[Odyssey]

Hi all - not frequented the forum much of late (apart from occasional lurking) - the RR's ('93 4.2 LSE) been going fine, but tempted providence by remarking how well it's been doing and inevitably - problem.

I hate Intermittant faults!!!

It started while I was driving round town 10 -25mph - a sudden cough/cut out but didn't stall, recovered in a few seconds, then coughed again, then recovered and was fine for a few days. Then a similar symptom of a cough/hesitation but at higher speed - 35ish, again recovered and was fine for another week.

Then more prolonged coughing, stumbling etc at 60 ish on a bypass, followed later by stall at junction, restarted immediately and was fine for another couple of days. I thought 'it's got to be fuel or ignition'.

Today it was worse, coughed, cut out, stopped, reluctant to restart, I turned the key on and off a few times, could hear the fuel pump priming for its 2 seconds, then it started and ran OK for a couple of miles. So I thought it must be fuel related, checked the pump relay- not getting hot, properly seated; clean & tight connections, there's 11.7v at the pump for 2 secs when you turn the ignition on, and the pump seems to run OK.

So now I'm thinking it might be the fuel filter. It was last changed 17k miles/3 years ago. Can you tell (once you've removed it) from looking at it whether it's clogged? I'm going to change it anyway, just wondering if I will be able to tell with any certainty if that 's the prob. Or if I'm going to have to start on a "change it and see if it's any better" wild goose chase . . .

Any other suggestions? TIA

Alastair

 

[rufant]

If you like the taste of petrol you can try blowing through the old one to see if it's blocked. Have you done the ignition module reposition mod? Also how old are the rest of the ignition comnponents, dist cap, leads, rotor, coil, etc?

 

[Odyssey]

Cap, rotor and leads are all about 6 months old, coil is older than 6 years (poss even original - I'd wondered about that). The ignition module is still on the dizzy, but the cutting out has happened twice when the engines not even reached working temp, and the weather here's not been what you'd call summery . . .

I'll change the filter and if that doesn't help, maybe the coil will be next.

A

 

[rufant]

Another thought... You haven't dented the bottom of your fuel tank at all, or any chance there is some loose crud swirling around in the tank occasionally blocking the fuel intake?

 

[atasha]

just a thought, since the fuel system is presurized, have the fuel cap checked for leaks. an emissions station should do this when you go for a smog. I'm just thinking you may be losing fuel pressure. have you tried any type of injector cleaner? Seafoam always does wonders. If it doesn't work. You may check on how to replace a fuel filter.

 

[Odyssey]

God - I'd forgotten all about this, it was a year ago!

Sorry for not posting the resolution.

It was the fuel filter - partly blocked, blew through it backwards (yuk!) and crud came out, put new one on and it was fine. Since beset by many other probs and have rebuilt engine, final de-bugging going on when time permits.

Thanks anyway.

A