cold starting

[tav]

My S1 always used to fire up on the first turn of the key. Now it appears to be happy to turnover for long periods without catching, strangely it tends to almost catch at the moment you release the key. After two or three goes like this (with mini blowbacks coming from the engine bay each time)it catches properly and runs fine. Warm starting fine also.

Any quick fixes or things to check, or is it another job for the professionals??

[muley]

Tav,

I had a similar problem with my S1 - it was cured by cleaning the loom connectors that dangle around just in front of the servo.

[tav]

Thanks, I'll give it a go. I Presume the wires connect to something that could itself be causing a problem - any suggestion as to what it is?

cheers

[muley]

Tav,

I seem to remember it was one of the connections between the fuel pump relay and the ignition module - we found a high impedance across the connection, so sometimes it was OK (when hot) and other times not so good (when cold)

[tav]

Thanks, I'll check it out

[tav]

cleaned up all the electrical connections at the weekend but no improvement.

So, armed with the 's' bible I took the cold start valve out and held it in a glass jar while the engine was cranked. The amount coming out of it is best described as a small dribble, whereas I expected at least a squirt or spray of some sort. Can anybody confirm that this suggests the valve is knackered before I buy a new one?

cheers

[tav]

Cost of a new cold start valve (part No 6051567 from Ford dealer - if they can find one) is over £40, so can anyone confirm my view that it is knackered.

ta

[tav]

Out of interest the cold start valve is unavailable from the Ford dealer network. As a result I decided to try to clean mine. I took the valve of the car and held it in a vice. Then with the help of a foot pump, managed to pump the cleaning fluid through the valve while running 12V through the valve to hold it open.

Not the sort of thing you see recommended in a haynes manual but successful anyway. gives a lovely spray now rather than the dribble before.

After all that, the car still didn't start from cold so currently checking through all the other possibilities in the bible......