Pre-cat won't start!

[TVR Dummy]

It's never let me down in the 7 years I've owned it but, today my Griff would not start. I need help.

The car has been laid up during the winter whilst I carried out my wishbone refurb and other work. The past two weeks I have been getting it ready for an MOT, I also did the annual oil and filter change and took the car around the block a few times to check all is well. Also fitted a new battery a week ago and all worked well, cars been starting on the button.

So what has gone wrong?

I can hear the fuel pump whirring when I switch on the ignition, it appears fuel is getting to the engine as I have check a fuel pipe.

I have checked all fuses and they are good. I do disconnect the battery when the car is in the garage.

I have a spark, I have checked with a timing light whilst I crank over the engine, all appears ok.

I did remove a spark plug and there was no obvious sign of flooding, maybe fuel is not getting to the cylinders?

I am suspecting the alarm/mobiliser. previous owner had an after-market GT 136 alarm fitted about 8 years ago. Does anyone know how the immobiliser actually stops the engine from starting? Would it stop the injectors?

I've had the new battery and ECU pulled out in the foot-well for the past week, I only pushed it back into place yesterday, maybe I have dislodged something?

I did notice the door solenoids were not working when I activated the alarm on the fob, however they suddenly started to work again after a few attempts, again suggesting the alarm is playing up?

Any suggestions on what to check? I need help!

[black and green]

My original imobiliser stopped the fuel pump only. It didn't have any connection to the injectors. If you're getting fuel and a spark then perhaps the AFM might be worth waggling the wires on?

ETA - I reckon that everyting in the footwell is worth double checking if you've been moving stuff around in there.

[Loubaruch]

Usually the immobiliser immobilises:
The fuel pump
The ignition circuit
The starter motor solonoid

As you seem to be cranking the engine Ok and fuel and spark are present it is unlikely to be the immobiliser unless the PO has imobilised some other circuit.

As the plugs are dry perhaps the injectors are not operating. See: http://www.bertram-hill.co.uk/Pages/tvrs3.aspx
for a device that checks whether the injectors are operating OK.

Steve Heaths clever box would also tell you a great deal more: http://www.tvrextras.co.uk/

[PeteGriff]

TVR Dummy said:

It's never let me down in the 7 years I've owned it but, today my Griff would not start. I need help.

The car has been laid up during the winter whilst I carried out my wishbone refurb and other work. The past two weeks I have been getting it ready for an MOT, I also did the annual oil and filter change and took the car around the block a few times to check all is well. Also fitted a new battery a week ago and all worked well, cars been starting on the button.

So what has gone wrong?

I can hear the fuel pump whirring when I switch on the ignition, it appears fuel is getting to the engine as I have check a fuel pipe.

I have checked all fuses and they are good. I do disconnect the battery when the car is in the garage.

I have a spark, I have checked with a timing light whilst I crank over the engine, all appears ok.

I did remove a spark plug and there was no obvious sign of flooding, maybe fuel is not getting to the cylinders?

I am suspecting the alarm/mobiliser. previous owner had an after-market GT 136 alarm fitted about 8 years ago. Does anyone know how the immobiliser actually stops the engine from starting? Would it stop the injectors?

I've had the new battery and ECU pulled out in the foot-well for the past week, I only pushed it back into place yesterday, maybe I have dislodged something?

I did notice the door solenoids were not working when I activated the alarm on the fob, however they suddenly started to work again after a few attempts, again suggesting the alarm is playing up?

Any suggestions on what to check? I need help!

May seem a silly question but during your service/refurb did you remove the ignition leads? If they have inadvertently been put back in the wrong order she all not fire up! Also check the distributer cap centre lead is fully home. Good luck mate and keep us posted, regards Pete

[TVR Dummy]

Thanks for the replies, am taking a day out from car things today, a fresh start next week may turn something up. The car was running on Friday, I took it out for a drive around the block in preparation for the MOT. On Saturday I pushed the new battery, ECU etc back into the footwell and put the carpet back.

Here's a thought, whilst rearranging the ECU, loom, battery cables, I disconnected and reconnected the battery two or three times before I got everything tidy, could I have caused any damage to the ECU or something else?

[TVR Dummy]

Does anyone know what the two components that are fitted into the footwell loom are for? One looks like a resistor and another looks like a capacitor maybe? A black thing across two spade terminals. I'll try and post a pic.

Edited by TVR Dummy on Sunday 1st April 10:31

Edited by TVR Dummy on Sunday 1st April 10:32

[TVR Dummy]

PeteGriff said:

May seem a silly question but during your service/refurb did you remove the ignition leads? If they have inadvertently been put back in the wrong order she all not fire up! Also check the distributer cap centre lead is fully home. Good luck mate and keep us posted, regards Pete

Thanks Pete, Ignition leads are all good, the car was running on Friday and has been started regularly over the winter. It appears I'm getting a spark, I used my timing light to test a couple of plugs and I do get a spark when I turn over.

[Barreti]

Try disconnecting the ECU, check and the connectors are OK and clean and reconnect it.
They do sometimes get their knickers in a knot and need this reset.

While you are doing that in the footwell, press all the relays home to make sure they are seated correctly.

[TVR Dummy]

A quick update. Popped out this afternoon to try and start the Griff and the engine fired up...but for only a second then died again. Now nothing. Need to investigate more but will wait until next week, it's pub time!

[Colin RedGriff]

Check the fuel pump relay. it's one of the two metal case relays that are in the loose wiring by the ECU.

[Peter66]

Check the white cable connector close to the dipstick and top head. It's for the ignition/rev counter. I got this disconnected without noticing after I reconnected the spark plug leads and I had similar symptoms as you had.

Good luck,

Peter

[carsy]

Often wondered what that wire / connection was for. Now i know.

[EGB]

TVR Dummy said:

A quick update. Popped out this afternoon to try and start the Griff and the engine fired up...but for only a second then died again. Now nothing. Need to investigate more but will wait until next week, it's pub time!

Silly question and my apology! Is there enough petrol in the tank? Over winter lay up with near empty tank, a lot of condensation from air moisture may weaken the fuel left over and much of the 5% ethanol E5 in new fuels may have evaporated. What's left of the ethanol may also be absorbing moisture. Stick 5gals of fresh V-power in tank.
Also from other post. Check if fuel pump is still priming on switching the ignition but not starting. If not whirring check electrical connections to pump and emery clean. Check chassis earths. Good luck.

[TVR Dummy]

Peter66 said:

Check the white cable connector close to the dipstick and top head. It's for the ignition/rev counter. I got this disconnected without noticing after I reconnected the spark plug leads and I had similar symptoms as you had.

Good luck,

Peter

Thanks will check again later today when I get in from work. I was cleaning and polishing around the engine bay, so I may have dislodged something.

[TVR Dummy]

It just started...but I'm not sure how!

Did a few checks this afternoon, checked around the engine bay and all looked good, check again in the footwell loom, again all appeared correct. Tried to start the engine and I got a half hearted fire up and then it died again. Could it be lack of fuel I'm thinking...

I swapped the two fuel pump relays over and after a few turns of the engine it fired up! All good as gold. I'm still not sure what or why, both relays appear to be clicking in and out okay, I can feel them in my hand as I start the car. The fuel pump has always been whizzing up okay, I'm stumped but happy!

I think I will renew both relays as a precaution anyway.

Now I need to re-book the MOT, should be driving the Griff again by Easter, fingers crossed.

Edited by TVR Dummy on Monday 2nd April 19:26

[SSPPGG]

i had a similair issue in a different car.....turned out the fuel relay was intermittently sticking. yours may have just stuck, and now freed, but on its way out.

[Hoover.]

< don't you just love them...

a few years ago all lights failed just as going onto motorway..... turned ignition off, then on again.. hey presto..... no idea why ??? but relieved lol

[Barreti]

That was just a slow blink Hoover. You must have had a hard day at work