RV8 won't start, any ideas chaps??
Discussion
First time the car has let me down, so I'll forgive it 
.
What confuses me is that it happened when I had already started and was reversing out of the garage it just cut out and displayed these symptoms, fuel pump primes, car won't turn over, checked the obvious fuses & relays etc. Not that it doesn't mean it isn't one of those though, knowing Tivs
. I've ruled out starter motor as it was running. Strange symtoms to me are the rev counter is still stuck at 1K5, this normally resets when you turn the ignition on to zero, speedo is showing 5mph as well. My worse fears are is the ECU is cooked 
. Anyone experience these symptoms are know whats going on like to give me some pointers before I spend a day in the footwell . No that I realish that as 26 years in electronics hasn't prepared me for reading mechanics wiring diagrams as found in the bible .
Harry
. What confuses me is that it happened when I had already started and was reversing out of the garage it just cut out and displayed these symptoms, fuel pump primes, car won't turn over, checked the obvious fuses & relays etc. Not that it doesn't mean it isn't one of those though, knowing Tivs
. I've ruled out starter motor as it was running. Strange symtoms to me are the rev counter is still stuck at 1K5, this normally resets when you turn the ignition on to zero, speedo is showing 5mph as well. My worse fears are is the ECU is cooked . Anyone experience these symptoms are know whats going on like to give me some pointers before I spend a day in the footwell . No that I realish that as 26 years in electronics hasn't prepared me for reading mechanics wiring diagrams as found in the bible . Harry
Nothing obvious springs to mind (no change there then!) so I would start from the symptoms and try to work back. The starter motor is the easiest bit to diagnose because the wiring here is relatively simple. You have a 12v feed to the ignition switch, and a 12v return via the alarm to the starter motor solenoid. The feed and return to the switch go through a dodgy connector on the steering column which is a known point of failure. I would start by taking the bottom cowl off the steering column, prove you're getting 12v to the switch and 12v on the starter connection at the engine side of the switch, when you try to crank the engine over. If this fails, it seems to point to a simple problem which you should be able to track down. If it succeeds, the alarm would be the next suspect.
Cheers Peter, I'll look at these tonight. Can you remember at which point in the starting sequence the Rev count resets to zero 
. I know it normally retains the last reading on shut down, as mine is at present, but I thought it cleared when the fuel pump primes stage, i.e. ignition on but not selected start. If it does clear down at that point it could help me start in the right direction, with the multimeter.
harry
. I know it normally retains the last reading on shut down, as mine is at present, but I thought it cleared when the fuel pump primes stage, i.e. ignition on but not selected start. If it does clear down at that point it could help me start in the right direction, with the multimeter. harry
HarryW said:
Cheers Peter, I'll look at these tonight. Can you remember at which point in the starting sequence the Rev count resets to zero
On mine, all the dials and warning lights come to life, the rev counter and speedo reset, and the fuel pump starts priming, as soon as the switched ignition feed goes live. Normally this would be as soon as you turn the key (assuming you have previously disarmed the alarm). On mine there's an extra short delay while the second imobiliser detects the passive key fob and disarms itself. You probably don't have this though.
rev-erend said:
Harry - that new fangled timing wheel has probably fallen off and wedged between the crank and chassis..
or more seriously - I'd suspect the immobaliser.
Try disconnecting the battery for a few mins and then retry.
, no tried that first, re-connected the dizzy ignition, still no different. Could be the immobiliser playing up, defineately electrical though
. I'll re-check for hidden fuses/relays in the loom as well. Amongst the other suggestions. Thanks for the advice peeps. Harry
TimW said:
Wahaaa i hear its started 
>> Edited by TimW on Wednesday 23 June 20:37
LOL must have good ears
. Turned out to be connected to the immobiliser cct, the 12V LT feed loop from the main relay to the coil, played with the wires and hey presto one rumbling car. Now back to tweeking :rollyeyes:.
Thanks again for all the tips.
Harry
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