new owner - car won't start!!
Discussion
Hi, after wanting a TVR for many years, I picked up my Chimaera yesterday. I've barely done 30 miles and problems already!!
It just won't start! It's got petrol, it sparks, I've read the advice in the forums and have pulled the relays for the ECU and the petrol pump, cleaned the plugs, checked the HT leads - can't seem to find the problem.
I can hear the whine of the pump from the back of the car when I turn the ignition. The engine turns over but it won't fire up.
Any help would be much appreciated!! Only sorry that my first conversation on here is asking for help!!
It just won't start! It's got petrol, it sparks, I've read the advice in the forums and have pulled the relays for the ECU and the petrol pump, cleaned the plugs, checked the HT leads - can't seem to find the problem.
I can hear the whine of the pump from the back of the car when I turn the ignition. The engine turns over but it won't fire up.
Any help would be much appreciated!! Only sorry that my first conversation on here is asking for help!!
I have had this problem a few times.
There's 3 relays that sort of hang by themselves near the ECU.
Relay 1: controls the fuel pump.{You mentioned that the whine is coming from the pump}So ignore that one.
Relay 2 & 3: This are the one that caused me problems, the box that the relay fits into, came lose at the rear, so the engine just keeps cranking over but does not start.
Check that the wires are not corroded (from damp),rusted or have a loose connection.
Also when this happened to mine the relay(s) stopped working properly. I noticed that the where always hot.
They internal connector had burned out, causing a slow power drain of the battery.
Get yourself to a ford dealership (I think) and get 2 new relays. (they are not that expensive), and change them.
Hope this helps.
>> Edited by pena on Monday 6th June 03:02
There's 3 relays that sort of hang by themselves near the ECU.
Relay 1: controls the fuel pump.{You mentioned that the whine is coming from the pump}So ignore that one.
Relay 2 & 3: This are the one that caused me problems, the box that the relay fits into, came lose at the rear, so the engine just keeps cranking over but does not start.
Check that the wires are not corroded (from damp),rusted or have a loose connection.
Also when this happened to mine the relay(s) stopped working properly. I noticed that the where always hot.
They internal connector had burned out, causing a slow power drain of the battery.
Get yourself to a ford dealership (I think) and get 2 new relays. (they are not that expensive), and change them.
Hope this helps.
>> Edited by pena on Monday 6th June 03:02
I suggest you put brand new plugs in. Yes it is possible to clean old plugs, but even if you know what you're doing you won't get them back to 'as new'. From your description I guess you have already shown there is a strong spark at the plugs, and I assume you smelt loads of petrol on the plugs when they came out for cleaning, so most likely it has just flooded. If either of these assumptins are false then you need to investigate potential fuel/ignition problems. It isn't normally possible to flood the engine if everything is working properly, but it can easily happen if there is anything marginal about the ignition system or any damp in the engine bay.
Make sure you keep the battery charged up, if this starts to run down you're flogging a dead horse.
Has it got an immobiliser you aren't familiar with? If it's cranking and you have fuel and spark I guess this rules out immobilser problems, but it's the sort of thing that could catch a new owner out.
If all else fails talk to the previous owner.
Make sure you keep the battery charged up, if this starts to run down you're flogging a dead horse.
Has it got an immobiliser you aren't familiar with? If it's cranking and you have fuel and spark I guess this rules out immobilser problems, but it's the sort of thing that could catch a new owner out.
If all else fails talk to the previous owner.
She is up and running!!!
Took out the old plugs and left them out for about half hour put the new plugs in the oven to warm them up and it started straight away...did clean the rotor arm, dizzy cap and disconnected and reconnected a few things as well just to make sure everything had good connections but whatever it was has put a huge smile back on my face...just wondering how the neighbours like the new alarm clock???
Just one other thing...it seems to splutter really bad until it has warmed up...is this normal?
Sorry for sounding like a numpty but this is my first TVR...!!!
Thanks for the help and advice from all of you.
Andy
Took out the old plugs and left them out for about half hour put the new plugs in the oven to warm them up and it started straight away...did clean the rotor arm, dizzy cap and disconnected and reconnected a few things as well just to make sure everything had good connections but whatever it was has put a huge smile back on my face...just wondering how the neighbours like the new alarm clock???
Just one other thing...it seems to splutter really bad until it has warmed up...is this normal?
Sorry for sounding like a numpty but this is my first TVR...!!!
Thanks for the help and advice from all of you.
Andy
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