QuestionQUESTION: Car: Mitsubishi Pajero I.O. 1.8ltr 1999, 114,00kms.
Problem description
When the car is put under load from either driving up a hill with passengers or sometimes just having the air conditioning on the car stops firing on all four cylinders and reports an Error Code #44 (Coil - cylinders #1 and #4). The car rumbles, loses power and the engine warning light comes on. I pull up turn off ignition and re-start and everything will be OK again for a while, again until under load. The load point at which it trips has varied greatly in the six months this problem has persisted.
Work done so far:
1. ECU sent away for testing and came back fine.
2. All connectors checked.
3. Fuel filter replaced.
4. Plugs changed.
5. Plug leads changed.
6. Coils swapped over and error code still reports 1&4 as not firing (therefore assuming coils are fine?).
7. All four injector connectors replaced.
8. Oxygen sensor replaced.
Current condition (as of 28/3/07)
Now the problem mainly occurs when first driven in the morning. Within 30 seconds of starting the car up it fails at around the same spot, just a few yards up the road. Maybe its starved of fuel? On restart again its fine. Coming home from college after the car has been sitting still all day I sometimes get the problem, but always worse in the morning.
What I find odd about this is how the symptoms of the problem appear to have changed. Six months ago driving uphill could set it off, then puttin on the A/C would almost guarantee it failing, now the A/C will operate, though you feel power loss. Its now happening initially starting up within 30 seconds I'll have the problem. Ive spent$1200 trying to fix this, I'm now back at college as a mature student after being made redundant, so would really appreciate any help you may be able to offer.
Many thanks,
Neil Beckett.
ANSWER: Neil: You sent the computer away, are you sure they sent you back the your old computer? Did they reset it? If the computer went away with the thoughts of error code of #44 without being reset the computer will still be reading this code. Also I would have your fuel pump checked to see that it is putting out enough fuel. Got an AutoZone close by? They will code your car for free and I think they will also reset your computer for you too. Hope this helps and good luck! Linda
---------- FOLLOW-UP ----------
QUESTION: Thanks Linda,
I was under the impression that simply disconnecting the battery for one minute wipes any memory of error codes? (which ive done several times before). The car then has to be left to run (just ticking over for 15 minutes) whilst the ECU is in "learning mode.
Can Fuel pumps behave this way?
Thanks,
Neil.
AnswerNeil: I was too with the computer but I had a car once that, that did not work. So I had to get another shop, reprogram the darn thing. Computers can get a pain at times! I thought of another sensor you might check as well as another spot to check that would be your throttle position sensor, it could be getting weak therefore not putting out enough fuel or the computer is not reading it right. The fuel pump could be putting out fuel just not enough for your car's engine to run right. You said you replaced the fuel filter why did you do that? The amount of fuel the fuel pump puts out can be tested as in pressure. I worked on a GMC pick-up an older one, though the fuel pump was working it was not putting out enough pressure or the right amount of pressure all the time. So sometimes the pick-up ran fine and other times it had trouble going down the road. With the test, taken at two different times, we found the fuel pump was not doing it's job. There again your computer might still be finding a problem in the system with the coil, still wonder about your computer. But then I can only guess on my part. Oh by the way it is for 5 minutes that you take off the neg cable and then the computer is to reset it's self. Wish I could help you more, Neil really I do. But all I can do it make guesses and hope they lead you to your problem. Do take care now. Linda
