Pinking

[Mr Morse]

The missus has a 1997 1.3 Starlet Sportif which started pinking quite a lot. It started after I changed the plugs and is worse in this hot weather.

I hear this can be caused by two things:

Ignition coils worn

or

Carbon build up on the head

What can I do to cure this? The engine has 115K miles so I suppose is to be expected.

[Mick24]

If it started after you changed the plugs,that should pin point the problem - probally the wrong heat range or grade. If you have fitted Champion plugs - the Starlets dont like them.

[Mr Morse]

If it started after you changed the plugs,that should pin point the problem - probally the wrong heat range or grade. If you have fitted Champion plugs - the Starlets dont like them.

                                         

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They are Bosch plugs, the top grade, bought from Halfords, (can't remember the type without removing one). I checked the type in the manual......what are the recommended plugs for the Starlet?

[Richie (Paseo)]

Dont know if this is relavent but when i had my new engine fitted, i noticed when driving it home, it was making a kind of rattling noise, so when i took it back they said it was pinking. They just adjusted the distributor and now it works fine.

Maybe yours needs slight adjustment to work properly with the new uporated sparkies.

Worth a try maybe.

Rich

[scutch0]

i had Bosch super 4's in mine and it was pinking, replaced them with bog standard ngk's and its fine, mines done 96k btw.

Rich.

[bluepaseo]

Could be crap petrol. Just recently my wifes Skodas been pinking. I then filled up at the garage she uses and lo and behold the Paseo started doing it! After filling up again somewhere else its stopped doing it. Maybe someone delivered some 91 octane stuff!!!