car won't start
Discussion
Damn, I've just spent the winter installing an ACT twin plenum kit with larger AFM and chip etc. I tried starting the engine today for the first time and...it won't start.
The chip is correctly installed into the ECU, I am sure I have correctly spliced the new CO2 sensor into the loom and I am sure the new AFM is correctly wired in.
The kit requires a different fuel pressure regulator. I have one fitted, it is holding pressure and feeding fuel. The fuel pump seems to tick after a while however instead of going silent again as is normal with a standard regulator. Its almost as if the fuel pump no longer knows know its reached pressure.
The kit includes a new throttle pot being soldered into the old plug. I have checked this is correct and on the advice from ACT, have tried the wires in various different combinations just in case.
In some combinations I receive a repeated 'tick, tick, tick' noise after turning the ignition back off - sometimes I don't.
In some combinations the noise mentioned above caused by the fuel pump is present, sometimes it is not.
Anyway, my battery is now flat so I guess first call is to buy a charger (I've no electricity in the garage either - grr).
If any of you have any suggestions, then please help. Summer is coming and I currently feel like throwing the kit out again and converting it back to standard, just so I can drive!
The chip is correctly installed into the ECU, I am sure I have correctly spliced the new CO2 sensor into the loom and I am sure the new AFM is correctly wired in.
The kit requires a different fuel pressure regulator. I have one fitted, it is holding pressure and feeding fuel. The fuel pump seems to tick after a while however instead of going silent again as is normal with a standard regulator. Its almost as if the fuel pump no longer knows know its reached pressure.
The kit includes a new throttle pot being soldered into the old plug. I have checked this is correct and on the advice from ACT, have tried the wires in various different combinations just in case.
In some combinations I receive a repeated 'tick, tick, tick' noise after turning the ignition back off - sometimes I don't.
In some combinations the noise mentioned above caused by the fuel pump is present, sometimes it is not.
Anyway, my battery is now flat so I guess first call is to buy a charger (I've no electricity in the garage either - grr).
If any of you have any suggestions, then please help. Summer is coming and I currently feel like throwing the kit out again and converting it back to standard, just so I can drive!
I realise you've done quite a bit of work so the error might be elsewhere but try resetting the immobiliser. Once you've recharged the battery, remove the +ive terminal for about 10 seconds and then press the keyfob as you reconnect. You should hear a few bleeps.
Hope it's something as simple as that.
Hope it's something as simple as that.
I've checked the coil and tried a different one. I am getting a spark there. I haven't checked the actual plugs but its only been off the road since December so I wouldn't have thought the plugs would fail from 3 months without use...would they?
I'll check them though once I have a battery with charge
I'll check them though once I have a battery with charge
estutjaweh said:
I've checked the coil and tried a different one. I am getting a spark there. I haven't checked the actual plugs but its only been off the road since December so I wouldn't have thought the plugs would fail from 3 months without use...would they?
I'll check them though once I have a battery with charge
I was thinking more along the lines of distributor issues, if she's been idle in a cold/damp (?) garage for three months the points/rotor arm etc may not be functioning at their best....I'll check them though once I have a battery with charge
They're relatively simple beasts to get started, you getting no pops or bangs, not even trying to start? If you're sure you've got spark then I would be looking at fuel, but my plan of action would be..
Make sure that you've got spark and that it's firing in the right order, do it by taking one of the plugs out so that you can see if it's wet.
Check that you've got fuel pressure.
Unplug injectors and stick a bulb on the plugs to check that they're firing.
If you haven't found the problem by then, it's properly broke
Make sure that you've got spark and that it's firing in the right order, do it by taking one of the plugs out so that you can see if it's wet.
Check that you've got fuel pressure.
Unplug injectors and stick a bulb on the plugs to check that they're firing.
If you haven't found the problem by then, it's properly broke
Thanks. I got some coughs but nothing more. I did remove one plug earlier to check if it was wet (which it wasn't). The firing order hasn't changed as I haven't removed the leads nor dizzy cap so that can't be the issue.
I did have all the injectors out to clean so it may be them as you suggested. What do you mean "hold a bulb to one"?
I did have all the injectors out to clean so it may be them as you suggested. What do you mean "hold a bulb to one"?
Ah, old mechanic trick.. 501 bulb holder that came on most 90s fords, quite a few other cars had them too. You can plug them into the injector loom and the bulb should light when the injector pulses.
http://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/501-Replacement-Bulb-Hol...
If the plug wasn't wet and you've been trying to start it for long enough to flatten the battery then I would still be guessing fuel, these are just guesses from the other end of the internet though
You've had the injectors out to clean, you haven't attacked them with a brillo pad have you?
http://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/501-Replacement-Bulb-Hol...
If the plug wasn't wet and you've been trying to start it for long enough to flatten the battery then I would still be guessing fuel, these are just guesses from the other end of the internet though
You've had the injectors out to clean, you haven't attacked them with a brillo pad have you?
I was thankful the plug wasn't wet, I just removed the plug to see if I'd flooded the engine through my multiple start attempts. Didn't think the plug would get that wet from trying to start her up. You live and learn I suppose.
I didn't use a Brillo pad - God no. Just cleaned them externally by throwing them in the ultrasonic bath thing I had at work. Maybe the bath corroded them inside or something? The fuel regulator definitely has pressure on both sides (as a leaky injector seal let me know the first time I turned the ignition on) so if it's a fuel issue, then It must be faulty injectors OR that. The ECU isn't sending them a signal.
That still wouldn't explain the weird ticking noise however (or would it)?
Oh, for those that haven't realised yet, I am useless when it comes to electrics.
I didn't use a Brillo pad - God no. Just cleaned them externally by throwing them in the ultrasonic bath thing I had at work. Maybe the bath corroded them inside or something? The fuel regulator definitely has pressure on both sides (as a leaky injector seal let me know the first time I turned the ignition on) so if it's a fuel issue, then It must be faulty injectors OR that. The ECU isn't sending them a signal.
That still wouldn't explain the weird ticking noise however (or would it)?
Oh, for those that haven't realised yet, I am useless when it comes to electrics.
I think that you could do with buying roverguage so that you can see what readings your ecu is getting, iirc full throttle on start up stops the injectors from pulsing to help in the event of flooding (I may be thinking of a different car here though, sure someone here will know for sure) so wiring the throttle pot wrong could be the cause. Tried starting it without the throttle pot plugged in?
It could be many things at the moment which is why I would run through the basics with a fully charged battery first to check for a good spark and the fuel system, then go from there. If you've got both of those as far as the injectors and it's not at least poping and banging and trying to start then I would try to borrow some other injectors to try out.
It could be many things at the moment which is why I would run through the basics with a fully charged battery first to check for a good spark and the fuel system, then go from there. If you've got both of those as far as the injectors and it's not at least poping and banging and trying to start then I would try to borrow some other injectors to try out.
Oh...the red dot on the chip and little circuit board thingy are both facing upwards to the left (up being plug end of ECU). I am sure this is the correct way round - the chip didn't actually come with any fitting instructions indicating which way up is which.
Can I do any damage by starting the engine with the chip the other wat round and/or with the old chip back in place?
Can I do any damage by starting the engine with the chip the other wat round and/or with the old chip back in place?
Funny you should say that. I've just changed the chip around which now appears to be correct according to other photos I've found online. Now I've found out that the fuel pump ticking noise is more prominent and definitely comes from a relay (one by the ECU in a blue plug - Bosch 12V 30A).
Surely if it's ticking it's working though isn't it? What could cause it to repeatedly tick as soon as the ignition is on?
Surely if it's ticking it's working though isn't it? What could cause it to repeatedly tick as soon as the ignition is on?
estutjaweh said:
Funny you should say that. I've just changed the chip around which now appears to be correct according to other photos I've found online. Now I've found out that the fuel pump ticking noise is more prominent and definitely comes from a relay (one by the ECU in a blue plug - Bosch 12V 30A).
Surely if it's ticking it's working though isn't it? What could cause it to repeatedly tick as soon as the ignition is on?
Mine doesn't.Surely if it's ticking it's working though isn't it? What could cause it to repeatedly tick as soon as the ignition is on?
Surely a relay should work once.
Not repeatedly.
Someone here will know what is causing it to fire repeatedly.
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