intermittent misfire

[DamoM]

My 2003 turbo has developed a serious irregular misfire. It appears on evey journy to a greater or lesser extent.

The car has been into a specialist and they have said that the problem is the camshaft adjuster and that it is a huge job to change it.

Having looked through the forum on this the only references to misfires usually relate to failing coil packs.

I'm anxious not to get ripped off unnecessarily so any advise or experience would be greatly welcome.

[Loren]

:welcome:

Fault codes - fault codes - fault codes -- these should point to the cause of the problem.

Get your fault codes and report them back here.

[wvicary]

A bogus fault code for a camshaft deviation or timing faults can be caused from secondary ignition misfires. As Loren stated - we need to know what fault codes are in the system.

[DamoM]

:welcome:

Fault codes - fault codes - fault codes -- these should point to the cause of the problem.

Get your fault codes and report them back here.

Have contacted the garage for the codes but they didn't keep a record of them. However, they guy said that it came up with a description of "Over advanced timing on bank 1"?

When the car had a misfire about 18 months ago it was coil packs that were changed (on bank 2) so that's the first thing I thought of but this was a different fault reading.

Edited January 18, 2011 by DamoM

[Loren]

If you still have the problem - then you still have fault codes. I highly suggest you read then or have them read - otherwise any comments here are just guesses.

[DamoM]

If you still have the problem - then you still have fault codes. I highly suggest you read then or have them read - otherwise any comments here are just guesses.

Ok, I'll take the car back in to get the codes read and report back.... :drive:

[DamoM]

If you still have the problem - then you still have fault codes. I highly suggest you read then or have them read - otherwise any comments here are just guesses.

The code is P0011 "a camshaft position timing over advanced or system performance B1"

I would stress that the misefire is very intermittent and not always there. i.e. It hasn't misfired today at all.

[Loren]

Sorry, but the misfire codes would be helpful too. Multiple codes are common so don't stop with just one fault.

P0011 Adjustment of Inlet Camshaft in relation to Crankshaft, Bank 1 – Signal Implausible

Possible cause of fault

- Dirt in oil circuit

- Sealing strips on inlet camshaft adjuster faulty

- Oil pressure too low

- Mechanical fault in inlet camshaft adjuster

- Solenoid hydraulic valve faulty

[wvicary]

Just wanted to advise you not to operate the vehicle if the check engine light is flashing.

[DamoM]

Sorry, but the misfire codes would be helpful too. Multiple codes are common so don't stop with just one fault.

P0011 Adjustment of Inlet Camshaft in relation to Crankshaft, Bank 1 – Signal Implausible

Possible cause of fault

- Dirt in oil circuit

- Sealing strips on inlet camshaft adjuster faulty

- Oil pressure too low

- Mechanical fault in inlet camshaft adjuster

- Solenoid hydraulic valve faulty

There are definitely no other codes. I saw him print them off and this was the only one. There is no engine light on currently since it was cleared the last time the codes were pulled.

My initial thoughts on the possible causes are:

- Dirt in oil circuit - first thing to do is an oil and filter change

- Sealing strips on inlet camshaft adjuster faulty - assume these would be changed if the cam adjuster was replaced?

- Oil pressure too low - Would you not have a fault code if the oil pressure was low enough to cause problems for any components?

- Mechanical fault in inlet camshaft adjuster - this is what has been diagnosed by the specialist.

- Solenoid hydraulic valve faulty - As this has an electrical circuit, any change in resistance should throw a code straight away? Pretty sure that there is a separate code for when this is faulty?

Many thanks for your help on this. :help:

[mudman2]

That can be a weird error code, people get it after coolant pipes have been changed and can be just 1 cylinder coil. I would recheck your coils and plugs

oh and change the oil

Edited January 19, 2011 by mudman2

[DamoM]

That can be a weird error code, people get it after coolant pipes have been changed and can be just 1 cylinder coil. I would recheck your coils and plugs

oh and change the oil

Changed the oil and filters today but still had the misfire. Changing the coil packs on that side tomorrow (changed the other side 18 months ago after a mnisfire following replacing the coolant pipes for metal versions following a leak!). Crossing my fingers!!

[carreracup03]

I had my ccoils changed in Jan. 2010. I had my car in to fix an air suspension error code ... and the dealer told me that my #4 and #8 cylinders had missfire error codes. They replaced those coils under recall. Point is 18 months ... they might have gone bad again.

[DamoM]

I had my ccoils changed in Jan. 2010. I had my car in to fix an air suspension error code ... and the dealer told me that my #4 and #8 cylinders had missfire error codes. They replaced those coils under recall. Point is 18 months ... they might have gone bad again.

When I had my coils changed last time it was all bank 2. The codes this time point to bank 1 so I'm hoping that changing them on bank 1 will resolve the issue.....

[RFM]

The code you mentioned is a timing issue, not a misfire code, either a camshaft sensor problem or a stretched timing chain/worn guides IMHO. This happens sometimes.

[mudman2]

RFM I have had in the past and it went away

[coleta]

mudman2,

Could you give some specific examples of what you've seen with this fault and under what conditions they went away?

Thanks

[DamoM]

Well the coil packs were changed on bank 1 (a real pain) and after having now completed about 100 miles with no recurrence of the misfire then I can safely say that the problem has been eradicated.

I really hope that this post helps others that find themselves in this situation.

[mudman2]

It was as part of a diagnosis about 3/4 years ago, it was determined that coil pack of 5 was cracked, the error went away after they changed the coil

The car was running very slightly rough at low revs

[coleta]

Thanks. Great info guys.