Not a Happy Start...

[Nuggs]

Chaps - need some help - had a slight starting problem this evening...

Went to start her up today. Fuel pump primed fine, turned the key and que much 'coughing' as she tried to fire. I tried for about 5 seconds but despite much coughing, she didn't catch. She caught on the second go after about 3 seconds (usually she fires up pretty much instantly).

I stopped for petrol and she fired up much better, but it wasn't entirely convincing.

The car's not been out much over the past few weeks, although she has been plugged into an Accumate (which indicated full charge just before I started her up) the whole time.

Any ideas?

Thanks all

[Al Up North]

Was it really low on fuel when you tried first time?

[Nuggs]

Al Up North said:

Was it really low on fuel when you tried first time?

Not particularly - about 1/4 of a tank....

[im]

Do you keep her serviced regularly? Plugs etc?

[Nuggs]

im said:

Do you keep her serviced regularly? Plugs etc?

And if it was the plugs then surely she'd be running rough/down on power (which she isn't)?

[burriana]

Nuggs said:

Al Up North said:

Was it really low on fuel when you tried first time?

Not particularly - about 1/4 of a tank....

That's a "yes" then. The fuel gauges are notoriously unreliable ... never go below 1/4 if you can help it or you stand a real risk of running out!

[blueyonder]

Better fill up tomorrow before I set off then Might be a fuel filter problem....some dregs might have got through if you get to the bottom of the fuel tank?

[Nuggs]

burriana said:

Nuggs said:

Al Up North said:

Was it really low on fuel when you tried first time?

Not particularly - about 1/4 of a tank....

That's a "yes" then. The fuel gauges are notoriously unreliable ... never go below 1/4 if you can help it or you stand a real risk of running out!

TBH - mine's pretty good. When I filled up with V-Power, it only needed about £40 worth to fill it from where it was...

I do agree with what you're saying though - I was filling it up because it was showing 1/4 full, IYSWIM...

BTW, it had a new fuel filter fitted last Autumn.

Edited by Nuggs on Friday 6th April 08:16

[andy-w]

blueyonder said:

Better fill up tomorrow before I set off then Might be a fuel filter problem....some dregs might have got through if you get to the bottom of the fuel tank?

What 'dregs' do you expect to come though from running the tank low???

i have just taken my tank out and totaly emptied it and the fuel that came out was clear...there is a lot of 'urban ledgend' that says you get the dregs come out the bottom of the tank but the fuel outlet is probably one of the lowest points on the petrol tank...if there is any dregs they would be sucked out and caught by the fule filter anyway...

[Nuggs]

andy-w said:

blueyonder said:

Better fill up tomorrow before I set off then Might be a fuel filter problem....some dregs might have got through if you get to the bottom of the fuel tank?

What 'dregs' do you expect to come though from running the tank low???

i have just taken my tank out and totaly emptied it and the fuel that came out was clear...there is a lot of 'urban ledgend' that says you get the dregs come out the bottom of the tank but the fuel outlet is probably one of the lowest points on the petrol tank...if there is any dregs they would be sucked out and caught by the fule filter anyway...

A garage managed to run mine out of fuel during a test drive. It then started mis-firing and needed a new fuel filter, new plugs and the injectors cleaning.

Not sure if this was because gunge came through the petrol tank though...

[burriana]

andy-w said:

blueyonder said:

Better fill up tomorrow before I set off then Might be a fuel filter problem....some dregs might have got through if you get to the bottom of the fuel tank?

What 'dregs' do you expect to come though from running the tank low???

It's just "err on the safe side" Andy. But having said that, running out of fuel you should not need one as you're right, there shouldn't be much muck in the tank to start with... but you never know.

[thenick]

How come the fuel guages are supposedly so inaccurate? I usually run mine right down to empty before filling up (usually around £45) and have never had a problem with misfiring or feelings of imminent doom... It does always seem to run better on a full tank however - more pops and bangs, slightly deeper exhaust note... very stange could that be signs of a blocked vent pipe maybe?

[Nuggs]

Well, I've fired it up a few times over the weekend and it's been perfect every single time!

I guess it either didn't like being left (despite being plugged into the Accumate) for a few weeks while I was out of action with a slipped disc, or the fuel was a little on the low side.

Either way, it all seems fine now and the cost of repair was free

Thanks for all the responses

[overhere]

1/4 tank, fuel problems, hmmm... maybe.

IMHO, I’d suspect a lamda sensor or airflow meter. Sounds drastic but I had a similar problem with mine 2 weeks after I bought it, also "not a good start" to TVR ownership that is. dealer suspected lamda's and replaced them (under warranty, aren't warranties great ;-) a week later is started coughing and spluttering again, this time with lots of white smoke. Over the next few weeks it would sometimes run fine, sometimes just cough and splutter for a while after starting then run fine, and once or twice would start fine, run fine and then suddenly during a mundane drive start spluttering.

Back to the dealer several times with no diagnosis, (typical, it always ran great when they had it) then I left it with them for a week and they finally diagnosed the airflow meter, replaced it (under warranty ;-) and she's been great, ever since (touch wood).

Hope it helps

[Nuggs]

overhere said:

1/4 tank, fuel problems, hmmm... maybe.

IMHO, I’d suspect a lamda sensor or airflow meter. Sounds drastic but I had a similar problem with mine 2 weeks after I bought it, also "not a good start" to TVR ownership that is. dealer suspected lamda's and replaced them (under warranty, aren't warranties great ;-) a week later is started coughing and spluttering again, this time with lots of white smoke. Over the next few weeks it would sometimes run fine, sometimes just cough and splutter for a while after starting then run fine, and once or twice would start fine, run fine and then suddenly during a mundane drive start spluttering.

Back to the dealer several times with no diagnosis, (typical, it always ran great when they had it) then I left it with them for a week and they finally diagnosed the airflow meter, replaced it (under warranty ;-) and she's been great, ever since (touch wood).

Hope it helps

I'd have thought a Lamda or AFM problem was unlikely in my case, as it was running perfectly, just not starting so well.

Anyway, all seems sorted now *fingers crossed*