4G32 1600 Flat spot -running problems

[leoca64]

Hi all .I have had Dad's LC given to me .Actually it was mine up until 8 yrs ago - but thats another story .

She doesn't run right .In a earlier post it wouldn't budge (that has been solved) - it was the clutch shattered .
Now there as a prob thats been there for over a year (now its mine i wanna fix it of course!)

It had a brand new dissy put in by the mobile mechanic and Dad cannot remember if it caused it but i think not.
IT has issues when you apply the accelerator - and it sorta misses then and loses power somewhat sounds like its on 3 cyls for a while until it "clears its throat a bit " tries to make its mind up and finally it surges past the 3 to 4000 rpm area . Pretty much every gear .IT will idle fine and the speedo and tacho are affected a bit when it happens .It wont go past 3000 rpm up a hill either .It doesn't backfire . I don't wanna drive it until its fixed really .The engine - she's getting a bit old.
The local carby specialist is telling me 400-500 $.!!!!!!!!. What- the whole car was about double that.

I have
1. checked timing
2. New plugs and checked gap.
3. New feul filter (it was very dirty)
4. New leads
5. Tested with replacement carby (from GC - thanks Ted!) but no change
6. Doing air filter in the morning (prob no diff hey)

Any ideas suggestions appreciated
The carby kit is 70 from autobarn but is there any other ports of call ...the chances of a second carby making no difference makes me wonder...
thanks

[Superscan811]

I'd check the fuel pump as well. Don't just check for pressure (both too much and not enough will be an issue), but also check the flow volume.

Make sure the fuel level in the carby is good as well.



Cheers.

[davetrees]

Try a different (new, or known to be good) coil on it as well .... and also possibly replace the condensor.

BUT ..... but change things one at a time - that way you will know what the problem was.

I can understand it impacting the tacho if it's an ignition problem of some sort, but it simply can't impact the speedo as that is purely mechanical off the gearbox. That issue must be separate (like a sticky cable or similar).

Have you checked all your main earth points ? Battery, engine block & gearbox. Stranger things have happened if you have dodgy earths ....

[geezer101]

So you have no power below 3000 rpm? IS THE ENGINE IN TUNE? If it's tuned up o.k. then look at possible faults. To me it sounds like a blocked primary jet. The filthy fuel filter is a clue as to whats gone through it and into the carby. You can try taking the air filter off and while the engine is running, starve the carby of air by cupping you hand over the throat (it will help if you can do this with the engine revving as it will ramp up vacuum, improving the chances of removing whatever is blocking the jet). Anyway its carby rebuild time or find one that's serviceable from a running engine. $400 to $500 for a rebuild is steep but still expect to pay about $350 for a rebuilt unit. If the tacho is dancing around when the engine's under load it will be an indicator that there's an ignition fault somewhere. Start small - new points and condenser, check the plugs/cap/rotor button and leads. It still starts and runs so I doubt there will be a problem with the ballast resistor or coil but if you feel they have done their job I'd recommend a Bosch "T" coil as a replacement (bit pricey but a good unit).

[leoca64]

Thanks everyone and HNY.
Its a brand new dissy do i need to suspect the breaker points/condensor?

Hey i just did the air filter and coil replacement part.
No better so i will be going down the carby reco route next ...as i am unsure about the way to measure the fuel flow...just know i feeds the carby ok in the idle mode.I got onto a carby place at Clontarf that sounds very good.Must put a photo of the car up

[LukeAussie]

It all depends whether the points and (especially) the condenser have been replaced... it depends on how thorough the recon job on the dizzy was. I'd be inclined to think the condenser may not have been replaced...

But in any case, I would concentrate more heavily on the carby side of things. Check the fuel pump and the accelerator pump, and possibly even the secondary throttle vacuum diaphragm too, as these can potentially lead to a flat spot.

And have you checked for any vacuum leaks anywhere. This sort of thing can also wreak havoc on performance. I'd be checking the vacuum advance to make sure it holds (no leaks in the diaphragm), and to be sure all vacuum lines are sealed well too...

Good luck!

[LukeAussie]

And with the fuel flow, there's a small window on the front of the carbie, near the accelerator pump... you should see it roughly half full of fuel (not completely full, and not empty either).

Good luck!

[leoca64]

The running problem has been repaired .
So glad i didn't send the carby off to get done!
i got the mobile guy to check it out in the end when he was over for another car i own,

he said that the points were sticking shut , so he freed and lubricated them/ reset the timing.
Cheers!
p.s. ted that carby was a goodie !

[geezer101]

he said that the points were sticking shut , so he freed and lubricated them/ reset the timing.
Cheers!

what I say...start small. Good to see you're motoring again

[LukeAussie]

Wow, stuck points... what a bizarre problem! Glad its a nice easy fix!

[leoca64]

Car just died again - started running sick suddenly then 10 s later it was no more /The RACQ man says it may be the coil this time?
Gonna test its resistanc eover the w/end
Got a pushbike anyhow...

[LukeAussie]

Nasty! Hopefully it's another easy fix. If RACQ is anything like RAA, I'd take what they say as a starting point and with a grain of salt... you may have no spark and perhaps it seems to be the coil, but could be something else :-) Check the points again in case they're stuck, and also the condenser (it's much cheaper to replace than a coil), and if you still have no luck, perhaps it's new coil time :-)

Good luck!

[leoca64]

Thanks. I put the old coil in no better ,the capacitor seems alright.
Condensor is that inside is it hard to replace yourself?.

The only thing i can detect is a lot of white ash like material around the dissy cap in connection point from the coil when i pull it out>?

[geezer101]

Burnt points (the contacts that have arc welded themselves together), burnt contacts in the distributor cap and a flat spot seem to point all towards one thing - ballast resistor. Removing a ballast resistor will do all the above (not 100% sure of the flat spot issue though...) Is the end of the rotor button looking a bit burnt too?

[davetrees]

Condenser = Capacitor

No simple way for the "home mechanic" to test it (visual inspection means nothing). You will probably have to replace it & see if it makes a difference.

[leoca64]

Thanks - i thought i would earth it to be sure when i did i heard a spark so guess its OK?.
will check ballast resistor resistance next when i find my 4g32 blue lancer manual that is

[leoca64]

They reckon the condensor was stuffed and the points too.The spark i saw actually meant it was stuffed because it is supposed to discharge when you turn the key off.The listed fuelmiser part is nothing like the one it is replacing...the thing has 2 leads?..I had to chase around and eventually found one off a sigma i once had to get me out of trouble the points were $8 from repco the wanted 39 for the condensor .

Whats the part number from fuelmiser for th condensor anyone know?.(0.22microfarad)

[LukeAussie]

Hi all, I'm back from OS, so happy to keep helping :-)

Yep, the condenser being stuffed is a likely scenario, but thankfully nice and easy to fix. I can't remember part numbers, but I run a Bosch part and Sprints had both types in stock last time I checked...

$39 seems really really expensive for a condenser too...

I'll look through my records tonight (if I remember!) and let you know.

[davetrees]

There are a couple of different condensors for the 4G32, depending on which dizzy it runs.

Is yours a Mitsubishi dizzy or a Bosch dizzy ?

The various aftermarket catalogues don't always list them correctly , either.