Help with poorly Chimaera
Discussion
So after an 18 month lay-up I put a new battery on my Chimaera today and it fired up straight away (it has been turned over periodically). Later on though, it would start up and idle nicely, but when I opened the throttle, the car would just die. After that it would start, run for around ten seconds, bog down and stall. It doesn’t cut out straight away, it’s a general slow death with coughing and spluttering, and at the same time there’s a noticeable increase in noise from the fuel pump. When I last used it back in 2012, it would accelerate nicely when using the throttle gently, but if you booted it, the revs would drop and the engine bog down badly, only to come back to life when lifting off the throttle. At that time I changed the fuel pump (although the new one did not sound the same as the old one when it primed), changed the fuel filter, coil, new spark plugs and ignition amplifier. I also put a different MAF on it (second hand so could be shot), but the problem persisted. Since then I haven't had time to sort it out.
Anybody have any ideas, can’t take it anywhere as soon as you give it any throttle it just dies. Thanks.
Anybody have any ideas, can’t take it anywhere as soon as you give it any throttle it just dies. Thanks.
After that length of time the fuel could be 'off'. Drain it and fill her up with fresh super unleaded.
With regard to the previous problem, sounds like over fuelling. Are the lambdas working correctly? Have you tested them or plugged in a fault code reader?
Also the throttle pot? Is that ok?
With regard to the previous problem, sounds like over fuelling. Are the lambdas working correctly? Have you tested them or plugged in a fault code reader?
Also the throttle pot? Is that ok?
Before I started her up for the first time there was not much fuel in it so I put some new petrol in. When the car was cold it ran, idled and revved faultlessly. When I re-started it a few times, that's when it started playing up, and the problem seemed to get worse the hotter the car got.
SwanJack said:
jojackson4 said:
Ecu temp sensor
But you are better off getting rover gauge from blizz and you will stop the
Tail chasing and burning ££££
what is this rover gauge from blizz But you are better off getting rover gauge from blizz and you will stop the
Tail chasing and burning ££££
(haven't been on the forum much of late 
)I am with the guy who said stale fuel. Try that first.....
My lawnmower needed fresh fuel to run this spring.
I have had an increase in noise from the pump when the engine died - caused by the pump sucking air, not fuel.
I had run out of fuel when the gauge said about 10 litres left.
How full is your tank?
It does sound like a lack of fuel. That would be my main thought. Perhaps a blocked pipe - something seems to be preventing fuel from getting to the engine, as you haven't mentioned it stinking of fuel.
Your mention of changing the AFM does get me wondering.....another thing you could try for free is to take the AFM out of the system (or unplug it) and see if the engine will fire up and will run. It won't run perfectly, but it will cope with no signal from the AFM. However, if the AFM is sending a signal saying there is no air, then the ECU will cut the fuel.
I had run out of fuel when the gauge said about 10 litres left.
How full is your tank?
It does sound like a lack of fuel. That would be my main thought. Perhaps a blocked pipe - something seems to be preventing fuel from getting to the engine, as you haven't mentioned it stinking of fuel.
Your mention of changing the AFM does get me wondering.....another thing you could try for free is to take the AFM out of the system (or unplug it) and see if the engine will fire up and will run. It won't run perfectly, but it will cope with no signal from the AFM. However, if the AFM is sending a signal saying there is no air, then the ECU will cut the fuel.
Rovergauge is what is needed. There is a low fuel pressure fault code and others that will point you in the right direction.
Bogging on acceleration can be going lean due to lack of fuel pressure or an air leak into the plenum or similar that is not being metered by the AFM.
Where are you located. There may be someone nearby with Rovergauge.
Bogging on acceleration can be going lean due to lack of fuel pressure or an air leak into the plenum or similar that is not being metered by the AFM.
Where are you located. There may be someone nearby with Rovergauge.
QBee said:
I have had an increase in noise from the pump when the engine died - caused by the pump sucking air, not fuel.
I had run out of fuel when the gauge said about 10 litres left.
How full is your tank?
It does sound like a lack of fuel. That would be my main thought. Perhaps a blocked pipe - something seems to be preventing fuel from getting to the engine, as you haven't mentioned it stinking of fuel.
Your mention of changing the AFM does get me wondering.....another thing you could try for free is to take the AFM out of the system (or unplug it) and see if the engine will fire up and will run. It won't run perfectly, but it will cope with no signal from the AFM. However, if the AFM is sending a signal saying there is no air, then the ECU will cut the fuel.
Started it up from cold tonight and it ran great for about five mins, although there was a strong smell of fuel. In that 5 mins I could blip the throttle nicely. It then started to misfire and died. Started it back up ran for tenish seconds and died, the throttle just cut the engine quicker. Disconnected the AFM and the car would start, but die almost instantly. Dont think its anything in the fuel lines or old fuel as it ran nicely when cold I had run out of fuel when the gauge said about 10 litres left.
How full is your tank?
It does sound like a lack of fuel. That would be my main thought. Perhaps a blocked pipe - something seems to be preventing fuel from getting to the engine, as you haven't mentioned it stinking of fuel.
Your mention of changing the AFM does get me wondering.....another thing you could try for free is to take the AFM out of the system (or unplug it) and see if the engine will fire up and will run. It won't run perfectly, but it will cope with no signal from the AFM. However, if the AFM is sending a signal saying there is no air, then the ECU will cut the fuel.
Edited by SwanJack on Monday 16th June 19:04
taylormj4 said:
Rovergauge is what is needed. There is a low fuel pressure fault code and others that will point you in the right direction.
Bogging on acceleration can be going lean due to lack of fuel pressure or an air leak into the plenum or similar that is not being metered by the AFM.
Where are you located. There may be someone nearby with Rovergauge.
I'm in Llantrisant, we exchanged waves once by the Castell Mynach Pub. If you have one you're more than welcome to come and practice your fault finding skills Bogging on acceleration can be going lean due to lack of fuel pressure or an air leak into the plenum or similar that is not being metered by the AFM.
Where are you located. There may be someone nearby with Rovergauge.
in exchange for beer / wine of your choice 
Got a Rovergauge and connected it all up today. The car when cold starts no problem, but after getting up to temperature (after about 5 mins), it starts to misfire,the revs drop and it eventually dies. All readings when the car is cold appear to be in order (from my limited understanding), but when it starts to die the lambda readings increase, as does the idle control stepper, all the way up to 100%. The car wont run at all then, it starts splutters and dies, with the stepper reading staying at 100%. Again there are no fault codes showing. So is this a stepper motor fault, despite there being no fault codes ? Any advice greatly appreciated.
king arownd SwanJack said:
Got a Rovergauge and connected it all up today. The car when cold starts no problem, but after getting up to temperature (after about 5 mins), it starts to misfire,the revs drop and it eventually dies.
A misfire gets mistaken for a lean mixture- so the ECU trim will ADD fuel up to 100% to try and correct it, but it does not help- so what you are likely seeing is an ECU response to an ignition issue- If both side trims are at 100% then its down to rotor arm, coil, coil supply, ignition amp / connections etc.Gassing Station | Chimaera | Top of Page | What's New | My Stuff