Help!! My car won't start

[rcb610]

I have a Chim 4.6. I parked it up and all was fine, I went out to it a few days later and although the engine turns over it will not start.
I check the plugs and they are dry after several attempts, so I looked at the fuel relays and decided to replace them.
The alarm, if it was still armed, would not allow it to turn over so I reckon that is OK.
Loads of Petrol.
Petrol is getting past the fuel filter(I think) as there is a little valve, like the one on a bike tyre, up by the injectors and when I press that, petrol squirts out.
I can hear the fuel pump charge for three sceonds when I turn the ignition on.
Any suggestions, other than join the RAC

[beano500]

Er.... coil, ignition amp or other electrics?

[ATG]

Heave a spark plug cap off and see if you can get it to arc over to the cylinder head? Best not done just after you've bled some petrol out of the valve wotsit.

[kdd]

ATG said:

Heave a spark plug cap off and see if you can get it to arc over to the cylinder head? Best not done just after you've bled some petrol out of the valve wotsit.

albeit not on a tvr, but I was once advised not to do this. aparently the delicate electronics can dislike it *a lot*

[ATG]

I agree it seems a bit drastic but it's only duplicating what is going on in the cylinder head anyway isn't it?

[M@H]

rcb610 said:

I have a Chim 4.6.

A what...? is that an overbore on a 4.0..?

Does it have the factory alarm still? some Immobilisers allow an engine to turn over, but interrupt the ignition feed so they will not fire.. just a thought, otherwise (going by all the rain at the mo) its possibly damp electrics somewhere.. I'd start with the dizzy cap and go from there..

Cheers
Matt.

Edited to add.. I wouldn't ideally be arcing plugs to the block either.

>> Edited by M@H on Wednesday 3rd December 16:15

[rcb610]

The plugs are dry even after several attempts at starting.
There is fuel in the rail, as it squirts out of the little valve when I press the middle bit.
It was fine one day and nothing the next.
The car is kept in the garage so I dont suspect damp.

[Incorrigible]

rcb610 said:

I dont suspect damp.

This weather I do

WD on all ends of all leads a quick squirt round the inside of the dizzy cap too

If you've already tried this then sorry

fuel pump does prime when you turn the ignition on ??

[ATG]

rcb610 said:

The plugs are dry even after several attempts at starting. There is fuel in the rail, as it squirts out of the little valve when I press the middle bit. It was fine one day and nothing the next. The car is kept in the garage so I dont suspect damp.

Clunk ... penny drops. Fuel injector probably not opening. IIRC the AA bloke had a little light bulb he put between the lead to the injector and the plenum case that lit up indicating a signal going to the injector. Does the immobiliser block this signal?

[M@H]

ATG said:

rcb610 said: The plugs are dry even after several attempts at starting. There is fuel in the rail, as it squirts out of the little valve when I press the middle bit. It was fine one day and nothing the next. The car is kept in the garage so I dont suspect damp. Clunk ... penny drops. Fuel injector probably not opening. IIRC the AA bloke had a little light bulb he put between the lead to the injector and the plenum case that lit up indicating a signal going to the injector. Does the immobiliser block this signal?

Could do.. I think this is the part of the immobiliser circuit I was referring to..

>> Edited by M@H on Wednesday 3rd December 16:35

[rcb610]

Not sure...It is a Sigma cat 1 alarm that I had fitted as I didn't like the Meta Alarm.
I reckon you could be right about the injectors not pulsing. Is there an easy way to check?
Thanks for suggestions so far much appreciated :-)

[rcb610]

It is now working.
I pressed the valve to let petrol out with the ignition on and it faded.
I therefore primed the pump several times by turning off and back on so it would build up pressure....and it started.
Thanks to everone for their help, it was much appreciated.

>> Edited by rcb610 on Thursday 4th December 08:34

[M@H]

Hmmmm.... sadly that doesn't explain what he fault was, however I'm glad its running again..

[rcb610]

Maybe because I had left it standing for longer than normal the pressure had dropped to the injectors and one prime was not enough to get it going

[M@H]

rcb610 said:

Maybe because I had left it standing for longer than normal the pressure had dropped to the injectors and one prime was not enough to get it going

Sounds unlikely though as the prime takes the fuel rail to a designated pressure, not for an allotted amount of time..

Matt.

[rcb610]

Maybe the first signs of fuel pump problems?
Or perhaps it was a red herring, and the fault is intermittant.
I am keeping my fingers crossed as this is the first ever fault with the car.