Fuel cut off suddenly
Discussion
A puzzle for you.
Driving the car fine today, no problems worth mentioning. 14CUX ECU.
Went home, decided to go out again 10 minutes later, accelerated away, changed up, got 600 yards down the road and there was a small backfire and the car went into idle only. Rough idle, no power, wouldn't rev. Came to a halt, car idling. Switched off. Tried to restart, fuel pump priming noise as normal, won't restart. No smell of fuel. Between tries it immobilised.
RAC arrived in 30 minutes, guy with 40 years hands on experience of classic cars. He checked proper spark, deduced fuel not getting through, but was not allowed by the RAC to test fuel pressure, particularly on a hot engine. Organised me a relay for the morning, 80 miles to my TVR expert. I did try an ECU reset this evening. No joy.
So I am interested to know if anyone has any clues at to what my problem might be?
The car, I mean, not me personally. My wife could write a book on those.....
Driving the car fine today, no problems worth mentioning. 14CUX ECU.
Went home, decided to go out again 10 minutes later, accelerated away, changed up, got 600 yards down the road and there was a small backfire and the car went into idle only. Rough idle, no power, wouldn't rev. Came to a halt, car idling. Switched off. Tried to restart, fuel pump priming noise as normal, won't restart. No smell of fuel. Between tries it immobilised.
RAC arrived in 30 minutes, guy with 40 years hands on experience of classic cars. He checked proper spark, deduced fuel not getting through, but was not allowed by the RAC to test fuel pressure, particularly on a hot engine. Organised me a relay for the morning, 80 miles to my TVR expert. I did try an ECU reset this evening. No joy.
So I am interested to know if anyone has any clues at to what my problem might be?
The car, I mean, not me personally. My wife could write a book on those.....
Good thoughts both.
Not the battery terminals. Car turns over fine and I checked them anyway.
I will check the cut out, Graham, but I don't think that's it. I triggered it once before, sideways entry into a gravel trap at Mallory Park. Afterwards the engine cranked, but wouldn't fire at all. What I don't remember was if the fuel pump primed or not. I will try it in the morning, but I suspect the fact it kept running for about a minute until I switched off rules that out, and I have a spark.
Engine sort of tries to start, it's as if there's no fuel available now.
Not the battery terminals. Car turns over fine and I checked them anyway.
I will check the cut out, Graham, but I don't think that's it. I triggered it once before, sideways entry into a gravel trap at Mallory Park. Afterwards the engine cranked, but wouldn't fire at all. What I don't remember was if the fuel pump primed or not. I will try it in the morning, but I suspect the fact it kept running for about a minute until I switched off rules that out, and I have a spark.
Engine sort of tries to start, it's as if there's no fuel available now.
Do you have a tyre pressure gauge with a dial on it, try that on the valve situated on the r/h side of the fuel rail. Should get a reading above 30 psi. Failing that an old rag and push the valve in to see if you get squirted with fuel, rag, to mop up mess ! A quick press will confirm if there's fuel up to pressure.
At least they work on Saturdays in deepest West Norfolk.
Goodluck mate
At least they work on Saturdays in deepest West Norfolk.
Goodluck mate
I do indeed, it hadn't occurred to me to squirt fuel all over the hot exhaust, but I will try it with the car cold tomorrow. Good thought.
The RAC man wanted to check the fuel pressure, but isn't allowed to. Health and Safety, otherwise known as not setting fire to customers' cars. So he summoned a truck.
I cancelled it so that I could get the star to its guru at 8 am tomorrow. Just a chance I will make the Rutland Rumble.....
So I am off to Mat Smith at first sparrow fart, car on trailer. But I will test out all suggestions before wasting his time and mine.
The RAC man wanted to check the fuel pressure, but isn't allowed to. Health and Safety, otherwise known as not setting fire to customers' cars. So he summoned a truck.
I cancelled it so that I could get the star to its guru at 8 am tomorrow. Just a chance I will make the Rutland Rumble.....
So I am off to Mat Smith at first sparrow fart, car on trailer. But I will test out all suggestions before wasting his time and mine.
good luck with it sir!For me it was the Lucas resistor taped into the loom near the coil. It feeds the tacho pulses back to the ECU and if this signal is lost the ECU turns off the fuel pump. However it will still prime but not run with the engine, which adds to the confusion. There are two resistors there, the other is for the tacho. So they can be swapped over to eliminate.
Problem solved by top operator Mat Smith at 8.00 this morning.
He works Saturday mornings, unlike some.
He checked over everything, established good fuel pressure and good spark, then over the next 20 minutes thought his way through the problem and concluded that something was stopping the injectors from firing.
I said I had a spare ECU with me in the car, so he tried that and it worked. When we opened up both ECUs to change over the main chip, he discovered that when my battery had failed a couple of years ago, battery acid had leaked into the ECU and had eventually (last night) caused the fuelling chip to short out/fail.
If ever there was a good reason to move the battery out of the footwell (apart from passenger leg room) this is it.
He works Saturday mornings, unlike some.
He checked over everything, established good fuel pressure and good spark, then over the next 20 minutes thought his way through the problem and concluded that something was stopping the injectors from firing.
I said I had a spare ECU with me in the car, so he tried that and it worked. When we opened up both ECUs to change over the main chip, he discovered that when my battery had failed a couple of years ago, battery acid had leaked into the ECU and had eventually (last night) caused the fuelling chip to short out/fail.
If ever there was a good reason to move the battery out of the footwell (apart from passenger leg room) this is it.
QBee said:
Problem solved by top operator Mat Smith at 8.00 this morning.
He works Saturday mornings, unlike some.
He checked over everything, established good fuel pressure and good spark, then over the next 20 minutes thought his way through the problem and concluded that something was stopping the injectors from firing.
I said I had a spare ECU with me in the car, so he tried that and it worked. When we opened up both ECUs to change over the main chip, he discovered that when my battery had failed a couple of years ago, battery acid had leaked into the ECU and had eventually (last night) caused the fuelling chip to short out/fail.
If ever there was a good reason to move the battery out of the footwell (apart from passenger leg room) this is it.
Battery in footwell, excellent weight distribution He works Saturday mornings, unlike some.
He checked over everything, established good fuel pressure and good spark, then over the next 20 minutes thought his way through the problem and concluded that something was stopping the injectors from firing.
I said I had a spare ECU with me in the car, so he tried that and it worked. When we opened up both ECUs to change over the main chip, he discovered that when my battery had failed a couple of years ago, battery acid had leaked into the ECU and had eventually (last night) caused the fuelling chip to short out/fail.
If ever there was a good reason to move the battery out of the footwell (apart from passenger leg room) this is it.
get a passenger with smaller legs
Behind the seat would be perfect.
Hail the great Matt Smith. A gem.
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