Hello my knowlegeable Rover friends!

The last two times I have started my 2000 DII I have noticed black soot marks left under my exhaust pipe. They are about 8" in diameter.I have had the 02 codes for a while along with a clyinder 8 misfire. I just haven't had the time to change thesensors (all 4 sensors should be arriving in the mail today). I spend alot of time on the road in it and it has smelled for a long time. I replaceed the MAF about a month ago.

Two questions:
Do you think the sootis ONLY from bad 02 sensorsand has it ruinedmycatalytic converter?

 

Well first off you dont need new O2's, you need a tune up. 95% of O2 fault codes in a LR are due to the need for a tune up. And then once you start getting the mis fire codes then you are WAY in need of a tune up.
www.atlanticbritish.com for the Magnecor plug wires, you can buy your plugs at the auto parts store of your choice.
Since you have a DII you will also need a intake plenum gasket.
I wouldnt install the new O2's until you can do the tune up too, do it all at once.
It may not be to late for the cats. Do the other two things first.

 

I have already replaced the plugs and wires, not with Magnecor though. I had alot of other misfires before I replace them, butthey all went away after I installed them and the new MAF-except for the #8 misfire. That was quit a pain. I'm wondering if maybeI have a loose connection on the #8.

I know if I keep driving it's only going to make matters worse. Black soot can't be a good thing.

 

What brand plug wires did you use?

 

The only time I ever got black marks out of a rover exhaust was on my 1969 Series 2A when it was running ridiculously rich. It would leave black soot marks on the ground and on the side of the house where I backed out before it was warmed up.

 

What codes do you currently have?
How many miles on your truck, what brand of wires are you using?
If you don't correct that #8 you will also be looking at a cat in the future.
When you saw these 2 soot marks, was it after a cold start and if so how long do you let it idle before you go? Shouldn't be more then 30 seconds.

 

I don't have the codes with me right now-they're at home (with mytruck).
I have 144,00 miles on it.
The wires came from OlympusAuto Parts-no brand name on the wires.
Iwas after a cold start. I let it run for about 1-2 minutes probably both times. Why, what are you on to?

 

Here is the problem that I am leaning towards, the plug wires are bad. Others, myself included, who didnt know about the Magnecor plug wires have used no name or store brand (I used Duralast from AutoZone) plug wires and they go bad in no time flat.
My first set of Duralast plug wires lasted a year, the second set6 months, the third set I just installed this week. I keep using them because they are under warrenty and I cannot afford the Mag's right now and on a DI it takes 15 minutes to replace plug wires. (I did it in the parking lot)
Others have bought plug wires from Advanced Auto Parts (Autolite plug wires) the best that they offer supposedly and they have gone bad inside one month.
So I am leaning towards bad plug wires.

 

Get us the codes, this will make it easier to help you. No more long warm ups, Rovers run way to rich to let them just sit and idle.

 

Update:

I decided to double check my plug wires to make sure all were seated correctly. #8 wasalmost all the way seated, but after really close examination it apparently was not. I really hatetrying to stick my hand through that narrow area, but I have customized some new tools to help with that.

Last night I my sensors came in the mail. After reseating the plug wire I decided to go ahead and change out the right front 02 sensor...and wouldn't you know it...I have two male plug ends now. Unbelieveable! I cut off the new male connector and spliced the old connector to the new sensor. And oh yeah, discovered that I had a vacuum line hose dry rotted & disconnected going to some part, so I cut off the end of it, rerouted it to give me more length, and oh my gosh my cruise control works again!!! Ha ha ha I love it.

I ran my truck up the road a piece, stopped and erasedall codes, and used my criuse control to go back home. I drove it 40 miles to work this morning. The serviceengine soon light never came back on and that bad odor from the exhaust pipe is FINALLY gone!

Wooooo Hooooooo!

Here were the codes I had before last night:

P0150- 02 senor cicuit malf. (bank 2 sensor 1)
P0174- system too lean
P1174- manuf. control fuel air metering
P0135-02 sensor heater malf. (bank 1 sensor 1
P0308- cylinder 8 misfire