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Fix a misfire on Rover 216 SLI, 5 door hatch. Automatic?

Rover 216 SLI, 5 door hatch, N reg. 40,000 miles. Automatic
Engine starts from cold, immediately, every time, but as I pull away I get a judder (misfire)
If I have to stop within 1 mile the engine cuts out, but restarts no problem, but the misfire continues.
After driving for about 3 miles then stopping for say 10 minutes the misfire has all but gone but does re-occur and then runs normally. I find the misfire occurs more regularly when it has been a damp night (fog-heavy rain etc) I can usually alleviate this a little, by spraying WD 40 on to the distributor cap and into the space where the HT leads go under the rocker cover.
New distributor cap and plugs fitted about 2 months ago, which helped for a while then the problem came back.
New cyl/head gasket and stretcher bolts fitted about 1 year ago after gasket blew.

Any thoughts on this problem would be greatly appreciated.

John Laidler

john laidler
August 2008

Rover Vehicles, Cars Rover Sli Reg

weve just had new idle control valve which cost £130 (£90 for the part) and now having new distributor cap, rotar arm spark plugs and leads to stop it from keeping stalling and jerking all the time. it used to only do it in winter now for the past month it does it all the time and everything else thats gotta be done will cost ££135 in total

i love chad michael murray
May 2009

My P Reg Rover 216SLi also judders quite a lot but have told by garage where my car now resides due to it been unsafe for road use that my engine wiring loom has gone,one of many problems over last few months!

Mr Richard Harris
November 2008

Re Caines suggestions for the above problem.
Yesterday I fitted a new distributor cap, rotor arm, leads and spark plugs and the problem was solved. The engine runs like new & sounds so different to previously.
I might add that I never sprayed WD40 while the engine was switched on.
So many thanks to Caine for his help, greatly appreciated.
Regards
John

john laidler
August 2008

First off,stop spraying it.WD40 contains oil and propellant,Said propellant goes on fire at the slightest ignition source,and the oil burns like a sonofabitch.WD40 is great stuff for a one off water dispersant,overuse and your problems will be gone forever.Secondly,you state new cap,,so you need to fit a new rotor arm,While you are down there,If the cap was'nt genuine rover toss it and fit OE parts.Some of the pattern one's are junk,That said you also need a new set of HT ignition leads,Good pattern one's are excelent.All this should come to approx £30,and diy.If this does'nt sort your problem(90%certain)it will rule out any intermittant/moisture related factors.

caine
August 2008