Car is 'Pinking'

LowOdour

Guys,
I have an opel astra 1.4 saloon.
In the last few weeks i have noticed the car starting to hop/stutter, usually in a higher gear and coming off the accelerator or in a lower gear on the accelerator.
I have been told the term for this is 'pinking'. Got car serviced last week but no improvement. Any ideas what might cause this?
I have been told dirty petrol, poor sparks (service showed they were fine), sensor etc.
Not a car expert so if anybody has had similar problems I would interested to hear how you got on.

CarMuppet

Hello LowOdour,

What year is the car?
Is there a diagnostic light illuminated on the dashboard?
Was the timing belt replaced recently by any chance?

It could be bad fuel pump, blocked fuel filter, faulty fuel regulator, bad oxygen (lamda) sensor.

Cheers,
CarMuppet

LowOdour

Thanks CM
Sorry, year is 2000.
There is no diagnostic light on the dash. Timing belt was replaced before I bought it 2 years ago...ive about 20k miles put up on it since...maybe more, i'd have to check.

voxpop

Mass air flow sensor failure usually causes hesitations and general strange behaviour. Had a corsa that would loose power and stutter (engine light would come on also) when accelerating, then it just started hesitating and loosing power at random times. New maf (well secondhand replacement) and all sorted.

If youve done the cheap things like changed the plugs and serviced the car, you might want to check the maf - they can be expensive though.

CarMuppet

year 2000.. ok as per the last poster there might also me an air metering issue.. you could disconnect the air meter (MAF) and see if that 'improves' the cars performance.

My money is sill on the oxygen sensor.. they vary in price from euro90 upwards. But it's still cheaper than a MAF.

Strange there is no diagnostic light.

Is the car blowing steam from the exhaust? Is it drinking coolant?

Is the car running hotter than usual?

Does the heater blow hot air on the inside of the car when you select 'HOT'?

the merchant

Pinking, otherwise known as pre-detonation, is caused by the fuel/air mixture being ignited before the plug sparks. It is a load knocking or clacking sound from the engine when accellerating in a high gear, usually when engine temp is hot. The most common causes of pinking are incorrect ignition timing (not an issue in modern cars) or incorrect plugs for the car.

If it is happening while decellerating I doubt it is pinking though.

LowOdour

Is the car blowing steam from the exhaust? Is it drinking coolant?
Not that I have noticed.

Is the car running hotter than usual?
Again, not that i have noticed

Does the heater blow hot air on the inside of the car when you select 'HOT'?
Do you mean 'select Hot?' as in the turning on the heat in the car? I havent had the heat on in the car in a while but if i have, i definaltey havent seen heater blow hot air on inside of car.

O.A.P

I had the same problem a few years ago with the same type of car and it needed a new coil (its the box that the plugs are connected too) The part cost around 150 euros but its only a 15 or 20 minute job to fit. Assuming thats the problem of course.

johndaman66

LowOdour wrote: »

Does the heater blow hot air on the inside of the car when you select 'HOT'?
Do you mean 'select Hot?' as in the turning on the heat in the car? I havent had the heat on in the car in a while but if i have, i definaltey havent seen heater blow hot air on inside of car.

I think what CarMuppet is trying to ascertain here is to ensure car heater is blowing hot air at you when you have the hot air selected or knob turned to red. If the heater is blowing out cold air when you have hot selected chances are you might br quite serious trouble.

I too think it may possibly be the ignition coil kit as these are notorious for giving up eventually in the Astra's and Vectra's. If you by any chance happen to be near Limerick I have an ignition coil knocking about in my shed thats in good condition with low mileage as I took it off before my Vectra (x16 xel engine which would be the same as x14 xel ignition coil if thats the engine in your astra) was scrapped after being walloped in the rear. I can supply and fit for much much less than 150 euro and if thats not your problem can take it off again and put your old one on and wont charge you a brown cent!

johndaman66

Actually LowOdour does your car sometimes rev of its own bat for no apparent reason as this was another symptom when mine gave up in Vectra.

LowOdour

johndaman66 wrote: »

Actually LowOdour does your car sometimes rev of its own bat for no apparent reason as this was another symptom when mine gave up in Vectra.

It actually keeps a high rev for a minute or so when i first start up the car and take off , thats the only time ive seen it.

I took it for a sping there and hot air is blowing when hot air is selected and cold air blowing when cold is selected.

As for your offer johndaman66, very much appriciated but i wont be passing through limerick for another 3 weeks and looking to get it sorted before then. think its time for the garage call

CarMuppet

Hello again LO,

Well please do let us know what the cause of the problem is when your garage/mechanic figures it out...

Still confused as to no diagnostic light!!!

I'm still guessing it's a slow reacting O2 sensor anyway!!

The very best of luck with your car,
CarMuppet

Noopti

Check your spark plugs. The same was happening to me after a service, turns out dodgy spark plugs (looked old and two were cracked) were put in during the service.

LowOdour

Noopti wrote: »

Check your spark plugs. The same was happening to me after a service, turns out dodgy spark plugs (looked old and two were cracked) were put in during the service.

Cheers Noopti,

but this was happening before the service. Guy said sparks were fine and didnt need changed.
ive it booked in for friday morning, hoping it will get sorted then

johndaman66

LowOdour wrote: »

It actually keeps a high rev for a minute or so when i first start up the car and take off , thats the only time ive seen it.

I took it for a sping there and hot air is blowing when hot air is selected and cold air blowing when cold is selected.

As for your offer johndaman66, very much appriciated but i wont be passing through limerick for another 3 weeks and looking to get it sorted before then. think its time for the garage call

If I were a betting man I'd be inclined to put a few quid on it being the ignition coil kit LowOdour. Your description seems to generally point to it. I appreciate you will want to get it sorted as soon as possible and it is dangerous when overtaking too but offer still stands if you should be passing sooner by chance. Hope you do get it sorted soon LowOdour and its not too severe on the pocket for you.

testarossa40

O.A.P wrote: »

I had the same problem a few years ago with the same type of car and it needed a new coil (its the box that the plugs are connected too) The part cost around 150 euros but its only a 15 or 20 minute job to fit. Assuming thats the problem of course.

↑↑↑
Exactly what he said. See here:

http://www.boards.ie/vbulletin/showthread.php?t=2055852209

LongWayToTipp

Hi folks,

I'd like to throw another model into the mix here and would really appreciate it if anybody could suggest what my issue might be as I've had my car in my garage three times in the last number of months and they can't find th issue.

I bought a brand new car in Jan 2008. 1.3 Diesel Sports Astra -- as a matter of fact under the 50/50 offer I just finished paying for it in Jan! Once or twice in the first 18 months it did the type of pinking already mentioned - like a little heg every so often when driving. I mentioned it to my garage when back for service and the usual response was, we found a few errors when running the diagnostic and have cleared them. they'd then tell me they took it for a test drive and that all appeared fine.

Over the last 8 months the problem has become more frequent -- almost every time I drive the car. I've also now starting having this erractic type of idling for about 30 to 40 secs when I start the car (video here -- just after starting car but haven't movedhttp://http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=dwVwCw5eIS8

The car is out of warranty since December but the problem has been recorded a number of times by the garage on the service sheets before this date.

D

LongWayToTipp

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=dwVwCw5eIS8

Link above, earlier one doesn't work

KamiKazi

LowOdour wrote: »

Guys,
Car is 'Pinking'

Is it a girl car?

Maybe it's in heat.

padunne

testarossa40 wrote: »

↑↑↑
Exactly what he said. See here:

http://www.boards.ie/vbulletin/showthread.php?t=2055852209

Same problem as both above and coil pack was the cause. Took a few turns to figure it out. Funny thing is i think its gone again cause car shakes while idling and then when past 70mph. Nearly certain its not tracking or anything.
Just wondering does anyone have a coil pack for a 2000 xsara 1.4i petrol lying around i could try. Would be very much appreciated.