Engine cuts out/is very very shaky.

Advv · 03-10-2009, 03:50 PM

I was driving yesterday and for some reason my car was really really shaky. More shaky than usual. Also, when I pressed the accelerator, it would only go up to about 20km/hr. Eventually it reached 60km/hr after hitting the 4000-5000 rpm mark. I realised that it wasn't drivable so I parked it on the street and called up NRMA. The guy came to the conclusion that it was a problem with the fuel pump and that it needed replacing. It was late by then so I left the car there and went home with a friend.

I went to an autoparts shop today and got myself a new fuel pump. A mechanic installed it for me. I still have the same problem. Car is shaky and when I press the accelerator, the engine cuts off. I've searched up a few threads and I've seen that some other people have had a similar problem to me. But those threads were never really resolved. The next thing for me to do is to tow the car to my mechanic's house so he can have a better inspection.

If anyone has any ideas on what's wrong, please let me know.

It'd be much appreciated.

Cosmo Dude · 03-10-2009, 04:24 PM

Have you done anything to the engine recently? I.E wash it
Check your ignition leads, check your spark plug electrodes are a nice chocolate brown, look to see there is no moisture under the distributor cap...

maztech · 03-10-2009, 04:34 PM

Check your air intake tube for splits - as cosmo said check your ignition system ( leads arch through the sides )

70NYD · 03-10-2009, 05:44 PM

check your spark plug well... also your rotor and insulation plate..
fuel problem will simply cut out after a certain rpm and wont go any higher (for eg if your filter is blocked, you will onle get so much of petrol going thru max and thats it..)

Advv · 03-10-2009, 10:04 PM

The car was washed recently so the NRMA guy who came to have a look at it checked for moisture but there wasn't any. The mechanic said he needs me to tow the car to his place so he can check the car's spark plugs. Thanks for the input guys. I'll let him know so he can check. It's really frustrating having my car in this condition.

project.r.racing · 04-10-2009, 08:04 AM

or you could check the spark plug/s yourself. save on towing fees. ask a friend for advise/help if you are unsure of how to do it.

Old Grey · 04-10-2009, 09:10 AM

It sounds like when I washed my engine bay.
I had to let it dry out for 2 days before I could start it and when I started it it could only idle so I let it idle until the engine got hot so it could dry out the last bit of moisture. Half a day later it dried out and is fine. Never knew if it was the dizzy or coil but there was no spark from the coil.

Advv · 04-10-2009, 12:39 PM

Do you need special tools to check the spark plugs? The mechanic said he needed stuff at home to do it/to check the rest of the car thoroughly. How much are towing fees? If it's under $50, I'd pay for it (the car is about 2-3mins drive from where it needs to be). I don't have many car enthusiast friends and I know pretty much nothing about cars so I probably won't be able to check them myself.

I don't have work tomorrow so I think I'll head down to the car and leave it on idle for a while like you did "Old Grey". Hopefully it works.

Thanks heaps guys!

Astinadroxycuts · 04-10-2009, 01:35 PM

Zak Towing

0400 667 433

Very fast and cheap =)

Advv · 04-10-2009, 03:12 PM

Cheers for the number Astinadroxycuts. Will call them if towing is necessary.

asanga · 05-10-2009, 09:33 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Advv

How much are towing fees? If it's under $50, I'd pay for it (the car is about 2-3mins drive from where it needs to be). !

you should get free towing upto 20kms with your NRMA membership!

Advv · 05-10-2009, 11:30 AM

I don't have roadside assistance yet. I just signed up yesterday so it won't be ready for another 2-3weeks. But yeah, I get 8kms free with my one. I can't wait two-three weeks though. I'm okay paying for it if it means my car will be working again faster.

Rupewrecht · 05-10-2009, 11:46 AM

I reckon your TPS (Throttle Position Sensor) might be kaput - it's not unheard of.

asanga · 05-10-2009, 11:59 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Advv

I don't have roadside assistance yet. I just signed up yesterday so it won't be ready for another 2-3weeks. But yeah, I get 8kms free with my one. I can't wait two-three weeks though. I'm okay paying for it if it means my car will be working again faster.

oh ok....if its only couple of kms then it will cost you around $50. Whereabouts is your car??....if its close by I can help you with diagnosis. I have all tools ,,etc, PM me if you like..

Cosmo Dude · 05-10-2009, 02:19 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Rupewrecht

I reckon your TPS (Throttle Position Sensor) might be kaput - it's not unheard of.

Yeah if the TPS plug gets water in it the engine coughs and splutters. Unplug it and leave it dry for a few hours. Easy, free and no tools required.

dimayatsenko · 05-10-2009, 02:44 PM

i had a similar problem, the sparkplug leads had hairline cracks (x2 of them) so i just duck taped it around and it stopped shaking from misfiring and turning off. ive replaced them since..
so check that out otherwise idk!

Advv · 05-10-2009, 11:03 PM

Thanks for all the help guys. I just got it towed today to the mechanic's house. His brother/friend did it for $50. He's gonna take a look at it tomorrow and let me know what's wrong. Hopefully it's an easy fix and it's done by tomorrow. Cheers!

Advv · 06-10-2009, 03:21 PM

Mechanic called me up today and told me it's fixed. It was water in the engine area. Thanks for all the help and advice. Should I complain to the guy who put water in there?

Advv · 07-10-2009, 01:45 AM

So I picked it up and drove it for a while. Seemed fine for about 40mins of driving. Now I can feel the car shaking again. Not as much as before but it's still there. And it's harder to accelerate. Seems like there might be a bit of water in the engine still. Just not as much as before. Might have to take it to the mechanic again. Really annoyed now. Probably call the respray guy who got water in my engine tomorrow.

Astinadroxycuts · 07-10-2009, 02:52 PM

Advv where did you get your respray?

and you should call em up and tell them what happen

the sooner the better

03-10-2009, 03:50 PM	#1
Advv Junior Member Join Date: Jul 2009 Location: Sydney Car: Mazda 323 Astina BA Posts: 52	Engine cuts out/is very very shaky. I was driving yesterday and for some reason my car was really really shaky. More shaky than usual. Also, when I pressed the accelerator, it would only go up to about 20km/hr. Eventually it reached 60km/hr after hitting the 4000-5000 rpm mark. I realised that it wasn't drivable so I parked it on the street and called up NRMA. The guy came to the conclusion that it was a problem with the fuel pump and that it needed replacing. It was late by then so I left the car there and went home with a friend. I went to an autoparts shop today and got myself a new fuel pump. A mechanic installed it for me. I still have the same problem. Car is shaky and when I press the accelerator, the engine cuts off. I've searched up a few threads and I've seen that some other people have had a similar problem to me. But those threads were never really resolved. The next thing for me to do is to tow the car to my mechanic's house so he can have a better inspection. If anyone has any ideas on what's wrong, please let me know. It'd be much appreciated.

03-10-2009, 04:24 PM	#2
Cosmo Dude コスモ Join Date: Dec 2002 Location: Location: Vic Car: Mazda '95 Astina I4, '86 B2K and '10 3 MZR-CD Posts: 7,888 View Photos By: Cosmo Dude	Have you done anything to the engine recently? I.E wash it Check your ignition leads, check your spark plug electrodes are a nice chocolate brown, look to see there is no moisture under the distributor cap... __________________ My 'stina Hatch

03-10-2009, 05:44 PM	#4
70NYD Veni, vidi, vici Join Date: Mar 2008 Location: Brisbane Car: 1996 BA Hatch & 2005 RX8 Posts: 4,911 View Photos By: 70NYD	check your spark plug well... also your rotor and insulation plate.. fuel problem will simply cut out after a certain rpm and wont go any higher (for eg if your filter is blocked, you will onle get so much of petrol going thru max and thats it..) __________________

04-10-2009, 08:04 AM	#6
project.r.racing Senior Member Join Date: Sep 2004 Location: n/a Car: n/a Posts: 10,929	or you could check the spark plug/s yourself. save on towing fees. ask a friend for advise/help if you are unsure of how to do it. Last edited by project.r.racing; 04-10-2009 at 08:08 AM.

05-10-2009, 11:46 AM	#13
Rupewrecht Administrator Join Date: Mar 2002 Location: melb.vic.au Car: AZ-1, Astina Hardtop Turbo, BJ Protege, Beetle Posts: 16,525 View Photos By: Rupewrecht	I reckon your TPS (Throttle Position Sensor) might be kaput - it's not unheard of. __________________ jdmparts.rupewrecht.com Sourcing your not-quite-overnight parts from Japan WRECHT--\|--SLOWTEGE--\|--BEETLE--\|--SUBSTITUTE--\|--AZ-1

03-10-2009, 04:34 PM	#3
maztech Senior Member Join Date: Aug 2009 Location: QLD Car: ...... Posts: 952	Check your air intake tube for splits - as cosmo said check your ignition system ( leads arch through the sides )

03-10-2009, 10:04 PM	#5
Advv Junior Member Join Date: Jul 2009 Location: Sydney Car: Mazda 323 Astina BA Posts: 52	The car was washed recently so the NRMA guy who came to have a look at it checked for moisture but there wasn't any. The mechanic said he needs me to tow the car to his place so he can check the car's spark plugs. Thanks for the input guys. I'll let him know so he can check. It's really frustrating having my car in this condition.

04-10-2009, 09:10 AM	#7
Old Grey Junior Member Join Date: Apr 2009 Location: Sydney Car: Astina BG 1991 - Rx7 S4 Posts: 105	It sounds like when I washed my engine bay. I had to let it dry out for 2 days before I could start it and when I started it it could only idle so I let it idle until the engine got hot so it could dry out the last bit of moisture. Half a day later it dried out and is fine. Never knew if it was the dizzy or coil but there was no spark from the coil.

04-10-2009, 12:39 PM	#8
Advv Junior Member Join Date: Jul 2009 Location: Sydney Car: Mazda 323 Astina BA Posts: 52	Do you need special tools to check the spark plugs? The mechanic said he needed stuff at home to do it/to check the rest of the car thoroughly. How much are towing fees? If it's under $50, I'd pay for it (the car is about 2-3mins drive from where it needs to be). I don't have many car enthusiast friends and I know pretty much nothing about cars so I probably won't be able to check them myself. I don't have work tomorrow so I think I'll head down to the car and leave it on idle for a while like you did "Old Grey". Hopefully it works. Thanks heaps guys!

04-10-2009, 01:35 PM	#9
Astinadroxycuts Junior Member Join Date: Aug 2009 Location: Australia Car: 93 323 Astina - Toyota Celica GT4 Posts: 211	Zak Towing 0400 667 433 Very fast and cheap =)

04-10-2009, 03:12 PM	#10
Advv Junior Member Join Date: Jul 2009 Location: Sydney Car: Mazda 323 Astina BA Posts: 52	Cheers for the number Astinadroxycuts. Will call them if towing is necessary.

05-10-2009, 11:30 AM	#12
Advv Junior Member Join Date: Jul 2009 Location: Sydney Car: Mazda 323 Astina BA Posts: 52	I don't have roadside assistance yet. I just signed up yesterday so it won't be ready for another 2-3weeks. But yeah, I get 8kms free with my one. I can't wait two-three weeks though. I'm okay paying for it if it means my car will be working again faster.

05-10-2009, 02:44 PM	#16
dimayatsenko Junior Member Join Date: Mar 2008 Location: Australia Car: 2005 Mazda 3 SP23 Posts: 51	i had a similar problem, the sparkplug leads had hairline cracks (x2 of them) so i just duck taped it around and it stopped shaking from misfiring and turning off. ive replaced them since.. so check that out otherwise idk!

05-10-2009, 11:03 PM	#17
Advv Junior Member Join Date: Jul 2009 Location: Sydney Car: Mazda 323 Astina BA Posts: 52	Thanks for all the help guys. I just got it towed today to the mechanic's house. His brother/friend did it for $50. He's gonna take a look at it tomorrow and let me know what's wrong. Hopefully it's an easy fix and it's done by tomorrow. Cheers!

06-10-2009, 03:21 PM	#18
Advv Junior Member Join Date: Jul 2009 Location: Sydney Car: Mazda 323 Astina BA Posts: 52	Mechanic called me up today and told me it's fixed. It was water in the engine area. Thanks for all the help and advice. Should I complain to the guy who put water in there?

07-10-2009, 01:45 AM	#19
Advv Junior Member Join Date: Jul 2009 Location: Sydney Car: Mazda 323 Astina BA Posts: 52	So I picked it up and drove it for a while. Seemed fine for about 40mins of driving. Now I can feel the car shaking again. Not as much as before but it's still there. And it's harder to accelerate. Seems like there might be a bit of water in the engine still. Just not as much as before. Might have to take it to the mechanic again. Really annoyed now. Probably call the respray guy who got water in my engine tomorrow.

07-10-2009, 02:52 PM	#20
Astinadroxycuts Junior Member Join Date: Aug 2009 Location: Australia Car: 93 323 Astina - Toyota Celica GT4 Posts: 211	Advv where did you get your respray? and you should call em up and tell them what happen the sooner the better

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