400SE Coldstart Problem. Help!
Discussion
I've just bought a 400SE and it seems to have a coldstart problem. Battery is charged and lively. The engine turns over rapidly but doesn't fire. After a lot of messing about with the distributor cap and turning over it eventually bursts into life. Once started it sounds like thunder and goes like lightening. Starting when warm is fine. Its the type of engine where the fuel pump buzzes when ignition on.(flapper maybe). Any ideas would be most welcome. Coldstart sensor maybe? or any other ideas? I need help to cure this before calling out a garage.
Tony. TCB.
Tony. TCB.
ELVIS IS BACK IN THE BUILDING..Tony...I have to ask.....And please dont take it the wrong way mate...But why did you get rid of a sorted 400SE and end up buying one not so sorted???...Where's the S???..... 
Has anyone got a picture of the cold start injector or tell me where on the engine it is exactly?
Zig. To answer your question, I have sold the S, it wasn't the right car for me. How and why I've bought this 400SE is a long story, because I wasn't actually looking for one. Still, I will explain later once I've sorted out a few of these problems, espacially the cold starting.
Tony. TCB.
Zig. To answer your question, I have sold the S, it wasn't the right car for me. How and why I've bought this 400SE is a long story, because I wasn't actually looking for one. Still, I will explain later once I've sorted out a few of these problems, espacially the cold starting.
Tony. TCB.
just been chasing the same problem myself and turned out to be the ignition module on side of dizzy. Not to say that this will be same on yours but more than likely you've got a weak spark! if leads, coil, cap rotor, plugs etc. are old it doesn't hurt to change these as they're relatively cheap and due to be changed anyway.
as for the cold start injector its on the drivers side top of plenum but to be honest it does really do much unless your trying to start in sub Arctic conditions and most including mine run with them disconnected.
as for the cold start injector its on the drivers side top of plenum but to be honest it does really do much unless your trying to start in sub Arctic conditions and most including mine run with them disconnected.
Edited by al 350i on Saturday 30th March 19:45
al 350i said:
just been chasing the same problem myself and turned out to be the ignition module on side of dizzy. Not to say that this will be same on yours but more than likely you've got a weak spark! if leads, coil, cap rotor, plugs etc. are old it doesn't hurt to change these as they're relatively cheap and due to be changed anyway.
as for the cold start injector its on the drivers side top of plenum but to be honest it does really do much unless your trying to start in sub Arctic conditions and most including mine run with them disconnected.
I am in the process of changing the leads, cap and so on, but where can I get hold of an ignition module and how easy is it to fit?as for the cold start injector its on the drivers side top of plenum but to be honest it does really do much unless your trying to start in sub Arctic conditions and most including mine run with them disconnected.
Edited by al 350i on Saturday 30th March 19:45
Tony. TCB.
ElvisWedgely said:
Has anyone got a picture of the cold start injector or tell me where on the engine it is exactly?
Something like this?
The one on the right
Read about the CSI and for an educational tour, most of the rest your system here:
http://www.vintagemodelairplane.com/pages/Rover_Te...
The ignition amplifier is probably on the side of the distributor.
Its not that easy to fit, and it has to be mounted with a smear of thermal conducting paste.
And you will just love the ignition essays
http://www.vintagemodelairplane.com/pages/Download...
http://www.vintagemodelairplane.com/pages/Download...
Print them off and hide them inside you hymn book for some quite reading at church!
fairly easy to fit, sits on side of dizzy. its attached with 2 very small bolts, which can be fiddly to get too but should be possible, a 7/32 small socket on the bolt head........yes its imperial!!!, once loosened you can use it with your fingers to undo.
the easiest way is to loosen and turn the dizzy but this has 2 further problems 1. getting to bolt at collar of dizzy to undo it (14mm rachet spanner and small hands) and 2. if you turn dizzy you've got to make sure you mark it and turn it back to correct position otherwise you'll through the timing out.
i would try and take it off without moving dizzy, it is possible just fiddly. there are 2 wires connected to the module so make note which one goes to each terminal, some of the new ones come with a 3 pin connector plug with 2 wires that you'll need to solder (or could use bullet connectors) to your existing wires. a new one should come with thermal paste, which you'll want to put thin smear on back of module when refitting.
i found that when i was cranking my car it tried to start when i let go of the key. i also found i was missing the carbon brush in the top of the distributor cap (under cap in middle, on a little spring) so could be worth a check!
http://www.tvrpower.co.uk/store/slug/ignition-modu...
the easiest way is to loosen and turn the dizzy but this has 2 further problems 1. getting to bolt at collar of dizzy to undo it (14mm rachet spanner and small hands) and 2. if you turn dizzy you've got to make sure you mark it and turn it back to correct position otherwise you'll through the timing out.
i would try and take it off without moving dizzy, it is possible just fiddly. there are 2 wires connected to the module so make note which one goes to each terminal, some of the new ones come with a 3 pin connector plug with 2 wires that you'll need to solder (or could use bullet connectors) to your existing wires. a new one should come with thermal paste, which you'll want to put thin smear on back of module when refitting.
i found that when i was cranking my car it tried to start when i let go of the key. i also found i was missing the carbon brush in the top of the distributor cap (under cap in middle, on a little spring) so could be worth a check!
http://www.tvrpower.co.uk/store/slug/ignition-modu...
Thanks for all the information lads. Another good reason why I'm back to a Wedge. So much help on this forum. I have fully charged the battery and the car is kept in the garage. This morning it fired up first time. However I will keep an eye on the morning start as it could be an intermittent fault and I don't want to get stranded somewhere. Now I am more clued up as to what the problem might be. The AA must be getting tired of seeing me.
My new Wedge is in my name profile photo and I have named it BBBB. Can anyone guess what that stands for? Answers on a post card.
Tony. TCB.
My new Wedge is in my name profile photo and I have named it BBBB. Can anyone guess what that stands for? Answers on a post card.
Tony. TCB.
njhucker said:
If you can hear the fuel pump when you turn on the ignition, then it sounds like you have a hotwire system not a flapper. So you will not have a cold start injector. you will. have a stepper motor, and it could be that it is not. resetting itself.
Now, that makes sense. I can hear the pump and so it must be a hotwire system. I can now see the stepper motor on the top part of the plenum on the drivers side. This is what was confusing me as I was looking for a coldstart injector. It is possible that it's not resetting. Something I'll have to watch the next time if refuses to fire. How much effect does the stepper motor have on cold start up I wonder? Thanks for that info.Tony. TCB.
njhucker and ElvisWedgely and GV said:
- If you can hear the fuel pump when you turn on the ignition, then it sounds like you have a hotwire system not a flapper.
- Now, that makes sense. I can hear the pump and so it must be a hotwire system. I can now see the stepper motor on the top part of the plenum on the drivers side.
- ..... Carbs?
. Where there are choices of two or three systems, there must be a way knowing which system is being queried, or, wondering if some owners have any idea which basic fueling system is installed in their cars?There is an s shaped hose that joins the stepper motor housing to the plenum by the throttle assembly. Check there is no cracks in it. When you switch on the ignition the stepper motor should wind itself all the way in and then back out the required number of turns to set itself. There is plenty of stuff on the net on how to check and clean it.
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