Starting problems - Rover 100

Starting problems - Rover 100

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Discussion

gdrosier

Original Poster:

14 posts

259 months

Thursday 13th May 2004
quotequote all
Hello,

Thankfully this is not my car but as my housemate sold it to a friend of mine i feel the need to try and help out...

The car is a crappy Rover 113 Auto, 50K on the clock, had the full cambelt change service 6 months ago.

Prblems started recently with intermittant starting, randomly would start and then wouldnt, could leave it overnight and would start again. Battery has been replaced and the garage who thought they sorted it aslo replaced the leads and distributer.

Worked fine for a few days and then back to no starting. It turns over without hesitation but just wont catch.

Going to swap out the coil to see if that helps but anything else to look at? Everything has bee ntreated with the anit-damp stuff too but hasnt helped.

With it being and intermittant fault, realyl hard to diagnose!

Cheers for any thoughts!

annodomini2

6,861 posts

251 months

Thursday 13th May 2004
quotequote all
Have the plugs been changed?

If so, take one plug out at time, and check for spark.

if the spark is coming and still no bite, do a compression test. Although HGF is more common on the 16v engines the 8v is still vunerable!

gdrosier

Original Poster:

14 posts

259 months

Thursday 13th May 2004
quotequote all
A bit more progress: was looking at lunch time and found a slight oil residue in the coolant.

No other signs of head gasket failure, well other than the damn thing wont start! Car doesnt overheat but I suspect it might have had a HGF in the past and been poorley repaired.
Would a HGF cause the intermittant starting problem rather than just no starting at all?


pdV6

16,442 posts

261 months

Thursday 13th May 2004
quotequote all
gdrosier said:
A bit more progress: was looking at lunch time and found a slight oil residue in the coolant.

No other signs of head gasket failure

Any signs of coolant in the oil (e.g. white sludge on the oil filler cap?)

phil hill

433 posts

276 months

Thursday 13th May 2004
quotequote all
Two things just off the top of my head. It's an auto right ?? Check the inhibitor switch on the gear selector which prevents starting in gear. This should stop everything so if she turns over then that's not likely to be the problem.

Also any problems with the security system ?? The Rover alarm system controls the fuel pump relay (on Mini's admittedly) and probably the ignition as well so the engine will turn over but won't start.

If it just turns over and doesn't fire, go back to basics. Check for fuel and sparks next.

annodomini2

6,861 posts

251 months

Thursday 13th May 2004
quotequote all
Thr immobiliser, stops the starter aswell