Any mechanics in Essex that actually know the Flapper lump?
Discussion
Just looking to dump the car on someone who knows the flapper system and get it started then sort the running so I can out it asap.
I know I should be enjoying tracking and solving the faults but I simply have not got the time and really for me, buying a wedge was a mistake.
So would really appreciate any recommendations for any mechanics in the region who've had success with the flapper lump. Cheers
I know I should be enjoying tracking and solving the faults but I simply have not got the time and really for me, buying a wedge was a mistake.
So would really appreciate any recommendations for any mechanics in the region who've had success with the flapper lump. Cheers
Southend. It's become a garden ornament currently.
Almost immediately after purchase it started playing up going into a massive stuttering misfire when you tried to use anything more than half throttle. Sometimes it would behave itself though and drive perfectly - usually when hot.
I've replaced the ignition amp and ecu temp sensor - but the car was almost impossible to start last time on the road - October last year - and was stalling every time I stopped at a junction it would die.
It's been SORN since and it now refuses to start. I have new leads, plugs, cap and rotor arm to go in (not yet fitted because the plugs haven't turned up yet - thanks ebay!) but even when I get it started I've still got this misfire to deal with.
I've posted up on the V8 forums so fingers crossed there's someone reasonably local
Almost immediately after purchase it started playing up going into a massive stuttering misfire when you tried to use anything more than half throttle. Sometimes it would behave itself though and drive perfectly - usually when hot.
I've replaced the ignition amp and ecu temp sensor - but the car was almost impossible to start last time on the road - October last year - and was stalling every time I stopped at a junction it would die.
It's been SORN since and it now refuses to start. I have new leads, plugs, cap and rotor arm to go in (not yet fitted because the plugs haven't turned up yet - thanks ebay!) but even when I get it started I've still got this misfire to deal with.
I've posted up on the V8 forums so fingers crossed there's someone reasonably local
Edited by smash on Sunday 13th April 14:24
All advice appreciated. i have been having a bad time of it recently elsewhere and so my tolerence for playing up TVRs is just ultra low I guess.
HonestJohn - the car was originally starting OK but had "brickwall" stuttering misfire when using any more than about half throttle (irrespective of how much past hald the throttle was so unlikely TPS track).
Last time it was driven was October last year when on it's return home journey it proved almost impossible to start and stalled at every junction unless rev'd. It has stood since October. I started it a month ago after a major struggle and it wasn't happy -missing and coughing when reving.
Two weeks ago it didn't want to start at all, it was trying to catch but just couldn't sustain. The ignition amp was my first guess for the part/full load stuttering misfire and at £16 it was worth a shot. Unfortunately the car hasn't been on the road since so I don't know whether that has had any effect. the temp sensor made no difference - this was done whilst the car was still on the road. Now as the car has sat for 6 odd months under a stormforce cover but nevertheless outside I figured damp may be an issue. So I bought new leads, cap, coil, plugs and rotor arm. The old leads on the car are magnecor but, at the end of the day, they can still fail like any other.
Hallsie - much appreciated. Will take you up on that when it's started if I may.
Zig - got your email & will reply tonight. You are a true gent
HonestJohn - the car was originally starting OK but had "brickwall" stuttering misfire when using any more than about half throttle (irrespective of how much past hald the throttle was so unlikely TPS track).
Last time it was driven was October last year when on it's return home journey it proved almost impossible to start and stalled at every junction unless rev'd. It has stood since October. I started it a month ago after a major struggle and it wasn't happy -missing and coughing when reving.
Two weeks ago it didn't want to start at all, it was trying to catch but just couldn't sustain. The ignition amp was my first guess for the part/full load stuttering misfire and at £16 it was worth a shot. Unfortunately the car hasn't been on the road since so I don't know whether that has had any effect. the temp sensor made no difference - this was done whilst the car was still on the road. Now as the car has sat for 6 odd months under a stormforce cover but nevertheless outside I figured damp may be an issue. So I bought new leads, cap, coil, plugs and rotor arm. The old leads on the car are magnecor but, at the end of the day, they can still fail like any other.
Hallsie - much appreciated. Will take you up on that when it's started if I may.
Zig - got your email & will reply tonight. You are a true gent
Edited by smash on Monday 14th April 15:11
Swapped the plugs for a set of fresh NGK
This is what came out - totally black. Fuelling issues then?
Poxy dizzy cap from simonbbc.com doesn't fit - too tight to sit down properly.
Haven't bothered trying to start it as I figure it'll just gum up the new plugs.
I suppose the good thing is if it's that rich it should go up pretty easy if I put a match to it!
This is what came out - totally black. Fuelling issues then?
Poxy dizzy cap from simonbbc.com doesn't fit - too tight to sit down properly.
Haven't bothered trying to start it as I figure it'll just gum up the new plugs.
I suppose the good thing is if it's that rich it should go up pretty easy if I put a match to it!
So fuel pressure gauge arrived - thanks Temple Tuning. Got mid 36psi by flicking the AFM flap on igniton.
Then after a few turns the car actually started! Not at all happy - stalled a few times.
Took this video after it had run for a couple of minutes - as you'll see it doesn't want to idle at all, just dies and it sounds like it's missing to me maybe?
http://youtu.be/K2SpoOCGLOI
Have heard Mowatts used to look after a 400se so am considering trailering down there and let them sort it
Then after a few turns the car actually started! Not at all happy - stalled a few times.
Took this video after it had run for a couple of minutes - as you'll see it doesn't want to idle at all, just dies and it sounds like it's missing to me maybe?
http://youtu.be/K2SpoOCGLOI
Have heard Mowatts used to look after a 400se so am considering trailering down there and let them sort it
No fuel pressure with just ignition - pressing flap to switch fuel pump = 36 ish
Flap feels quite resistant to move from closed position - wondering if it's a bit sticky.
Perhaps I need to get hold of Maston and borrow Hallsies AFM and ECU for comparison.
I didn't rev from cold - it had already run and I'd held it at about 15000 to try and settle it. It did idle for a while then stalled.
Maybe an AFR gauge is the next step?
EDIT - @ Adam - exhaust was clean on reving - no clouds of black. Will attempt to get her warm tomorrow, check timing and report back
@Pwd95 - you think it's missing when it's reving?
Flap feels quite resistant to move from closed position - wondering if it's a bit sticky.
Perhaps I need to get hold of Maston and borrow Hallsies AFM and ECU for comparison.
I didn't rev from cold - it had already run and I'd held it at about 15000 to try and settle it. It did idle for a while then stalled.
Maybe an AFR gauge is the next step?
EDIT - @ Adam - exhaust was clean on reving - no clouds of black. Will attempt to get her warm tomorrow, check timing and report back
@Pwd95 - you think it's missing when it's reving?
Edited by smash on Thursday 17th April 19:19
@Adam - it wasn't warm, I just didn't rev it immediately from first start. Will get the temp up tomoz 
Fuel stayed nicely pressurised after stopping as witnessed by fuel pissing everywhere when I removed the pressure gauge and put the blank in!
Fuel stayed nicely pressurised after stopping as witnessed by fuel pissing everywhere when I removed the pressure gauge and put the blank in!Edited by smash on Thursday 17th April 21:30
Changed the leads back to the Magnecors, stuck a new coil on and it started firsttime and idled but even with gentle revs it would try and die coming back to idle. After slightly stronger reving it just kept dying at idle.
Upon restarting (very difficuly) it was missing badly and wouldn't idle.
Anyways, I've got a trailer sorted so now I'm just gonna give Mowatts a ring and see if I can book it in with them next week.
Upon restarting (very difficuly) it was missing badly and wouldn't idle.
Anyways, I've got a trailer sorted so now I'm just gonna give Mowatts a ring and see if I can book it in with them next week.
It did initially idle stable - but it won't idle at all now.
TBH I just can't drum up any enthusiasm for it - I just want it sorted running, MOT'd and belonging to someone else asap. Hopefully Mowatt will solve the problems, get it running sweet as a nut and then I can sell it - although they don't look like they're actually selling at the mo.
TBH I just can't drum up any enthusiasm for it - I just want it sorted running, MOT'd and belonging to someone else asap. Hopefully Mowatt will solve the problems, get it running sweet as a nut and then I can sell it - although they don't look like they're actually selling at the mo.
So 45-50psi with ignition on but engine not turning, fuel pump running through pushing the AFM flap? the ECU had a sticker on it with 350i relay layout so that's why I thought it was 350i ECU?
Mowatt's used to exclusively look after a 400SE that was on here and the owner swore by them apparently
I blew down the breather pipe that goes to the trap on the driver side rocker cover - there was no resistence at all, no pressurising - is this what you meant Adam?
I did take some more video this morning so here we go:
This was cold, first start with new coil and back to magnecors - cold start injector connected:
http://youtu.be/nhNWTXxhzRY
Third restart cold injector disconnected and firetrap breather reconnected (idle dropped after reconnection):
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=alOcNEReIP4
Mowatt's used to exclusively look after a 400SE that was on here and the owner swore by them apparently
I blew down the breather pipe that goes to the trap on the driver side rocker cover - there was no resistence at all, no pressurising - is this what you meant Adam?
I did take some more video this morning so here we go:
This was cold, first start with new coil and back to magnecors - cold start injector connected:
http://youtu.be/nhNWTXxhzRY
Third restart cold injector disconnected and firetrap breather reconnected (idle dropped after reconnection):
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=alOcNEReIP4
Edited by smash on Friday 18th April 13:34
Bobby Shaftoe said:
Has the car ever driven right in your ownership, how does it drive through the rev range, part throttle an full throttle?
Yes - occasionally. It suffered from a brickwall misfire whenever throttle pedal went halfway or further - you could nurse it to high rev by using less than half throttle. BUT sometimes it would just magically "clear" and run perfectly on full throttle.I did adjust the timing - advanced to get 30 degrees all in @ 5k - then current symptoms started after this but initially it just had a higher idle speed (as you'd expect from advancing)
Took the rocker off on drivers side - all fine and dandy - all shims and springs. No back pressure blowing down flame trap hose because the gasket had completely missed sealing in the middle. It's now ripped through removal!
I set fuel pressure at 45psi and it didn't want to start and is still missing like a b
d. Lots of white smoke on start up. I adjusted idle screw so it idled but completely unhappy.
Thing is it didn't start the stalling thing straight after adjusting the timing - it was fine for a while.
This has to be an ecu/electrical issue because of the periods of clarity the cars had - it doesn't make sense it's mechanical.
I set fuel pressure at 45psi and it didn't want to start and is still missing like a b
d. Lots of white smoke on start up. I adjusted idle screw so it idled but completely unhappy.Thing is it didn't start the stalling thing straight after adjusting the timing - it was fine for a while.
This has to be an ecu/electrical issue because of the periods of clarity the cars had - it doesn't make sense it's mechanical.
Tell me bout it! 
I've emailed Maston to try and borrow Hallsie's spare ECU and AFM. A mate of mine had real probs with a 4 litre hotwire missing all over and it turned out it was the dizzy.
@Bobby I adjusted the big plenum idle screw - not touched AFM but must say I didn't notice any clear sealant round the rectangular plastic cap. If I can get spare AFM to try should rule it out or not.
Is the AFM stock 3.5 Efi?
Also how would I ID a 390 ECU?
Cheers
EDIT - no sign of ECU purchase in history - did discover original purchaser who lived in St Johns Wood when the car was C46 GHG. Spoiler added in 1990 from factory.
I've emailed Maston to try and borrow Hallsie's spare ECU and AFM. A mate of mine had real probs with a 4 litre hotwire missing all over and it turned out it was the dizzy.
@Bobby I adjusted the big plenum idle screw - not touched AFM but must say I didn't notice any clear sealant round the rectangular plastic cap. If I can get spare AFM to try should rule it out or not.
Is the AFM stock 3.5 Efi?
Also how would I ID a 390 ECU?
Cheers
EDIT - no sign of ECU purchase in history - did discover original purchaser who lived in St Johns Wood when the car was C46 GHG. Spoiler added in 1990 from factory.
Edited by smash on Friday 18th April 18:43
Gassing Station | Wedges | Top of Page | What's New | My Stuff