Beretta.net

Ok this is the GF's car 1997 Z24 Quad 2.4.
Lets start with these:
1.missfire with no code, think it's a coil pack, shakes bad.
2.High load shown(60% at 5% throttle)
3.leaking cam covers, any tips on how to do this would be helpful and a part number on the gaskets.
4. trans wants to shift down after a turn, because of the "load"? Fluid is the right color and not burnt.
5. coolant leak on the back side, new hose clamp on the bypass and new coolant temp sensor with PTFE tape on it. Is there a spot prone to leak on these things? I looked all over and can't find it.

No way to test injectors and without a code I have no way to see if the miss moves(swapping coils). The only code I get is decreased cat effiency(no kidding!).

I'm more or less dead set on changing a coil or both. Did a cam sensor replacement and the miss went away and then came back. This car doesn't have a MAF and the MAP is new. #1 O2 is new also.

Just trying to air out somethings and get new ideas. I'd like to thank SGR for the support on the T-stat repalcement. That was a pain.

The coolant tube rusts through, other than from the pump itsself that's where I'd look. Check the spark plug connectors, if they are melted or sloppy replace. Other probelm could be the cap, they fail in the same way a traditional distributor cap would.

As far as the cam covers are you talking the cam cover top, or cam tower to head? The top covers are easy.

Yes the top covers, oil is all over. I'll recheck the tube. Got an eye on the weep hole. Sure don't want to change that pump.
Wait, what cap? The coil housing?
I'll pull the cover and check the boots. This car has 80k, so it's about time for things to go bad.
Thanks for the reply!

Distributor housing. The large black or white thing the coils are inside. And water pump is easy. The timing cover doesn't need to come off or anything, its just a little cramped.

Don't ignore that Cat code combined with your misfire. I've had more than a few Quad's Cat's crap the bed and cause engine misfire problems. The navy blue Olds Achieva I have with a Quad in it developed an annoying misfire for a few days. Then it just died coming off the interstate. Tapped on the Cat , sounded like marbles in a jar. Cut the cat off, glass packed it. Cherry ever since.

Coolant leak: You have the NOTORIOUSLY shitty and weak plastic water outlet, that when it leaks, tends to drip down the back of the motor and onto the trans. I went through FIVE of those damn things on the Achieva S before FINALLY getting a good one. Been in a year now. Not every coolant leak is a water pump Chad.

If you have oil running out of the cam upper covers , guess where it's going? Into and around the spark plug wells and spark plug boots. I'd bet on a swollen or bad boot. Coils and ICM can be tested. Inspect the housing for cracks as Chad suggested too.

Don't FORGET! Those cam towers have a SPECIFIC torque sequence for a REASON. Download it and USE IT.

Good luck MPB.

It probably is that shittie plastic outlet.

Well the cat is a year old and a Magnaflow.
Yes I have seen that outlet, that's where I thought the T-stat was. Looks like I need to replace that. Or is it just a O-ring? There are metal ones out there? That would be nice to have.
Thanks for the tip on the covers. Damn it I have so much to do on my car and this one is going to take all my time. I'll pull and have all that I can checked.

There is also coolant near the water pump, not much just a drip and it's on the compresser too. Could be from the tank.
Thanks to you both for your input! And SGR I'm going to need all the luck I can get.

Coil housing and boots replaced. Total cost 70 bucks, so I thought I'd hold off on the coils because they are 60 bucks each. Also to be sure that I had not fixed the problem. Well the idle is better at times, but still has what seems to be a miss. It will stay smooth and then rock hard.

I have a set of coils I could send you. I'm not sure if they are any good though, you could swap them and see if anything changes.

Money pit Beretta wrote:Well the cat is a year old and a Magnaflow.
Yes I have seen that outlet, that's where I thought the T-stat was. Looks like I need to replace that. Or is it just a O-ring? There are metal ones out there? That would be nice to have.
Thanks for the tip on the covers. Damn it I have so much to do on my car and this one is going to take all my time. I'll pull and have all that I can checked.

There is also coolant near the water pump, not much just a drip and it's on the compresser too. Could be from the tank.
Thanks to you both for your input! And SGR I'm going to need all the luck I can get.

The plastic outlet uses a rubber o ring. Run you about $1.49. Yes, there are metal housings. Slightly different, but convertable easy. Get them off of '94 and under HO and LO Quads. '94 SOHC Quads have that crap box plastic housing too. That's when they started it...

Coolant ON the pump or NEAR the pump (as in side, under, on top)? More specific please. If it's on top or side AND on the A/C compressor, odds are good it's the overflow tank. Those overflow tanks are known to seep if the cap wears out. It's just an o-ring under the cap and if it gets over tightened too many times, it will leak. Ask me how I know

You're welcome. You've always been a good guy MPB. It's my pleasure to lend a hand!

Btw, did you do as I suggested and go have the coils and ICM tested for free while you had the housing apart anyhow?

When I was under the car for the T-stat I saw a drop of coolant on the bottom of both the water pump and the compresser. Though they were not dripping, just sitting there.
I'll have to get an O-ring, damn thing is leaking all over the crank sensor. Plans are in the works for the cam covers. Starting to feel a need to change that soaked crank sensor, but that O-ring has to be done first.
Thanks very much for the support!
Yeah should have tested everything. I only see her and the car on the weekends, so as you can guess my mind is not always on working on the car if you know what I'm talking about.

Not a bad leak, but it's there. At first I thought the coil housing had carbon all over it. I'm sure it's just burning oil mist. All oil was cleaned up.
Got to drive it to the JY and the ETS light was on along with the check engine. It ran ok and didn't mind the highway. I didn't push it, just a nice easy drive. No miss when driving and coolant temp rock solid at 195F.

Side note: I can scan almost 30 seconds of basic data from this car when driving if needed. O2, IAT, ing time adv, MAP and fuel trim(long and short). This car doesn't give me much, my old 90GT gave more, even BLM's.

This car is tough. It was fine for almost a week and now it's back to getting hot again. Not in the red, but close and then there is a long start.