running on 3 cylinders

[RichardIRL]

How do you tell if the car is running on 3 cylinders? I suspect my one is, and I wouldn't be surprised since it is so neglected but basically when idling, the engine runs smoothly, then almost stalls, then runs smoothly, then almost stalls, etc.

What is this?

The reason I think it might be the three cylinder thing is because I think one of the spark plugs might be dodgy

____________________

MJ INNOCENT

 

[malcolm]

Normally the gearstick rattles fiercely at idle when they run on 3 cylinders.

Running smoothly then almost stalling sounds like something a bit different. Could be a fuel supply problem, but it sounds more like an ignition problem.

My money is on the points. Closed up or really dirty points would do that.

 

[Enrique]

My 2cents

Maybe the idle control valve is dirty / disconnected (if electric) ???

 

[angel]

The old-fashioned way: Let the car idle, then pull one-by-one the spark plug cables (putting them back again. When a cylinder fires normally, you will have rougher idle when you pull that cable, if it does not fire, you will not notice any difference and you know there is a fault with that particular cylinder. It could be spark plug (shorted), plug wire, distributor cap terminal... It is funny how well would a R4 run on 3 cylinders, it will almost pass unnoticed!

 

[68pleinair]

yep....even though you have lost 1/4 of your power......still not much there anyhow :lol: