Just recently obtained a VL as my daily transport to and from work. It was running fine up until recently when it started to run alittle rough. I looked at about 10 different VL's and they all seemed to have a small or light "tick tick tick tick tick" noise on idle and after some googling, it seem's it's a common problem the rb30e gain's with age. Is this correct? (Correct me if that is incorrect) Anyway's...the last few day's it has really been struggling. The engine has now gained a loud and more dominant knock, appox 2 knocks per second. Have breifly been told it MAY be the bottom end. Opinion's? There is some other engine noise being created at around 2,000-2,500 rpm but i'm currently thinking it may be the knocking noise being amplified with the rpm increase. Again opinion's? The second issue is the gearbox (automatic) decide's it doesn't want to select the final gear. It's not alway's a problem... 5% of the time it change's smooth. The other 95% of the time, it just doesn't want to change. Any idea's? Some spluttering and shaking have also started to appear under acceleration and under 3,000rpm, but i have recently found the cause of this issue and will be addressing shortly, unless the motor is lunched. I can try and explain thing's futher if this isn't enough. If not, off to the mechanic's. Thank's for reading. Some original photos have not been recovered yet.

I would start by giving it a good service. A full service including the auto trans.

the small tick at idle is just the injectors and quite normal, lifters are louder and not consistent your own engine problem does sound bad are you aware that the auto box on VLs won't shift to top (overdrive) until it warms up, usually a few minutes

It is booked in for a full service in a few day's. All these problem's are when the car has been warmed up. I personally don't move very well after just waking up, so i don't expect the car too either. Hopefully my mechanic can shed some light on the situation. Worse case...i'll be planing an engine conversion alot sooner than first thought. Some original photos have not been recovered yet.

Not sure if this would be causing the problem, but check if your shifter is rod or cable. Could need to readjust the cable, best bet is to take your console out drill out the rivets and change it to rod if it is cable.

if its knockin.... its time for a trip to the wreckers for a new motor... $50 specials at pick a part.

Will see what the mechanic say's and go from there. Cheer's for the reply's. Some original photos have not been recovered yet.

Got it back from the mechanic. He replaced the dizzy cap, fixed a few plug's going to and from the dizzy and full service. Run's alot smoother. The loud knock has gone too! As has the spluttering under 3,000rpm. Next up is the gearbox issue. Then some hard saving till the modification's get underway. Some original photos have not been recovered yet.

Mega problem's returned on thursday. Couldn't find the problem my self after checking as much as i could. Turn's out the main problem could be one of the fuel pump's. Is there any easy way of determining which one is buggered? There is some type of regulator valve mounted next to/in front of the external pump, i removed that and it still didn't pump fuel. Any idea's? Some original photos have not been recovered yet.

Quote: Originally Posted by Hecticvl [View Post] Ae you saying you disconnected the fuel lines(fuel lines onto fuel pump and reg) turned the reds on and no petrol poured out? because if this is correct then the way i see it is you got one of three problems offhand- 1 wiring to fuel pump, maybe even fuse 2 fuel pump dead needs replacement 3 no fuel in tank. Can you hear the fuel pump when reds are turned on? I started at the motor and worked my way back. Checking anything along the fuel line's right up to the tank. Checked all fuse's. All are good. At least half a tank of fuel. Yes, the pump prime's when i turn the key ready to start.

whats the car doing now mate ?

i have to ask because i'm not there, but why do you say a fuel pump problem then? did it leak when the reg next to the pump was removed, where the reds turned on at that time to check fuel pump working or not. alternatively have you removed the fuel hose in the engine bay to determine whether there is pressure(or fuel even) if this has been determined, mabe its blocked up? this is hard to guess at without the car here,but i''l try help if i can.

Quote: Originally Posted by Hecticvl [View Post] i have to ask because i'm not there, but why do you say a fuel pump problem then? did it leak when the reg next to the pump was removed, where the reds turned on at that time to check fuel pump working or not. alternatively have you removed the fuel hose in the engine bay to determine whether there is pressure(or fuel even) if this has been determined, mabe its blocked up? this is hard to guess at without the car here,but i''l try help if i can. I'm trying to explain the best i can, but i have limited mechanical knowledge. I'm half enjoying this learning curve. Tested the fuel line's in the engine bay with a pressure guage. No fuel came through. I performed a compression test and it came up: 178...174...171...168...171...172 Sound ok? The mechanic is taking a better look at it 2moro and letting me know. Pretty keen to sort it out sooner rather than later. Some original photos have not been recovered yet.

ok this is what i have. if you've got no fuel(or fuel pressure) in the engine bay when pump is priming, then you've got likely in your case- a dud fuel pump. a blockage somewhere. unlikely in your case- a leak. no fuel. anyway let your mechanic check it out i'm sure if you tell him there is no fuel pressure(assuming there's none), it might save him a few mins.

Yeah mate i would turf the old pump, How old are they now??. It doesnt hurt to replace a pump to have a peace of mind. Good Luck

External fuel pump was the issue. Replaced that and all WAS well. Currently, the car (when it's been warmed up) idle's anywhere from 400rpm-800rpm. It will sit at 400rpm for 10 or so second's then go up to 800rpm or so. Any idea's? I'm not really enjoying my car almost dying at set's of light's. Some original photos have not been recovered yet.

you definantly got the wrogn daily dude. If your revs are bouncing around a bit, try raising the RPM via the little screw on the ECU, you will find it under the passenger side kick panel. You must turn the screw slowly also.