Does anyone have a large branch?

[loki_the_glt]

I'm going to do a Basil Fawlty on the Exxon Valdez this week.

It starts fine from cold but stumbles and splutters when moving, almost like a proper, carburettored car with a sticking choke; after a couple of minutes (at most) it sorts itself out and runs happily. There are no fault codes displayed on either ignition or fuel systems (B230F-something, allegedly it's an HPT model but hasn't got the adjuster). When it's warm re-starts are fine.

I'm thinking Ignition amp or CPS but the symptoms don't quite match either of those potential culprits, so any sensible suggestions would be welcomed.

[Forrest]

When my 1994 Wentworth was behaving a bit like this it turned out to be excessively worn ignition components (distributor cap, rotor arm and HT leads) exacerbated by an almost imperceptible coolant leak near the heater valve squirting straight into the distributor. Extremely hard to trace, but got there in the end with lots of help from this forum.

[360beast]

Almost the same symptoms as my 940 Alf, mine would start fine when cold then after 30 seconds or so it would start misfiring and would do for about a minute if I left it. If I gave it a big rev for a few seconds it would clear straight away and if I drove off the moment the oil pressure light went off it would stumble a bit then drive fine.

I had no fault codes either, my issue was the ECT sensor for the ECU.

[Laird Scooby]

My vote would be the CTS as well (or ETC as Luke called it), usually when they get old, the resistance goes up and until the engine is above a certain temperature there is no adaptive mixture control from the Lambda sensor. Also worth checking for a weak 'stat (or just replace the 'stat if it's 4 years old or more) so it warms up quicker and gets past this point with less time for the problem to occur.

I also had a failing FPR give similar symptoms but would misbehave most when hot.

[loki_the_glt]

My vote would be the CTS as well (or ETC as Luke called it), usually when they get old, the resistance goes up and until the engine is above a certain temperature there is no adaptive mixture control from the Lambda sensor. Also worth checking for a weak 'stat (or just replace the 'stat if it's 4 years old or more) so it warms up quicker and gets past this point with less time for the problem to occur.

I also had a failing FPR give similar symptoms but would misbehave most when hot.

The lump warms up quickly, which suggests that the 'stat is functioning properly, so the CTS is rapidly becoming the favourite cause.

The Valdez is booked in for its MoT tomorrow so remedial work will be conducted thereafter.

[Laird Scooby]

The lump warms up quickly, which suggests that the 'stat is functioning properly, so the CTS is rapidly becoming the favourite cause.

The Valdez is booked in for its MoT tomorrow so remedial work will be conducted thereafter.

Something very simple to try and caused a problem on mine recently is corrosion between the CTS and 'stat housing (or head for red block owners) so i unplugged the CTS and used a spanner to loosen the CTS 1/2 a turn and re-tighten, repeated several times to clean the join by friction and finally tightened, plugged back in and problem solved.

The wiring is getting very brittle now at 34 years old! :err:

[loki_the_glt]

The Valdez now has another year's ticket, with a couple of advisories - a crack in the windscreen that will be passed to my insurer; and play in the track rods, which will be attended to in the new year (once the bank balance is AC/DC [aka back in black].

Tomorrow I'll slacken off the CTS and re-tighten it, as per LS's suggestion.

[Laird Scooby]

Congrats on the pass, hopefully the trick of loosening and tightening the CTS works for you! :thumbs_up:

[baggy798]

Clogged fuel injectors? Sounds like another job for METHS! :D

Coolant and the end of the ECT sensor is conductive, non? So loosening and tightening isn't going to do anything.

[loki_the_glt]

Problematic solution

Clogged fuel injectors? Sounds like another job for METHS! :D

And what am I supposed to toast the festive season with if I use meths on the injectors?

[griston64]

And what am I supposed to toast the festive season with if I use meths on the injectors?

Melted down shoe polish was an old favourite of mine:teeth_smile::teeth_smile:

[loki_the_glt]

Melted down shoe polish was an old favourite of mine:teeth_smile::teeth_smile:

Kiwi or Cherry Blossom? And what colour? We have a right to know.

[griston64]

Kiwi or Cherry Blossom? And what colour? We have a right to know.

Both much of a muchness tbh :teeth_smile: A splash of milk took the edge off it :shocked: