L322 misfire on start up and aircon issue

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RRkev

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Forest of Dean, Gloucestershire
i've had this issue for a while and never got to the bottom of it. when i start the car from cold i get a very strong fuel smell out of the exhaust, and it sounds like the engine is misfiring, it does this for around 1-2 mins then i hear a click i'm guessing from a relay or solenoid and it runs fine. any ideas guys?
it's a 2003 4.4 v8 by the way.

my other issue is with the aircon it stopped putting out cold air the other week so as i was quite busy i bought a drop in can from halfords, luckily it was the exact right amount as listed on the slam panel sticker 510g, anyway it took the lot and is now icy cold again from every vent except the passenger side centre vent (the issue was there long before i topped up, and through several refills by the experts) when i open the passenger centre vent i get warm air, i think it's only non cooled outside air, but it is only from that one vent all the others are icy cold. i've checked heater matrix pipes and none of them are getting any warmer than residual heat when the heaters are on min cold. i have also tried using max aircon setting and get the same result from passenger vent. i'm a bit lost on the issue now so any ideas would be great.
 
RRkev said:
i've had this issue for a while and never got to the bottom of it. when i start the car from cold i get a very strong fuel smell out of the exhaust, and it sounds like the engine is misfiring, it does this for around 1-2 mins then i hear a click i'm guessing from a relay or solenoid and it runs fine. any ideas guys?
it's a 2003 4.4 v8 by the way.

my other issue is with the aircon it stopped putting out cold air the other week so as i was quite busy i bought a drop in can from halfords, luckily it was the exact right amount as listed on the slam panel sticker 510g, anyway it took the lot and is now icy cold again from every vent except the passenger side centre vent (the issue was there long before i topped up, and through several refills by the experts) when i open the passenger centre vent i get warm air, i think it's only non cooled outside air, but it is only from that one vent all the others are icy cold. i've checked heater matrix pipes and none of them are getting any warmer than residual heat when the heaters are on min cold. i have also tried using max aircon setting and get the same result from passenger vent. i'm a bit lost on the issue now so any ideas would be great.
Click to expand...

Might just be the ducting fell off ...
 
I had a misfiring issue, turned out mice had eaten through three plug leads!

Replaced, along with new plugs & O2 sensors, still awful.

The new leads were wrong and one didn't fit at all, so got a new set ad away she went, sounded perfect and smelled perfect too, but just to be sure, I had the fuel trim re-set. Mines a 4.0 with LPG and the LPG system needs a service, so it's highly likely my fuel trim was set at max fueling as the LPG system would have had the O2 sensors sniffing and finding a lean mix.

I would suggest a computer hook up with a live data reading so you can see if there is a cyclinder off/misfiring. It's quicker than guessing.

As far as I am aware, these systems start cold with open loop for maximum fueling. If you are down a plug or a lead, this will go straight down the pipe as unburned fuel and you will get that smell.

But checking the plug leads in the dark can show up a nice light show of blue sparks :cool:
 
RRkev said:
No plug leads on a l322 it has coil packs fitted to each plug
Click to expand...
Ahh, ok, well could be a plug... It may be a temp sensor problem, but then again, it could be the MAF.

Only way to tell is plug in and do live data reading.
 
Long ago, the Vauxhall engines had a wafer biscuit type filter on the rocker cover. If you weren't too fussed about oil changes, the filter would clog up causing a build up of pressure which would make the rubber hose from the crank case to the rocker to split. Then if the smell didn't get to you, the lack of oil would...

Nothing really changes.

So it's a case of unplugging the coils one at a time and looking for a deep puddle of oil on a plug or four o_O
 
Cheers guys not sure about pcv valve as I had that replaced not to long ago along with the hoses, and have also had the rocker cover seals changed last year, it only ever misses for the first 1-2 mins of start up from cold, it runs fine the rest of the time. It smell very rich initially I then hear a click from a solenoid or similar it then clears up and it fine. I have had this plugged into my allcomms there are no error codes anywhere that I can access. With hawkeye reading live engine data everything seems to be functioning as it should.

Secondly air pump has been mentioned but not sure if I have one or where it is fitted
 
So is it running rough on petrol at startup and then switching to LPG at which point it runs smoothly (the click being the switchover)?

That would seem to indicate a problem with the petrol setup? .... but where that takes you I don't know - you need someone with more knowledge than me I'm afraid!

Pete
 
No it runs with what sounds like a misfire and petrol smelling exhaust fumes on first start up on petrol when cold, I then hear the click and it runs fine still on petrol until it warms up and switches over to LPG
 
In terms of the aircon issue you probably have a broken HVAC flap or its stuck. Some cars throw an error for it like Audi. I have this issue on my Audi that that one vent always blows hot air. It's not worth taking the dash apart in it as it's not as easy as on the RR. :) Besides it won't be long before it will get cold again.
 
Thats what I thought the flaps are controlled by a cable from the centre vents to the side of the Heater box so I don't think there is a motor involved, I have tested for error codes with allcomms and the hevac system is clear.
 
Ok, if I had known about the LPG I could have told you immediately.

Right, what happens is the O2 sensors "sniff" the exhaust gas, find the mix is seriously weak (LPG runs very lean) and it ups the petrol mix so the car is literally pouring petrol down the exhaust to try and overcome the "lean" reading.

Go get the fuel trims reset and it will all go away for about 50 miles...o_O

To be honest, I run mine purely on petrol as the cost of LPG is almost on a par with petrol.

Say petrol provides 80% power, then LPG provides about 55/60% so mile for mile, you are a little better off with petrol thanks to the sheer price of LPG.

I plan to bin the LPG at some point unless it comes down to 30p per litre again.....
 
Doo said:
To be honest, I run mine purely on petrol as the cost of LPG is almost on a par with petrol.

Say petrol provides 80% power, then LPG provides about 55/60% so mile for mile, you are a little better off with petrol thanks to the sheer price of LPG.

I plan to bin the LPG at some point unless it comes down to 30p per litre again.....
Click to expand...
:confused: lpg 45ppl, unleaded 110 ppl here
 
Id be looking at the secondary air system......you will have it fitted.

The click is probably eother the air pump relay or the solenoid valve for the sec air system closing.

There is a pipe that runs feom one bank to the other in front of the water pump......at the air filter end is a diaphram valve....keep following this down you'll find a pump under the air filter box.....this is the secondary air system.
 
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