Shop Land Rover Spark Plug Wires

Mike; You've hit on most everything. No other codes? What about injectors? A poor spray pattern or plugged injectors can cause misfires. If you haven't had it done, you may want to have the injectors cleaned. If you have an ohmmeter, you can check each injectors' resistance to ensure that they are okay, electrically. Injector cleaning should be done about every 40K miles, and is done with a machine (MotorVac). Not the snake oil that you put in the gas.
Just a thought.

Thanks Steve and Loren. I'm going to check the coil again. The plug wires were replaced in March with everything else I listed. With the coil getting cracked before, it was the molded plastic underneath, not the outer plastic that mounts it. There aren't and haven't ever been anyother codes. 6 months before the last "tune up" in March, I replaced everything while I was replacing the water pump that decided to leak so I did timing belt, tensioner, and everything else (coil, spark plug wires, spark plugs). So basicly there's been a tune up done 2 times with in a year. Haven't checked the injectors yet seeing as I don't have a gas smell, the engine running rough, fuel out the exaughst, or fuel in the oil. Like I said it doesn't run rough now and has excellent pick up when punching it going down the road. Did that 15 minutes before I posted on here. But I'm gonna check the injectors when I get a chance.

If the coil is cracked (again), could there be a ground wire unhooked somewhere that could be causing a problem? Only need this one to last till some snow melts so I can put exaughst on the other neon (which was supposed to be my beater) so it can go get inspected. Lucky me if I need some parts, I have a spare.

Mike; Have you cleared the original trouble codes? And, still getting the same codes, even though it doesn't run rough?

Yep, cleared them with my scanner. The codes don't come back right away, atleast it seems like that. I cleared them today, took it down the road, drove the car like I was 18 again (lol) and the codes haven't shown themselves again. My daughter has to take it tomarrow to do finals (65 miles round trip) so I'm going to play with it some more when she gets back home. The only way I knew the check engine light was on is because she was complaining about another noise that I've narrowed down and doesn't have anything to do with the engine. So I saw the light and went investigating. I've asked her questions about it several times tonight just because she's complained about it before and I'd take the car for weeks at a time without ever hearing or running into what she said the car was doing. Just like the last time when the coil was cracked, she complained about the car stahling, I had it for a month no problems. Drove it everyday to work or whereever I was going, it didn't have a problem till I went to go get parts for my truck (after I called her and told her that I couldn't find anything wrong), it stahled and wouldn't restart. That's why I'm baffled with what could be setting these codes off. Tomarrow after she gets home and the car cools off, I plan on taking out the plugs and checking them, as I do them I'm going to do a compression test on each cylinder and I'm going to inspect the coil.

Mike, if the codes do come back, before you clear them, can you retrieve and post the freeze frame data for all codes for us?

Steve

I have a TP-300CAN scanner. It just does the code and allows you to clear them. The only other info it gives is with the monitor which gives mm, fs, cc, cm, hc, es, sa, ac, os, oh, and egr. I don't have any freeze frames or atleast what I believe your trying to ask for would be the freeze frame of how the engine is running like you would get with the more expensive scanners. I'd like one but way outa my price range for what I do anymore.

The problem with 'scanners' is that most people think that when the 'scanner' gives them a code for, let's say an oxygen sensor, they believe that it is the sensor that is the problem. All the scanner is telling you is that the PCM has detected a problem with that circuit. Misfire codes are the same. It doesn't tell you if its a primary or secondary, or fuel problem. It is just telling you that that particular cylinder misfired. Even the professional type scanners aren't a crystal ball. Some have troubleshooting capabilities, but none will come up and tell you to "replace the differential pushrod in the carburetor". (that's a joke). I hate seeing people wasting thier hard earned money on these 'toys'. The scanners that we use cost thousands and must be updated each year at a cost of over 1000.00, not to mention the software updates that have the wiring diagrams and flow charts for researching the particular trouble code. That software is over 2500.00 per year. I don't mean to sound negative, but it really is more involving than most people realize.

Loren I know what your talkn about with the scanner, we use to use a snapon one that was $10,000 new and the upgrades were several thousand to boot. Those are the nice ones. They let you know how the engine is running and get the important information to quickly diagnois the problem.

Well, I don't know about 'quickly', but it definitely helps. Obviously, you know the difference. Wasn't sure. A lot of the folks that post think that it is a quick, easy test. Have a great week.

Well by quickly I mean it's faster than the old way of checking everything lol. I do have another computer laying around here for it somewhere. I don't know about a having a great week, I feel a very bad headache coming on, but thanks for the info and you have one too.

http://autoforums.carjunky.com/images/toolbar/cut.gifMike; Capt. Morgan's Spiced Rum is very good for headaches.

Mike, before you replace the PCM, call your local dealer and see if the reflash update may solve the problem.

Steve

Sometimes you can rent them from taylor rental or maybe even Auto Zone may lend one that can read the datastream. I would like to see freeze frame data when these codes set. Let me check TSB's for this vehicle, it could be something simple like a software update for the PCM.

Steve

I found the TSB. The # = 18-47-98. It was dated 12/18/1998. I can't upload the document because it is not in the correct format for this site. If you google the number you should be able to get it to read. Basically, if you have invalid misfire codes, the PCM is faulty.

Steve

Here ya go

That's what I wanted to post. You're the man brother!

Steve

Hi. I would inspect the coil again to see if it is cracked. If it is, overtightening the bolts could cause it. Believe it or not, faulty plug wires can do it too. I have also uploaded additional info. if the coil proves good.

Steve