Broke me wedge!!
Discussion
Hi Folks. Had my 350i about a year now. Not really had much chance to use it or do much maintenance etc as been very busy workwise. Anyway has always started fine even when stood for several weeks at a time. Used it over the weekend and was great fun. Had given the interior a bit of a valet and am going to do a proper service this week!! Put some fuel in then did about 40 miles and put it away. Decided to use it last night to go pub meet in Kidderminster and it let me down!! Had been extolling the virtues of TVR and how reliable this car appeared to be so serves me right really!! Luckily not stranded as wouldn't start at home. Spun over as normal and fired but to lower tickover than expected (usually about 1200-1300rpm on choke). Ran for couple of seconds then stopped. Just spun on starter after that and not even firing!! Pushed it back into garage and got out my trusty Honda CBR1000 instead as was already running late. Am going to have a look tonight but initial thoughts are that it is fuel problem. This car had been laid up for some years and I have only managed about 500 miles so far in my ownership but had no running problems thus far. Is there anything obvious I should look for in respect of the fuel injection etc? Fuses/relays are obvious culprits? Will report back later but any advice greatly appreciated. Many thanks, Craig.
It's probably ignition related, most faults are with these engines. I guess the first thing to do is to check for a spark. Take the plugs/plug out, remove the fuel pump relay and crank to see if you have a spark at the plug (you will have to ground the plug body against something). If so then start looking at fuelling, if not work backwards up the ignition system. If you've been cranking without joy then the plugs will be flooded anyway.
Oh and does the fuel pump prime when you switch the ignition on?
Oh and does the fuel pump prime when you switch the ignition on?
Edited by Al 450 on Tuesday 2nd June 18:43
An '86 car will have the 'flapper' type injection so the fuel pump won't prime until you start cranking, at which time you can't hear it, of course.
It could be ignition related; there's a white/black wire from the ignition amplifier (usually on the side of the distributor) that runs around the left side of the engine bay and joins the main injection wiring loom. Somewhere around the air filter theres a bullet connector in that wire; if it corrodes (and it will) it kills the trigger signal that tells the ECU when to fire the injectors.
The easiest way to find out if the fuel pump runs is to take off the air hose that links the airflow meter to the throttle body and, with the ignition on, push the moving flap inside the meter. That should start the pump (we'll assume there's fuel in the tank ;o).
The other trick is of course to pull off a plug lead, stick a spare spark plug on the end and lay it on the plenum chamber. Crank the engine an look for a regular, fat, blue spark. If it's pale blue, feeble or irregular you have an ignition problem... which will in turn be causing a fuelling problem!
It could be ignition related; there's a white/black wire from the ignition amplifier (usually on the side of the distributor) that runs around the left side of the engine bay and joins the main injection wiring loom. Somewhere around the air filter theres a bullet connector in that wire; if it corrodes (and it will) it kills the trigger signal that tells the ECU when to fire the injectors.
The easiest way to find out if the fuel pump runs is to take off the air hose that links the airflow meter to the throttle body and, with the ignition on, push the moving flap inside the meter. That should start the pump (we'll assume there's fuel in the tank ;o).
The other trick is of course to pull off a plug lead, stick a spare spark plug on the end and lay it on the plenum chamber. Crank the engine an look for a regular, fat, blue spark. If it's pale blue, feeble or irregular you have an ignition problem... which will in turn be causing a fuelling problem!
Astwood Autos said:
Hi Folks. Had my 350i about a year now. Not really had much chance to use it or do much maintenance etc as been very busy workwise. Anyway has always started fine even when stood for several weeks at a time. Used it over the weekend and was great fun. Had given the interior a bit of a valet and am going to do a proper service this week!! Put some fuel in then did about 40 miles and put it away. Decided to use it last night to go pub meet in Kidderminster and it let me down!! Had been extolling the virtues of TVR and how reliable this car appeared to be so serves me right really!! Luckily not stranded as wouldn't start at home. Spun over as normal and fired but to lower tickover than expected (usually about 1200-1300rpm on choke). Ran for couple of seconds then stopped. Just spun on starter after that and not even firing!! Pushed it back into garage and got out my trusty Honda CBR1000 instead as was already running late. Am going to have a look tonight but initial thoughts are that it is fuel problem. This car had been laid up for some years and I have only managed about 500 miles so far in my ownership but had no running problems thus far. Is there anything obvious I should look for in respect of the fuel injection etc? Fuses/relays are obvious culprits? Will report back later but any advice greatly appreciated. Many thanks, Craig.
Is there any chance that due to only running for only a couple of seconds at higher rpm its flooded itself???Don't think it flooded but never know. Had to work tonight in the end so no time to have a look. Did attempt to start it though and did similar to yesterday, fires then stops. Wedg1e will check that black/white wire as I 'fiddled' by the air filter to check how clean it was and moved that wire in the process. This was when checking the oil and water etc before going out so maybe I have inadvertently caused the problem!! Many thanks, Craig
Just had chance to have a quick look at last!! Checked relevant fuses in glovebox and they are fine. Fuel pump - 20A and ignition coil - 20A. Jiggled black/white wire as suggested, appears fine. Checked dizzy/rotor arm and gave quick clean up. Still no joy so removed couple of plugs and were both dry/tan in colour so looks like it was running well last time out!! Needs new plugs though!! Appears to be fuel problem then, doesn't even fire now!! Presumably there is a relay somewhere to check. Will have to get a bit more familiar with this car so know the obvious faults. Looks like bit of research is the order of the day!!
Whilst looking at the car it would appear it has the original type air filter fitted. Looks like it was white one day? Local dealer quoted me £39.00 for a new one which seemed a bit harsh!! Presumably can buy a K&N type filter for them which is probably far better anyway? Both my P.I and CBR1000 have them and they are far better.
Many thanks, Craig.
Whilst looking at the car it would appear it has the original type air filter fitted. Looks like it was white one day? Local dealer quoted me £39.00 for a new one which seemed a bit harsh!! Presumably can buy a K&N type filter for them which is probably far better anyway? Both my P.I and CBR1000 have them and they are far better.
Many thanks, Craig.
Gassing Station | General TVR Stuff & Gossip | Top of Page | What's New | My Stuff