Running Problem

[samart]

Hi all, bit of advice needed please. My car is a 97 p reg 2.0glx. Recently my car has been suffering a running problem. Its not constant, some days there is no problem at all and other days its a total bitch. The problem starts with a little wobble while driving. This turns into about 10 seconds of what can only be described as kangarooing. Then when the car comes to rest, ie at a junction or traffic lights it stalls. It restarts first time. An engine light comes on sometimes, just after the first wobble. Could this be anything to do with the fuel pump? I'm not mechanically minded so any help would be very appreciated.

[mjb]

Try changing your fuel filter first if you've got one fitted (under the car, just in front of the offside rear wheel arch). It's cheaper than a new pump

[samart]

is that a hard job? will it take me long to do?

[mjb]

Remove the holder (usually just some zip ties), unclip the filter connectors by pushing in the square bits at the sides and pulling out (finger killer), try not to get drowned in petrol, clip the new filter in, zip tie it back up, put petrol-soaked clothes in washing machine, get earful from the other half for doing so...

Not too hard except for the last bit

[puglover]

i have had this problem in the past and from what you describe sounds similar to what i had............i'd look at taking the stepper motor out and giving it a good clean with a cloth and plenty of WD40........ **the stepper motor apart from regulating the idle speed also works with the e.c.u. to decide how much petrol to put through to the injectors**

**i was told this by a very co-operative (unusually) main stealer mechanic **

[samart]

thanks for the advice.

[samart]

i have had this problem in the past and from what you describe sounds similar to what i had............i'd look at taking the stepper motor out and giving it a good clean with a cloth and plenty of WD40........ **the stepper motor apart from regulating the idle speed also works with the e.c.u. to decide how much petrol to put through to the injectors**

**i was told this by a very co-operative (unusually) main stealer mechanic **

now that sounds like a bigger job than changing the filter

[puglover]

nah its an easy job only requires air filter box removal and then removal of the eletrical plug that plugs into stepper motor and the removal of the 2 torx screws that hold it in place then a clean and reversal of taking apart should take about 30 mins to do from start to finish

[mjb]

i have had this problem in the past and from what you describe sounds similar to what i had............i'd look at taking the stepper motor out and giving it a good clean with a cloth and plenty of WD40........

It'll cause dodgy idling but not kangarooing. The last thing you want to clean the stepper with is WD40 as apart from being flammable it'll attract muck like nothing else. You should clean it with carb cleaner.

**the stepper motor apart from regulating the idle speed also works with the e.c.u. to decide how much petrol to put through to the injectors**

The stepper only lets a small amount of air into the engine to prevent stalls. The pulse width of the injectors is based primarily on the throttle pot and (iirc) speed sensor (and to a minor degree other sensors, but they wouldn't affect it enough to cause kangarooing)

[teamster1975]

Remove the holder (usually just some zip ties), unclip the filter connectors by pushing in the square bits at the sides and pulling out (finger killer), try not to get drowned in petrol, clip the new filter in, zip tie it back up, put petrol-soaked clothes in washing machine, get earful from the other half for doing so...

Not too hard except for the last bit

I'll just add; clamp the fuel lines either side of the filter to save yourself getting soaked!