'97 1.2 86k Stuttering Engine - Babygotoo
Hello,

All has been well until today when pulling off motorway I noticed the engine stuttering.

On coming home there appears to be no power coupled with hesitation, changing down gears doesn't help, only managed 60 on the flat, stuttering, 70 down hill, no stuttering.

The only previous experience was symptoms like this was a cracked distributor cap on an old cortina.

The Clio engine will stall once stationary or coasting but will immediately start on the key

I've cleaned the plugs which looked normal based on Haynes pictures. this resulted in the car maintaining it's idle, although it was rough. Changed the HT leads as they were the originals, no better or worse, same rough idle and no power.

Any ideas, I'm thinking fuel filter next, air filter was done a couple of months ago. Up until now the car was running well easy 55mpg, no smoke etc.

Any experience or advice welcome,

Thanks

Ellis

Edited by Dynamic Dave on 09/11/2007 at 13:42

'97 1.2 86k Stuttering Engine - Screwloose
Ellis

Quite a few different 1.2 engines on that year. Does yours have a distributor or a coilpack? Any idea of an engine code? D7F; E5F etc. [On lower front of block.]

When it's idling; pull off the HT leads one at a time [Yes; you'll likely get a shock - don't be a wimp!] and find out which cylinders aren't firing. Listen for a spark jumping as the lead comes off.
'97 1.2 86k Stuttering Engine - Babygotoo
Screwloose,

remind not to invite you to parties! That sparked up my afternoon.

I think engine code is D7or2 F, judging by Haynes it's definitely a D type engine.

Also I think it's cylinder 1, as you look at the engine from the front it's on the extreme right hand side, the longest HT lead.

Thanks


Ellis
'97 1.2 86k Stuttering Engine - Screwloose
Ellis

So that's why I never get invited to parties - and I always though it was because I was a miserable old git.

A D-series engine has a coilpack at the cam-belt end and number 1 cylinder is at the gearbox end - yes?

OK; is there a good spark coming out of the end of that HT lead? What's the plug like and what make is it? [Swap it to another cyl and see if the miss moves with it?]

If you can; do a compression test on that cylinder.
'97 1.2 86k Stuttering Engine - Babygotoo
Screwloose,

Thanks,

I'll try the above tomorrow,


Ellis
'97 1.2 86k Stuttering Engine - Babygotoo
Right then,

Checked for a spark at cylinder 1, gear box side of engine - NO SPARK

Put spark plug from cylinder 1 in cylinder 4 HT lead - YES SPARK

Put cylinder 4 HT lead at coil pack connection on number 1 coil pack connection - NO SPARK.

In Haynes it shows my car as having a DSI (Direct Ignition Module), is this also called a coil pack and am I right in thinking this car therefore does not have distributor cap, rotor arm etc. The leads from the plugs only seem to go back to the DSI.

So, do I need an new DSI or is there anything I can check before I do that?

TIA


Ellis
'97 1.2 86k Stuttering Engine - Screwloose

If only one end of a coilpack pair [cyls 1 + 4] is firing, it's the coilpack. [DIS in Haynes-speak.]

1 and 4 fire together [wasted spark system] so if you swap HT leads 1 and 4 on the coilpack [turn it off first - if you must.....] then the miss will move to 4; proving that one outlet from the DIS is faulty. [The internal resistors burn out.]
'97 1.2 86k Stuttering Engine - Babygotoo
Screwloose,

Thanks for the help, the replacement coil pack seems to have done the trick, it's still a little stuttery when picking up in second, maybe a bit of damp, if it continues I'll put the original HT leads back on as the replacements were non Renault.

Thanks again

Ellis
'97 1.2 86k Stuttering Engine - Screwloose
Ellis

If it's been running on three for a while; it'll have fouled a plug - and "cleaning" modern plugs may not have been a good idea.

If all else fails and a good blast doesn't clean them up; fit a set of genuine dealers plugs - these don't like any but them.