Urgent Help! Engine Light on!!!

Valandis91 · Post by **Valandis91** » Fri Jun 06, 2008 10:55 am

ok heres the situation...
my fto has been sitting in the garage as im not allowed to drive it yet for retarded reasons... anyways!!!
i started it every now and then and it would not idle properly either it would be around 1500rpm or going up and down and flattening out.. thats not the problem
i was bored one day so i decided to see where the spark plugs are cos they needed changing anyways... so i undid the mivec cover and took it off...
next i undid the left hand spark plug lead and took it out...
now as i was doing that my dad came out and abused me saying that im not a mechanic so i shouldnt touch the engine... so then i put it back together exactly how it was...
a week later trying to start it to give a bit of a run i found the battery to be dead so i recharged it...
then when it finally started it was sounding different to usual and was only idling at around 300rpm plus the engine warning light was on...
it also seemed as if the engine was vibrating more than usual..
does anyone know what could be the problem?
the only thing i can think of is that the cylinder i opened up the spark plug lead doesnt have a good connection with the spark plug? also does it matter how tight you do the bolts cos i was a bit wary as ive already broken one on the front bumper... also could it just be the spark plugs just need replacing???
thanks guys

Post by **vipfto** » Fri Jun 06, 2008 11:43 am

Sounds like idle is too low, the check engine light will come on if this is case as may be starved of air/fuel etc
You may not of re-connected the plug/lead back properly too

If your confident though a plug change can only be a good thing but make sure you use platinum they should be good for 80-100000kms

mouse · Post by **mouse** » Fri Jun 06, 2008 12:01 pm

Gidday Mouse here,
1st issue: rough idle at 1500 flattening out etc , veiwing other forums will probably give an idea on that problem.you will need the codes in the ecu ( other forums show how to get them and interprit them and what is needed to fix)
2nd issue: now idles 300 , rougher idle etc and engine light on ( engine is not turning fast enough to ballance out electricals ) could be as simple as you have left a wire or spark lead off).
Remove Mivec cover again and check spark lead ( from the rear of engine ) is connected to coil pack ( large block of plastic you removed to access the spark plug at front left) and check also you have connected the electrical connector to the same. You may also have broken a wire from the connector to the coil pack. Double check all 3 coil packs just in case you may have disloged a wire or spark lead from one of the other coil packs as well. Make sure all wires are clean and tight.
3rd issue: bolt tension on these small bolts is very little. If you do them up finger tight ( use your socket and extension only, turn until the bolt offers resistance ) then place ratchet or spanner on bolt and turn no more than 5 or 10 degrees any more will tend to break them. They are only there to hold small parts in place ( They are not used to hold the engine together or to hold the engine in the car ) just above finger tight is more than enough.
Regs

Post by **I8A4RE** » Fri Jun 06, 2008 12:46 pm

you havent connected the lead/coil pack properly. Its only running on 5 cyclinders thats why

it also seemed as if the engine was vibrating more than usual

Valandis91 · Post by **Valandis91** » Fri Jun 06, 2008 1:12 pm

oh ok cool thanks for that guys will go and have a look and see what happens.

JOeJOe · Post by **JOeJOe** » Fri Jun 06, 2008 1:56 pm

I8A4RE wrote:you havent connected the lead/coil pack properly. Its only running on 5 cyclinders thats why
it also seemed as if the engine was vibrating more than usual

+1

same thing happened to mine the first time I changed the plugs. just make sure you connect the leads back correctly.

Valandis91 · Post by **Valandis91** » Fri Jun 06, 2008 10:16 pm

yeah that was the reason the plug wasnt connected properly thanks for that!

Post by **I8A4RE** » Sat Jun 07, 2008 1:37 am

no worries