Ran out of fuel, now got warning lights

Pew_Pew_Pew_Lasers!

davidjwest wrote: »

Garage reckons it's a coincidence that the coil pack has failed now, nothing to do with running out of fuel.

I've got a new one ready to fit once I work out which is cylinder 4, this is referring to the firing order isn't it?

It'll most likely be on either end of the engine (presumably its a 4-cylinder engine). If replacing one doesn't fix it, swap it for the other. You won't break anything.

Inactive

Strider590 wrote: »

My brothers ex was forever running out of fuel, everytime it'd require the ECU to be reset by a dealership, he went mad at her for only filling up with £5 at a time, but she kept doing it!!!

At least she is now an " ex ", so it worked out OK in the end.:D

mikey72

4 should be the end nearest to the flywheel/gearbox.

cyclonebri1

Lum wrote: »

Running out of fuel wont affect the coil packs.

Yes they do fail. When a coil pack fails then you don't get the spark in the engine which starts the burning of the fuel in that cylinder, this will cause the lumpy running as instead of burning and providing power, the unburnt fuel is shoved down the exhaust and into the cat.

If the coil pack is marginal then it may work ok at higher speeds as the alternator will be doing more work and providing more electric current which could make just enough difference that it works normally despite being on it's way out.

As for replacing all 4, if it's a slightly older car then it would seem likely that the other 3 coils aren't far behind this one so if it saves on labour charges then you might as well replace all 4 at once.

Not sure I'd clean the injectors though, it it was running fine for the last month then the injectors are probably ok. You could also try to clean them yourself by running a tank or two of Shell V-Power through them.

It's a coincidence, as I said, plus it is the coil pack go ahead and relace the set as advised.:T

davidjwest

Fixed it - it was the coil and for info the one at the far right was number 4.

Will do the others when we get back from holidays.

Simple job, just very fiddly as getting to the nut is quite tricky on this car, had to use a pair of pliers as well as a spanner but only took 10 minutes or so.

Thanks everyone, saved over £200 thanks to this forum and the advice given.

Lum

davidjwest wrote: »

I've got a new one ready to fit once I work out which is cylinder 4, this is referring to the firing order isn't it?

With the engine running, unplug them one at a time. Whichever one doesn't cause the engine to run even worse will be the failed one.

andygb

davidjwest wrote: »

Garage reckons it's a coincidence that the coil pack has failed now, nothing to do with running out of fuel.

I've got a new one ready to fit once I work out which is cylinder 4, this is referring to the firing order isn't it?

The firing order is different to how the cylinders are numbered.
In a normal engine (I assume transverse), where the cylinders run crossways as you look from the front of the bonnet, they will be numbered 1 - 4 (or maybe 1 - 6) from left to right or right to left.
The firing pattern of the engine is determined by the designers in order to make the engine run as smoothly as possible (1,4,2,3 for instance), because if they all fired in turn from left to right, then the vehicle would not be very smooth.

somech

andygb wrote: »

The firing order is different to how the cylinders are numbered.
In a normal engine (I assume transverse), where the cylinders run crossways as you look from the front of the bonnet, they will be numbered 1 - 4 (or maybe 1 - 6) from left to right or right to left.
The firing pattern of the engine is determined by the designers in order to make the engine run as smoothly as possible (1,4,2,3 for instance), because if they all fired in turn from left to right, then the vehicle would not be very smooth.

try 1342 works much smoother, no4 cylinder will always be no4 regardless of firing order.
well done op:j