I'm on my way home from work this evening cruising at 70 mph. 33 miles 30 of it highway. I am coming up to the traffic light and disengage the cruise control. As I am approaching the light it turns green so I hit the resume button. I am now doing about 40 mph as the car accelerated the check engine light starts blinking and I smell sulfur. I'm assuming its the cats.

The car is cruising at 70 smooth as always. However every time she goes under load to cross a bridge or goes under an overpass and has to accelerate upgrade the check engine light blinks until she is level and cruising at 70mph. I tap the accelerate button on cruise a couple of times and as she accelerates the check engine light blinks and the sulfur smell.

I exit the freeway and stop at the light and boy is she idling rough and low at 10000 rpm.

I get home and she is just shaking and sounds bad. The check engine light never stays on, just blinks.


Ok guys what do you think? She has 104k on her and I have been planning on the 100k service. I've read some other threads pointing to the coils. Are these changed at the 100k service?

 

Needn't be the cats. Flashing MIL = cat-damaging misfires. So, you're looking for what's causing the misfires.

Probably coils, could be an air leak. Could be ...

To rule out (or in) an air leak look at fuel trims at idle and 2500rpm (in P).

No, coils are not changed then (or ever) - but yes a good idea to change them or at least suspect coil(s). Note that good coils (like OE) cost. Rubbish aftermarkets are cheap and tend to be cr@p.

member abonano recommends COP testers (I've no personal experience).

 

I THINK its an air leak. I just went out and started her. The check engine light is on steady now and I could hear what sounded like a distinct hissing sound from the passenger side of the engine. I could also feel what seemed like a little air. I'm not very mechanically inclined with these new engines. I tore down, rebuilt and serviced my 70 SS Camaro and 68 Firebird back in the day but these engines with all the stuff in the engine bay really scares me.

 

Well they are different but if you did all that with a little learning you should not have too much trouble with new engines.

On the STR the passenger side of the motor has the PCV stuff. Look for a black plastic round disc on the cam cover. There is some hoses there that might be leaking. It's not common but things are plastic and our cars are getting pretty old now.

But as always we need a code to really help. Go get them read and report back.
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Sounds kind of like what I was going through - I thought it was a stubborn exhaust leak I couldnt find. Does your car make a boxer engine or VW Beetle noise around 1,500 rpm? It ended up being the EGR valve. Would occassinaly trip CEL with lean bank code. My car is a 2003 also, and it failed due to age/wear/tear

 

How much was a new EGR valve?

 

About $275.00 from Jaguar

 

That sucks. Did you replace the tube as well? Did you have a shop do it? I think mine is going out now...

 

Shop did it while they had my blower off replacing coolant line.

 

I went out this morning and took off the engine cover. That round plastic disk going into the cam cover on the passenger side is definitely hissing. What is that part called and is that something easily replaced or do I need the dealer?

 

Mine does the same thing. Not sure if that is normal or not

 

If it's leaking, as it sounds, definitely needs fixing. Any unmetered air leak is bad or very bad. PCM cannot fuel properly. Cats are at risk.

 

STOP!

The hissing you hear is absolutely normal for the 4.2L engine. Sounds like a good size vacuum leak, I know, but it's completely normal.

Stick with JagV8 on this one. You need to get to the bottom of misfires severe enough to damage catalysts. That's the reason the CEL flashes. On-plug coils, oil or water in the plug wells, or non-iridium spark plugs are the first things to look at.

Good luck!

 

Ok I am taking her to the dealer that I bought her from. The rough idle is still there! I forgot to mention she is idling around 500 RPM.

Hopefully this will be an inexpensive repair.

 

Let us know the outcome. Hope it is a cheap fix

 

Good luck! We'll be standing by......

 

You have posted the symptoms but not any codes. After you get it fixed post back what codes it was throwing.

That will help some else in the future.
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I don't have a scanner and the local shops will not scan the car.

The dealer is 30 miles away. Will I damage the car driving it there? Its highway almost the whole way at 65mph.

 

Based on your first post, I'm inclined to suggest you not drive it that distance. It's possible catalyst damage has already occurred, but why take the chance. Having it taken there might save some expense; a couple hundred vs eight hundred plus for one or more cats.

Good luck!

 

OBD tools start about $10. Freestanding ones are $20+. Can't imagine not having one.