EK, Pinging/Detonation while going uphill

[c00lman]

Ive recently realised that when my car is going uphill and probably (between gear 2-3) it makes a clunking noise (light though), similar to the sound of 2 chains wrapping around eachother.

However, as i said, (even tho its auto) it doesnt happen on 1st gear or the very last (highr revs) ive heard this sound before on old cars driving uphill, but why would it now start doing this all of a sudden?
is there something with the gears or maybe the fluid?

[bennjamin]

the noise is pinging or pre-ignition. Your engine is under too much load for the gear and situation and you should downshift or adjust your throttle application.
Try using a better fuel such as 96 or 98 octane to help

[xntrik]

High gear, not enough RPM OR stepping too hard on the throttle on low rpm in a high gear.

Like ben said, adjust your throttle or go in a lower gear.

[c00lman]

ok ill use Octane 98...
how do i adjust the throttle?
i also realised it today, if im going in a straight rd that is a slight steepness up (slight) and its inbetween gear 2-3 its making it, but on a slighter scale than going upward.

also, in an uphill circumstance, (being auto) i should downshift?

How often should you replace the Spark Plugs in a car since i read on the net they can also contribute to PINGING?
i changed them about 13-14 months ago

[Limbo]

Like ben said, adjust your throttle or go in a lower gear.

he means don't floor it so much.
CHeck your timing also, your timing might be out also causing pinging

Plugs usually get changed i think about every 20k, somewhere along there, but if they go you will know cos the car will idle funny, happened to me before

[c00lman]

Ok basically summing up & reading about detonation/pinging. the best thing to do is
A.) use high octane fuel
B.) gear down when going uphill / down hill (even tho auto)
C.) check change sparkies.
anything else someone can add??

[seihoa]

take it to the mechanic to get checked out ... shouldnt have problems since ur car is an auto n is stock....

but try changin the plugs n oil.

[c00lman]

ive changed oil - ill check sparkiez

[Paul1985]

have you had a timing belt change recently?
If your belts out a tooth or so it will do this.. A mechanic installed mine out 2 teeth and it pinged like a bitch, especially under load.. i.e. hill climbs.

Just a possibility that needs to be ruled out because if this is your problem it needs to be resolved very soon!

[c00lman]

no wi havnt changed the timing belt.... isnt it every 100,000 mines got 145K
and isnt it chain-driven?

[Paul1985]

belt driven your EK would be.
It dont think it would be the problem then.

Worth getting your timing checked though... ask around, you might have a mate who has a timing light who could help you out.. Id check it for you with my light if you were in my area. Alternatively buy a timing light and learn how to check it by finding some DIY's online. My timing light was $70 from repco.

That will rule timing out. Then if thats not your case then ben is absolutely correct i would say.

[c00lman]

Paul..
where can i get info on getting timing light / how to use it?
i live in Bankstown area/Sydney
basically all the timing light does is CHECK it ay? not really sort it out if there is an issue

[Paul1985]

Paul..
where can i get info on getting timing light / how to use it?
i live in Bankstown area/Sydney
basically all the timing light does is CHECK it ay? not really sort it out if there is an issue

You can get timing lights in pretty much any auto store.

You hook it upto the car battery (pos + neg cables). That is unless its one that runs off the power point. You hook the hook thing on it over your number 1 spark plug cable. It will have an arrow to point it towards the spark plug. You then will most likely need to bridge a check connector. On the EG its down in the passenger side kick panel.. Its a two pin connector and you just bridge it with a bit of metal, coathanger bit, paper clip etc.. many things you could use.

Now start the car. Then you point the light down on the passenger side right where the timing belt is. You will see a white light flashing on the belt. You need to check that this is lined up with the correct markings which you can see somewhere right above the belt.. on a pulley or the block or something.. It will be a little pointer sticking out. This is what the light should be lined up with

I dont know whether you wanna buy a timing light just to check this when it quiet possibly isnt the issue. Its all upto you. Your timing could be fine

If the timing is out then the way you adjust it is by loosening the 3/4 bolts on your distributer and move it forward and backward as you watch the light on the belt.. This will move the light (its called retarding and advancing your timing). move it until its set up correctly with the pointer, then tighten the dizzy back down.

Its as simple as that :D

You could have it spot on and be using the wrong fuel so it will ping as someone mentioned above also.

[Limbo]

Another Q, are you running reputable fuel? from a reputable seller?
I've heard of some places have bad mixtures, that can also cause pinging.
I only use Shell myself, but try getting fuel from a place that is always busy, cos then you'll know the fuel has not been laying around too long

[c00lman]

Well Limbo, a few blokes said it could be the fuel...and really in my opinion i think it is..because i used to always fill up Octane '98 and never heard it,
then when pterol went thru the roof, i started filling alternate weeks Octane 98 and Octane 96

theyve now bloody removed Octan 96... so its either 98 or 92
now that ive filled up 92 for the last 4 weeks, it could be why.

but also on other sites about pinging/detonation, they said it could be sparkiez, and to also gear down (auto) when going uphill to reduce strain, and to make sure there isnt a big load in the car which there isnt.

in reply to ur post, i onlyl up from BP, Caltex & Shell, sometimes Mobile.
in otherwords, never from independant ones.

[Limbo]

ok try resetting your ecu also then. COuld be your ECU adjusting to better fuel as they are self learning. There is a page on the DIY to reset. Give that a go also