Griff Not Starting
Discussion
Griff 500 not getting much use over the winter, but I do fire it up every week or two and give it a run around the block. Never had any issues - until today. Fuel pump primes, engine turns over strongly on the starter, but not a hint of it firing - not even a cough. Obviously electrical methinks - any ideas on where to look first, bearing in mind this is a 'sudden' failure?
Thanks in advance for any clues.
Thanks in advance for any clues.
I have the vaguest memory that the immobiliser has more than one circuit, and that one stops the fuel pump and the other........stops the electrical side or stops the starter?
Anyway, if it was a Chimaera I would be recommending a smart thump upwards under the passenger side dash to free the stuck relay.
Other then that, check methodically backwards from a spark plug to see if you are getting electrons where you should.
Anyway, if it was a Chimaera I would be recommending a smart thump upwards under the passenger side dash to free the stuck relay.
Other then that, check methodically backwards from a spark plug to see if you are getting electrons where you should.
As you can turn the engine over and the fuel pump primes it does seem likely that you have no spark, check as advised above.
The immobiliser on my 96 500 only affects the starter motor and ignition so possibly an immobiliser problem.
Mail me if you need an immobiliser schematic.
In my experience it is unlikely to be the fuel, unless contaminated with water etc. even after a 6 month lay up I never have a problem with starting. It may not run as smooth but always seems to start.
The immobiliser on my 96 500 only affects the starter motor and ignition so possibly an immobiliser problem.
Mail me if you need an immobiliser schematic.
In my experience it is unlikely to be the fuel, unless contaminated with water etc. even after a 6 month lay up I never have a problem with starting. It may not run as smooth but always seems to start.
Have a look at my thread:
http://www.pistonheads.com/gassing/topic.asp?t=155...
Probably not the same thing but you have to go through the system logically. Take out a plug and check to see if it is wet or dry. If it's dry then it's fuel, if it's wet then it is ignition or in my case flooding.
As has been said, take out a plug, rest it on the block to earth it and turn over the engine. If you get a spark then it's not the immobiliser and probably not ignition although it could still be something in the ignition system not giving a strong enough spark.
If no spark then you have to go through the ignition system and check connections and change out components.
Good luck, Pete
http://www.pistonheads.com/gassing/topic.asp?t=155...
Probably not the same thing but you have to go through the system logically. Take out a plug and check to see if it is wet or dry. If it's dry then it's fuel, if it's wet then it is ignition or in my case flooding.
As has been said, take out a plug, rest it on the block to earth it and turn over the engine. If you get a spark then it's not the immobiliser and probably not ignition although it could still be something in the ignition system not giving a strong enough spark.
If no spark then you have to go through the ignition system and check connections and change out components.
Good luck, Pete
Edited by Pete Mac on Wednesday 3rd February 08:09
I managed to stall my Chimaera at the front of the queue, middle of three lanes at a roundabout on a busy junction.
Wouldn't re-start, wouldn't even turn over.
Locked the car, unlocked it, started straight away.
Another trick of mine - I ended up sideways in a gravel trap at Mallory Park last year.
Car wouldn't re-start. Locked and unlocked it, car still wouldn't start.
Engine turned over madly, but no firing.
Sat awaiting recovery and called my TVR bloke.
I hadn't even finishing explaining what had happened before he said "safety fuel cut-out".
Apparently hitting the gravel trap sideways was enough to make the car think it had been about to roll, even though the wheels never left the ground.
So if ever you have the car cut out after a bit of a sideways moment involving hitting the verge on a country lane, look for the reset switch under the passenger side dash
Wouldn't re-start, wouldn't even turn over.
Locked the car, unlocked it, started straight away.
Another trick of mine - I ended up sideways in a gravel trap at Mallory Park last year.
Car wouldn't re-start. Locked and unlocked it, car still wouldn't start.
Engine turned over madly, but no firing.
Sat awaiting recovery and called my TVR bloke.
I hadn't even finishing explaining what had happened before he said "safety fuel cut-out".
Apparently hitting the gravel trap sideways was enough to make the car think it had been about to roll, even though the wheels never left the ground.
So if ever you have the car cut out after a bit of a sideways moment involving hitting the verge on a country lane, look for the reset switch under the passenger side dash
GlynMo said:
QBee said:
Another trick of mine - I ended up sideways in a gravel trap at Mallory Park last year.
Couldn't decide to go left or right?! 
As you look at the photo, the circuit continues to the right, the pits entrance is to the left.
I came around the corner at about 110mph, a tad too fast and on the wrong line, after finally getting past a slower car at the end of the straight.
Thoroughly lost the back end of the car about where the skid marks start, and realised that if i fought it and lost, the car would kick back the other way and spear me straight off into the armco on the right (my left).
So I slammed both feet down and let the car slide sideways, fully locked up, to where it stopped in the gravel.
Spent the next hour extracting gravel from all sorts of areas and deflating the tyres to get it out of the wheel rims, but it was a better choice than spending the next three months rebuilding the car!
Next time I was there a guy with a brand new Holden pickup wasn't so fortunate - lost the back end at the end of Gerrards, fought it and ended up trashing both ends and the entire side of the vehicle on the armco.
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