only firing on 3 cylinders

[copesy]

Hi,

I have an S reg 1998 1.1 citroen saxo sx.
i have been having problems with juddery cold starts for a few months now and it would often drive on 3 cylinders for first minute but then be fine. i decided to service my car at the weekend to try to prevent this. i did oil, oil filter, air filter and spark plugs. i noticed that 1 of my old plugs wasnt scorched and the rest were. when i finished the service i fired it up and it was running a dream. i decided to remove the HT lead to see if that was the cause and the engine coughed and spluttered as expected but when i put it back on it carried on coughing and spluttering.

I have changed leads and spark plugs and found that it isnt either of those. im assuming its the coil but not too sure. if i close the gap on the plug i can get a small spark but its not enough to make the engine fire. sorry for the long essay about it i just really could do with a quick solution

Copesy

[Lloydie]

If somthing isnt broken dont try and fix it mate. Thats all i'd say just abit of advice from previous experiences.

[copesy]

thats really helpfull advice . . . . ive done that enough times to know that. what i did should not break it. infact i have done it on that car many times before and nothing broke those times

[Mr_P]

Coil pack.

Slightest bit of moisture and they short out and you start misfiring like a bitch. Explains why it calms down when it's warm (because all the moisture has dried up)

[copesy]

yeah but the problem is that now it is doing it constantly. i cannot get the fourth cylinder to fire. if i close the gap on the plug then i get a spark but the gap is too small and wont ignite in the engine. im picking a coil up from a scrap yard for a tenner to see if it is that then i might invest in a new one in the future.

[baker556]

coil pack !

[copesy]

i have a coil from a scrap yard. ill fit it tonight and post the progress tomorrow. hopefully it will be fixed cos i have no idea about the electrics of the car. mechanical and i know it but not electrical

[copesy]

New coil fixed it perfectly. running sweeter than ever without the juddery cold start.