Help with poor running Z22 Zaffy please !!

markoneswift

Hi all, I've got a 2.2 Zaf Elegance on a 51 plate and I'm having some running problems. It stinks of fuel quite often, but not all the time, checked for leaks and none evident. Suffers from poor ( low ) idle sometimes and engine can be lumpy and hesitant especially when first opening the throttle ( not amusing when putting foot down to overtake.... ). Hesitates when accelerating sometimes, especially in 3rd around 2.5 / 3.5 K revs.

I've had the plugs out, replaced with new ones with correct gap ( old ones were 2mm too wide !!!! ) and problem got better for a while but has now come back but plugs still OK. Temp gauge always reads OK, doesn't overheat or stall. I'm thinking after reading on here that maybe I should try a coolant sensor and an EGR blanker, anyone got any other useful tips ?? Is there useless pipework on this engine I can bin ???

Cheers all

MikeS

clean throttle body
check for cracks on exhaust manifold
replace cts
blank egr and use cheater

sounds to me like a faulty tb

markoneswift

Cheers Mike I'll check those items out. How does the EGR 'cheater' work ? Can one be bought, or made ? Thanks.

MikeS

we sell em on the forum

they were designed in house 🙂

look in the shop section

you can download the wiring diagram from doing a search on the forum

MikeS

also your car is showing classic sign that the timing may be out or the chain is buggered

suggest u get that checked as well

markoneswift

Timing eh ?? Mmmm interesting. Sometimes it clatters like a diesel, especially on startup - could be the chain getting slack ?? I wouldn't have thought it as my engine's only done 71K - what's the life expectancy of chains on the Z22 with regular oil changes ?

MikeS

if i were you then i would get it checked out asap

it prob has the old style oil jets as well

bloke called benny on here does timing chains cheap - supply and fit

considering you done 71k with possibility of old style chain components then it would be a wise idea to get chain replaced

markoneswift

I can fit myself, I have two good mechanics at my disposal we just aren't that familiar with Vauxhalls ( yet..... ) mostly Jag, Rover etc. If I buy a chain kit, I assume that would come with all the 'new style' components then ? Thanks again !

vocky

if it rattles on cold start up then don't even start the engine - get the chain replaced asap

markoneswift

Vocky - I understand about the potential chain issue, but to be honest it only does the noisey cold start once or twice a week, sometimes not for weeks on end. Having listened to it again the other day, it does actually sound like it's 'pinking' at idle rather than the chain clattering. From reading the posts higher up though, if the chain is causing the timing to go out then I suppose that could cause issues like this ?

I'm off to get an EGR blanker today and I'm going to fit a new CTS when it arrives. I'm going to clean the TB and check the pipework for the evap emission control tomorrow because I think the smell of petrol in the car could be down to the evap canister purging but the released gases leaking before entering the engine to be burned. The car was stood for quite a long time before I bought it, so I wonder whether the charcoal canister is knackered because it will have had a lot of evaporated fuel stood in it without a purge being done.

I'm off to France in the car in May so I will no doubt end up getting the chain done anyway as a 'piece of mind' insurance for the trip !

markoneswift

All, the running issues have become worse now. I've experienced an EML during fairly hard acceleration this morning which is the first time the EML has ever come on since I've owned the car. It really hesitates when accelerating hard ( about 3/4 throttle ) and the EML stays on for several minutes after deceleration. I'm fitting the new CTS / EGR blanker at the w/end and am going to clean the TB too, plus fitting a replacement ignition module sourced from a known good engine. Hopefully this will sort it !

MikeS

where are you located

markoneswift

Hi Mike - I'm located in sunny Pontefract, West yorkshire. On Saturday I serviced the car - oil / filter, air filter, checked / cleaned plugs, cleaned TB out thoroughly, checked all hoses etc for leaks etc. The service improved the running, it's now smoother and sounds a bit 'meatier' when under load. The odd misfire is still occuring though but the engine seems to recover quicker than before ( if a misfire occurred before, the car would not recover and would not run properly for the rest of the trip usually ). I haven't fitted the new CTS yet or the EGR blanker, had to put them on hold as I discovered I had a broken NSF coil spring that has now been replaced :-)

If the running problems persist or get worse again, I'll be doing the CTS / EGR and fitting a new knock sensor next week. Could anyone give weight to this theory - if the knock sensor is playing up, could it be retarding the ignition too far / too long after thinking it has detected a misfire ? It might explain why the car takes ages to sort itself out if the ignition is being retarded.

Thanks for help so far guys

MikeS

when it starts to misfire does it sort itself out after about 10 seconds ? and idles oki again

when u drive it does the misfire occur after u booted it

markoneswift

Mike, yes it's usually during / after booting it and occurrs through the 2/3K-is RPM range. It's generally OK 'pottering' and OK on the motorway but it's normal overtaking that's a bit of a gamble - all I want to be able to do is boot the thing and not have to wonder whether I'm actually going to have the power to get past safely !! As I said before, once the bad behaviour starts, it remains for ages although recovery time seems a bit quicker after the service. I would try some replacement ignition bits if they weren't so bloody expensive !!!!

MikeS

might be worth seeing if the precat has collapsed or your actual cat

3 bolts on flange below zaust manifold for precat

cat is a bit more difficult to diagnose

Daniel

only had a breth read but has the coilpack been said ???

Martyn

you would loose all power and the car would miss fire constantly rather than the odd missfire , thats what happened to me couple of week back.

Daniel

my old astra had a falty coilpack and would play up a bit here and there my astra done excs what he saying m8 probs diffrent to everycar lol

Martyn

pain in the ass and cost alot to