Strange happenings over last few days - Help!

[aidanjlee]

Hi all,

I've been lucky to have had nearly 2 years of pain free Chim driving until the last week or so! Probably why I haven't needed to post too much on here!

On Wednesday I travelled about 5 miles to visit someone to come back out to my completely dead Chim, no warning or anything. The RAC guy got it started and advised my battery was dead and a new one was needed, very strange as I'd not left any lights on and this is my everyday drive. Bought battery and fitted it Friday, everything seemed well until about 500 yards into my journey it started running really groggy (interesting spelling..) and I just about managed to get it home, it cut out then really struggled to get it started again. Went out again last night and the exact same thing happened?

Could this be a problem with the ECU? could it have re-set itself and therefore in time improve or do I need to start worrying!?

Any other ideas?

[that daddy]

Is it cranking over,or justing running crap?

[aidanjlee]

Running crap, although I've just been out and done 50 miles or so and it seems to be improving. Although it's always worse when I initially start the car, and the tick-over etc seems to improve the longer I drive it.

[Brink]

Did you fill up at Tesco's?

[GreenV8S]

It may not be the cause of the poor running, but monitor the battery voltage over the next few days and if you have a voltmeter check that the battery is showing at least 13v with the engine running. The flat battery may just be a worn out battery, but could have been caused by a faulty 100A fuse [spit] or alternator fault. If so, your new battery will soon end up flat which will damage the battery and leave you stranded again. (If the battery *is* running down it could cause poor running but by that time it would be too flat to crank the engine over.)

[aidanjlee]

No I didn't fill at Tesco's! just filled it up with Optimax to try and help things along.

The RAC guy checked all readings coming from the alternator and said everything looked spot on. He was really quite helpful to be honest!

I'll keep an eye on it over the next few days to see if things are improving, if not a trip my local garage (50 miles....) would be in order.

[that daddy]

Have you tried resetting/unplugging ECU for a minute just incase you have a glitch,do this before a cold start then just drive the car up to running temp so it can configure itself,worth a try

[aidanjlee]

Would the ECU not have reset itself having not had a battery in the car for a couple of days?

I'm worried the problem is due to the ECU being reset and it's taking it's time reconfiguring?

How would I reset the ECU? what do I need to unplug?

[spend]

The Lucus ECU is not like your PC... It will work just about as soon as you give it 12v

You still didnt answer the question about whether it cranked? It could be your battery connections - why are you so fixated with the ECU?

Dave

[aidanjlee]

Sorry it cranks fine, and fires up first time without fuss. Just starts running crap as it starts to warm it, hence my ECU fixation! I must have read somewhere about the ECU, not sure why I think it's this though!!

[spend]

Most folks first stop is cleaning the stepper motor then you threw a spanner in the works with the flat battery

If that fails check for air leaks. Plenty of threads on these subjects

Dave

Edited by spend on Sunday 25th March 19:44

[good soil (pete)]

It could be that the coil is packing up I guess.
I was told by a dealer that they usually bugger about and cause all sorts of issues before just giving up. They told me to take mine off the top of the engine and check for 'fluid leaks' from it as that is a sign that it is going wrong. It should be dry and so should the area underneath it.

Mine actaully gave no warning at all and packed in. Then after about 30 mins I was able to get it started and drive about half a mile with it misfiring and running like it was only running on 2 cylinders...at which point it just packed up completely...

However the dealer told me that it was unusual for them just to pack up without messing you about a bit first. It has to be worth a check I guess.

[theaxe]

I'd be tempted to replace the various ignition components, so coil, plug extenders, HT leads, dizzy cap and rotor.

[Rum Runner]

Coolant temp sensor ECU maybe as it warm up, may still be over fueling .Have you pulled a plug out yet see what it looks like .

[puffsorted2]

Sure its not the 100amp fuse gone. This would cause the battery to die as it prevents charging - my Griff ran crap while driving the 100Yrds from my garage to the driveway to change it.