Won't idle - stalls - at startup

[codechimp]

Hello

The car's been running fine for such a long time now that I suppose I was bound to get bitten in the arse...

Started the car the other Saturday and it started idling really fast: it started fine, increased to around 1500 revs and then, gradually, increased to around 2000 RPM. Something like this happened to me before but I'm wondering if that was in my previous car...

Anyway, I went out for a drive and had no problems. The next day, however, I started the car and the revs died almost immediately. Tried again and the same thing happened.

Checked the stepper motor: clean. Checked the throttle: not sticking or anything like that. Fuel pump working. Electrics working. Fuel in the tank. I noticed that there was a strong smell of fuel after my first attempt.

I'm a bit stuck because I can't drive my car into the garage. Before I call out the breakdown people or phone my friendly mechanic, can anyone suggest any simple explanation for this unusual behaviour. The car was serviced recently.

Many thanks

[GreenV8S]

Are you saying you can't keep it running on the throttle?

How far do you have to move it to get it into the garage - any slope, is the ground firm?

[codeChimp]

Sorry, I should have made myself clearer!

The car runs like a dog if I run it on the throttle and the garage, the TVR workshop where I have my car serviced, is a bloody long way away. The car's actually parked inside my garage at home! I just can't get it anywhere!

Thanks

>> Edited by codeChimp on Friday 21st April 16:16

[GreenV8S]

If you apply the foot brake and then start the engine (may need to do a bit of left-foot braking to let you use the right foot to keep the engine running) can you feel the brake pedal being pulled down by the servo after the engine starts?

[codeChimp]

Hello again

That's curious. I tried it this morning, just to see if I could feel the power assistance, as you asked. Don't think I did the first time but, on the second attempt, the peddle dropped, as you'd expect, and the engine idled more-or-less as normal. Can you explain that to me?

Many thanks for your help.

[GreenV8S]

codeChimp said:

Can you explain that to me?

I'm thinking maybe an air leak, broken diaphragm, stuck valve etc in the servo. Although why it suddenly 'went away' is a bit of a mystery. Keep an eye on it, problems that just 'go away' on their own tend to just 'come back' when you least expect it.

[codechimp]

Thanks for your help!

[FunkyGibbon]

mine did this a while ago, it was the early signs of the coil and the ignition amplifier going on there way out. got these swapped and no problems since.

FG

[codechimp]

Funky Gibbon - cool name BTW! - does the coil and ignition amplifier come as a single unit? It's the cylinder and small block of plastic attached to the top of the front of the engine on the driver's side, is it?

Thanks for your input.

>> Edited by codechimp on Saturday 22 April 16:13

[FunkyGibbon]

codechimp said:

Funky Gibbon - cool name BTW! - does the coil and ignition amplifier come as a single unit? It's the cylinder and small block of plastic attached to the top of the front of the engine on the driver's side, is it? Thanks for your input. >> Edited by codechimp on Saturday 22 April 16:13

Not a single unit, but I think the coil and amp are near each other as you describe, someone with a better understanding of engine bits will be along soon...