can any of you guys help?? got misfire when hot from day one.picked up new and within 90 miles,started to miss fire. orderd new plugs and fitted still the same! also changed coils, still no good. only three weeks old and still cannot have some real fun. gettin realy desperate now can you recomend any one in the uk or any other advice??????

 

Might want to check the quality of your petrol old boy.

 

I just did a quick search on yahoo and there is a place in London that specializes in the importing of American automobiles and on their main page they even show a Lightning. They should have a good idea on where you can go for servicing if you are at wits end.

http://www.americancarimports.co.uk/index.asp

 

1. 'Bad' gas
2. moisture/condensation in the gas tank--you have high humidity don't you? Condensation will form on the walls of the tank anytime you don't keep it full.
3. Plugs gapped too wide
4. Excessive, unwanted oil being forced into the intake area--quick check is to loosen the clamp on the rubber intake boot at the throttle body--pull the boot off and see if oil runs out of the th/body. You can disable the PCV system(this is where the oil is coming from--the oil is forced into the plenum/adaptor on top of the s/c where the PCV hose is connectected to the plenum) by inserting a 7/16" ball bearing into the 3/8" hose where it slips onto the plastic 'elbow' of the PCV valve(in the right[sitting in the cab-looking forward] cam cover. Before/if you do this, you must get an oil breather cap filter to relieve the pressure in the crankcase. You may also need to fit a filter in place of the tube(on the left cam cover) that connects to the bottom of the rubber boot--and plug the hole in that boot too. I have done this to mine and now there is no oil--where it doesn't belong.

Good luck,

Dan

 

grgreves,
A few things come to mind. Vacuum leak, check all the vacuum lines to make sure they are not disconnected or cut. Also check to make sure the clamp on the inlet boot that connects to the mass air meter is not loose and the connector on the Mass air meter is connected.

Check that whole assembly up to the throttle body. Another known problem is in the fuel tank with the clamps. This has happened to some here. You want to take your lightning where they can monitor the fuel pressure off the fuel rail or use an NGS tester.

Send LIGHTNING TUNER (sal) an e-mail. He has a fix for this and can instruct you on what to do! Last, it could be a bad injector. If you find nothing with these areas and you are getting no codes i would change the PCM as a last resort.

Good luck and post what you find!

Thor.

 

grgreves,

I'd forget AmericanCarImports in London - unless you want to pay US50k/GBP35k for a used Lightning of unknown history they won't even talk to you - if you need a service shop, I'd buy a recent copy of ClassicAmerican mag and look for someone near you

Hope you get some good pointers from this board.

Having only driven my Lightning in Cal, I'm not even used to damp, never mind cold. Not sure how she holds up...

Incidentally, I'm planning to ship my 2001 back to Blighty this summer - I'd be interested in talking to you about L ownership in the UK (like, gas/petrol is currently down to $1/gallon, even around SF - how do you manage at $6/gallon or whatever the UK price is for Super??). You're welcome to email me privately

Mike

 

dear mikef. what have you heard about american car imports? i just payed 27k on the road,for a new lightning registerd jan02.at the moment they have got my truck back to try the coils hopefuly back on monday. supper unleaded 97 ron costs$5.4 tryed to email you but admin would not let me. let me know when and where and perhaps met up???

 

Hi there

Sounds like you got an ok deal, better than their ads in the UK mags...

For comparison, new L's cost around $32k (GBP 22k) new over here in US - and about $4k less than that if your dealer accepts partner pricing plan (I'm entitled to x-plan, couldn't find a local dealer that will do it on the L...)

Currently in san francisco - you can email me at mfinta@znet.removethisword.com (hint, hint). Returning to UK middle of the year, would like to bring my '01 L with me

cheers


Mike