW 2142

Phone: (02) 9897-3777
Fax: (02) 9897-3776

Contact: Bob or Neil

They should be able to help you out immediately (i.e. today) if you are in need of new leads.