Engine misfiring

[Merc_Girl]

Hi folks
So, some of you may know I bought my pagoda back in June, but regrettably have had a few issues, luckily most have been resolved by the garage I bought it from.
However, I had electronic ignition fitted and the car now misfires extremely badly, to a state it is dangerous to drive, and also if you go slowly, it just conks out.
The garage state that if you do short journeys, I’m not sure what constitutes a short journey as haven’t travelled anywhere less than 5miles, the car will coke up.
I was stuck in a traffic jam for over an 1 1/2 hrs, having already driven 30 miles, and it was after that the problem got progressively worse.
The garage suggested I changed the plugs, which although a short term solution, I did point out that was this ‘normal’, that plugs needed to be changed every 300miles (Miles I have driven in the car), as that seems to be rather extreme!
The car has always run ‘rich’ since I have had it, which I told was also normal, not that I noticed the petrol smell so strong in other pagodas I test drove.
Speaking to one of the garages mechanics, he mentioned that the injector pump has been adjusted to the maximum to get the emissions down. I’m confused how pushing more fuel through the engine, so much so that some appears to come through the exhaust, reduces emissions! Perhaps someone knows? I am presuming that if the pump cannot be adjusted any further, then it’s effectively on its ‘last legs’? I do find it odd that the engine apparently had a £24k rebuild, so by my logic, the injector unit would have been part of that? So my questions are:
A) is it correct to say that pagodas generally run rich
B) for a rebuilt engine, would Normally the injector unit be included within that
C) does making the engine running richer reduce missions
D) Is in correct that pagodas shouldn’t be taken on short journeys, mind you as far as I am aware it’s not good for any car to go on a short journey!
E) is in normal for black ‘soot’ and what appears to look like fuel, come out of the exhaust at start up, even if engine has been rebuilt
F) what does it mean/consequence of the injector pump not being able to be adjusted any further?

Many thanks as always

[Pawel66]

I am like you - non specialist.

If you really like these guys, they are close to your place, they are open and honest or they are family - you can try to give them specs and make them familiar with the Linkage Tour. Maybe they mean well, just have no idea about these cars.

Otherwise find a new shop.

This is what I would do.

If I had someone like Collin Ferns in my country, I would not think twice.

[ja17]

Yes, it sounds like you need to find someone more familiar with your Pagoda. Your injection pump may or may not have been rebuilt during the engine rebuild, check the records if you have them. In general Pagoda engines have little or no emission devices. Most likely your engine needs a good linkage adjustment and some TLC from a specialist who understands it.  Compared to modern engines they do run a little richer, but they run well and are dependable, in all conditions when put right. Just consider our member Gary M. with his wife making their epic journey in their Pagoda last year. They traveled over 7,000 miles touring all over the USA after shipping the Pagoda from Australia. The Pagoda performed nearly flawlessly.

[Paul & Dolly]

Hi Katie,
Sorry to hear of your problems.

Has the car run properly since you had it ?

It is not unusual to have black wet sooty emission on start up, I have fitted deflector exhaust tips after I started it up whilst Dolly was standing behind the exhaust with new white trousers on........

Did you change the spark plugs ?
What plugs are you using ?

Once the plugs have fouled, in my experience they will not burn themselves clean, as the car will continue to misfire.
Replace them and see what it is like then.

I would caution with regard to advice from "mechanics" who do not know these cars.
I think both Colin Ferns and Roger Edwards are reasonably close to you, both have happy customers on this site.

Keep us informed

Paul

[stickandrudderman]

You may occasionally see the phrase "SLoppy work" on the various social media sights that I frequent.
Sadly for you you are finding out what it means.
When a company spends such enormous sums of money on marketing it is not difficult to understand why innocent people are taken in. Marketing works to get people in the door, but if you want them to come back you have to be able to provide the service you are purporting to be able to offer.

[Garry]

Katie,


You definitely need to find someone that knows these cars and what is right and wrong with specifically Pagodas,  Once right, they run well on short, or long trips, hot or cold weather and if you have had the engine rebuilt, and you get it set up correctly then it should probably last for several hundred of thousands miles if treated right by both the mechanic and the driver.


I would suggest you take it to Colin Fern, “stickandrudderman” and get it right in the first place and then it should not need touching for at least a year or 5000 miles which ever cmes first for its next service.  There are many here who have Colin look after their cars or maybe someone else from UK can suggest a good mechanic nearer your area.


Garry