Arcticblue
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- Apr 2, 2019
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I bought the car (Astra CDX 2l 16v; 20sel motor) from an old man who only drove in once a month for many years. It only has 175 000 on the clock.
Before is start: You can find nothing on Google on this engine (20sel). It is a huge struggle to find sensors for this car. The car has no MAF sensor. It as no Crank sensor. It has no o2 sensor. It is a mix of old and new technology on this engine and works like no other 2.0l Astra G's sensors. I asked 3 other people with the same car and they told me they do not have them either.
Ps. No engine light on!
The symptoms
1.) The first time I started the car I noticed the IACV was not working.
The IACV was stuck on 750rpm. I cleaned it and it is working 100% now.
2.) Struggle to start
The car would start between 2 swings and 4 swings. Does not matter if it is hot or cold.
3.) Not a solid misfire but rather a Lean or rich misfire
4.) Fuel economy
The car would drive 25km's on a R100's fuel and then 80km's on a R100's fuel.
5.) Power issues
The car runs like a 1600 most of the time. At times it runs as fast as a 1400 but at times like an 1800.
6.) Car would just die while driving once in a blue moon
Sometimes, once a month the car would just die while driving, but just for a second and then run fine again. The engine light will be on for 2 seconds and then go away. At one stage it did it for a week but then went away completely.
What I have done so far but did not sort the issues out
The coolant sensor saga
This is an odd one. I read on Google and many forums that a coolant sensor can give the same symptoms. I then bought one from Goldwagen but the car ran like a 1400, very light on fuel but the engine ran hot. The misfire was gone but gradually came back again as I drove the car till it was back to normal semi-misfire.
I was told by a car parts salesman that it is the wrong coolant sensor and he gave me an aftermarket one for the engine. This is where it gets interesting: after I installed it the misfire was gone again. I went for a drive and this car had a 2.0l engine power. It had so much power that I could not believe the car was so fast. From low RPM right through to high rpm – it pushed me in to my seat non-stop. BUT, after stopping at the shop and starting it again, it was back to a 1600 engines power and everything else came back (misfire, fuel economy, etc.)
I then bought the Bosch coolant sensor for the car. Same thing happened. First run after installing it the car was super fast and after the second start it was back to normal. The engine has better low end power at times.
Coil Pack
I started the car one morning and the car had a solid misfire. I threw water on the manufold and found piston 1 and 4 is at fault. I tested the coil pack and found high ohm readings on bank 1 of the coil pack but not all the time.
I did not have money for a coil pack at that stage so I took a chance and made the spark plug gap on piston 1 much smaller. Oddly, the car ran like an 1800 engine all the time. Very light miss now and then. I bought a new coil pack, replaced piston 1's plug with one I know is working. The car ran good for a while before all the symptoms came back again.
Extra information
When it is cold outside, the car would run rough and slow. Even if the car is on temp and i've been driving for a while. When the temp is warmer outside it is the same but if the car stood in the sun the whole day it is almost like the car has no issue except it has an 1800 motors power.
The other thing is if the car runs rough in the morning and slow, it will do that even if it is on temp but once the car stood for a while and I start it – the symptoms are almost not noticeable.
What I have not done
Have not replaced ignition leads
Have not replaced TPS
Have not changed intake air temp sensor
Have not replaced timing belt kit
Have not replaced fuel pump
Have not replaced loom or ECU
Before I buy and replace more and more stuff, which takes all my money away each month, I would like to know if anyone has any idea what it might be. It is or that or selling the car which I kinda like and would like to keep.
Before is start: You can find nothing on Google on this engine (20sel). It is a huge struggle to find sensors for this car. The car has no MAF sensor. It as no Crank sensor. It has no o2 sensor. It is a mix of old and new technology on this engine and works like no other 2.0l Astra G's sensors. I asked 3 other people with the same car and they told me they do not have them either.
Ps. No engine light on!
The symptoms
1.) The first time I started the car I noticed the IACV was not working.
The IACV was stuck on 750rpm. I cleaned it and it is working 100% now.
2.) Struggle to start
The car would start between 2 swings and 4 swings. Does not matter if it is hot or cold.
3.) Not a solid misfire but rather a Lean or rich misfire
- When you start the car when it is cold it has a very noticeable rough idle.
- When stationary and you rev the car slowly, the engine runs very rough at 1500RPM when cold.
- When you drive slow and hit around 1500 RPM the car would cradle gently.
- When the car is hot it has the same symptoms as when it is cold but you can hardly feel it.
4.) Fuel economy
The car would drive 25km's on a R100's fuel and then 80km's on a R100's fuel.
5.) Power issues
The car runs like a 1600 most of the time. At times it runs as fast as a 1400 but at times like an 1800.
6.) Car would just die while driving once in a blue moon
Sometimes, once a month the car would just die while driving, but just for a second and then run fine again. The engine light will be on for 2 seconds and then go away. At one stage it did it for a week but then went away completely.
What I have done so far but did not sort the issues out
- Took the car for a scan and showed something was up with the Crank PS. Replaced it.
- Tested a MAP sensor from another CDX and it made no difference after a week.
- Did a standard service but no joy.
- Checked all wires, plugs, earth, power and signal wires with multi-meter and cleaned it all.
- Compression on car tested out 100%
- Tested fuel pressure and it tested 100%
- Used lique molly fuel system cleaner and cleaned injectors.
- Cleaned fuel injectors manually and observed them while fuel rail out and they are all good.
- No oil loss, water loss and no mixture.
- Did a radiator flush.
- Checked timing, tensioner and belt but it is all fine.
- Checked for air leaks but no joy.
The coolant sensor saga
This is an odd one. I read on Google and many forums that a coolant sensor can give the same symptoms. I then bought one from Goldwagen but the car ran like a 1400, very light on fuel but the engine ran hot. The misfire was gone but gradually came back again as I drove the car till it was back to normal semi-misfire.
I was told by a car parts salesman that it is the wrong coolant sensor and he gave me an aftermarket one for the engine. This is where it gets interesting: after I installed it the misfire was gone again. I went for a drive and this car had a 2.0l engine power. It had so much power that I could not believe the car was so fast. From low RPM right through to high rpm – it pushed me in to my seat non-stop. BUT, after stopping at the shop and starting it again, it was back to a 1600 engines power and everything else came back (misfire, fuel economy, etc.)
I then bought the Bosch coolant sensor for the car. Same thing happened. First run after installing it the car was super fast and after the second start it was back to normal. The engine has better low end power at times.
Coil Pack
I started the car one morning and the car had a solid misfire. I threw water on the manufold and found piston 1 and 4 is at fault. I tested the coil pack and found high ohm readings on bank 1 of the coil pack but not all the time.
I did not have money for a coil pack at that stage so I took a chance and made the spark plug gap on piston 1 much smaller. Oddly, the car ran like an 1800 engine all the time. Very light miss now and then. I bought a new coil pack, replaced piston 1's plug with one I know is working. The car ran good for a while before all the symptoms came back again.
Extra information
When it is cold outside, the car would run rough and slow. Even if the car is on temp and i've been driving for a while. When the temp is warmer outside it is the same but if the car stood in the sun the whole day it is almost like the car has no issue except it has an 1800 motors power.
The other thing is if the car runs rough in the morning and slow, it will do that even if it is on temp but once the car stood for a while and I start it – the symptoms are almost not noticeable.
What I have not done
Have not replaced ignition leads
Have not replaced TPS
Have not changed intake air temp sensor
Have not replaced timing belt kit
Have not replaced fuel pump
Have not replaced loom or ECU
Before I buy and replace more and more stuff, which takes all my money away each month, I would like to know if anyone has any idea what it might be. It is or that or selling the car which I kinda like and would like to keep.
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