Starts but won't run
Discussion
Not been using my Tamora lately, so I guess it's my own fault.
Started it today, and it ran for about a minute, then cut out. Now it fires as normal but won't run. There's a high-pitched buzzing, which I presume to be the fuel pump. There's also a clicking from the fuse board (I'm guessing the relay) and smell of petrol.
Any ideas, guys?
I did a search, but the facility only goes back two years now.
Started it today, and it ran for about a minute, then cut out. Now it fires as normal but won't run. There's a high-pitched buzzing, which I presume to be the fuel pump. There's also a clicking from the fuse board (I'm guessing the relay) and smell of petrol.
Any ideas, guys?
I did a search, but the facility only goes back two years now.
Flooded.
1. Remove fuel pump relay, start car, it will start and cut out after a few seconds.
2. Replace relay, start up and off you go.
3. Don't let it stall again like that without driving first.
Or, wait until tomorrow AM, start car without touching throttle. It will start immediately.
Not sure what the clicking is, but if its turning over on the starter and stinks of petrol after stalling its most probably the above.
1. Remove fuel pump relay, start car, it will start and cut out after a few seconds.
2. Replace relay, start up and off you go.
3. Don't let it stall again like that without driving first.
Or, wait until tomorrow AM, start car without touching throttle. It will start immediately.
Not sure what the clicking is, but if its turning over on the starter and stinks of petrol after stalling its most probably the above.
Sorry, no, the clicking is merely coming from the relay, suggesting it's functioning.
The battery is fine. The engine fires up but won't run for more than a second. It dies instantly, as if it's out of petrol - but there's 24 litres in there. I can smell it getting through. Everything seems as normal, but for the fact that it won't stay running.
Maybe a sensor or the ECU?
The battery is fine. The engine fires up but won't run for more than a second. It dies instantly, as if it's out of petrol - but there's 24 litres in there. I can smell it getting through. Everything seems as normal, but for the fact that it won't stay running.
Maybe a sensor or the ECU?
Spoonman said:
The battery is fine. The engine fires up but won't run for more than a second. It dies instantly, as if it's out of petrol - but there's 24 litres in there. I can smell it getting through. Everything seems as normal, but for the fact that it won't stay running.
Maybe a sensor or the ECU?
You shouldn't be able to 'smell the fuel getting through'! Maybe a sensor or the ECU?

Have you checked to see if you have a leak?
No fuel pressure = an engine that fires then dies immediately.
... and if the leak is big enough, a car that dies shortly afterwards!
If there's no leak, you need to check how much fuel is getting to the engine.
The fuel pump could be on the way out, or the filter could be blocked.
Whitey said:
It could still a flat/half dead battery. There is enough charge to fire the engine but because the battery is flat after firing the engine, there is then no power going to the ECU so the engine dies.
I had this problem once.
Definitely not the battery. After a few minutes I connected it to a slave battery (well, a Vauxhall Astra) to save draining it.I had this problem once.
nelly1 said:
You shouldn't be able to 'smell the fuel getting through'! 
Are you sure? Maybe it's just my big nose, but if I look into the engine bay of any high-performance engine at start-up, I can smell petrol. Certainly can on my Jag, and you could virtually ignite the vapours from my Sierra.
I'll certainly check for leaks, though.
I had this issue it would turn over and start but wouldn't continue to run but only when it had been left out in the rain (before I bought a cover), If I left it for a day or so and it was dry it would start and be fine... the dealer said it was down to some gummings in the passenger foot well living in a pool of water...you can pull out a section at the back of the passenger footwell and see if there are any boxes on the floor in a pool of water....once these were moved and I sorted the leak it was fine...
Edited by scotty1 on Wednesday 6th June 11:10
I had some fun and games in my tamora which sound vaguely similar. I stopped one day after a run, and the car refused to start. It went to the dealer, who couldn't find anything wrong, and it started and never did it again! However, I got the clicking relay noise, with the dash showing the efi fault warning at the same time, for months and months, usually on acceleration - the warning flicked on and off very briefly. Eventually, the relay to the fuel pump failed - it's a common fault. Have that checkewd - it's on top of the fuel tank right hand side. Check the contacts on the connector - apparently they work loose over time and burn out, leaving you stranded in the pouring rain, in the outside lane of a German autobahn, in a queue of traffic!
In the end, I had a TVR POwer chip fitted, which solved many fuelling associated problems, except the need to fill up all the time and go for another run!
In the end, I had a TVR POwer chip fitted, which solved many fuelling associated problems, except the need to fill up all the time and go for another run!

Spoonman,
Did you get your car sorted, i have exactly the same symtoms with my Saggy today, looks like car isn'tgetting fuel????? but there is 20ltrs in there.
Car starts then stops emediately, shows EFI fault warning code 4?
Have chacked all fuses and fuel pump relay looks ok. Don't know where to look next, other than a transporter to the nearest TVR garage.
Any help would be appreciated.
J
Spoonman,
Did you get your car sorted, i have exactly the same symtoms with my Saggy today, looks like car isn'tgetting fuel????? but there is 20ltrs in there.
Car starts then stops emediately, shows EFI fault warning code 4?
Have chacked all fuses and fuel pump relay looks ok. Don't know where to look next, other than a transporter to the nearest TVR garage.
Any help would be appreciated.
J
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