cant get it started-urgent-please help!
cant get it started-urgent-please help!
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Discussion

clive f

Original Poster:

7,259 posts

263 months

Tuesday 21st October 2008
quotequote all
Hi all,i'm struggling to start my car,and cant figure it out!Were getting fuel and a spark,but still it wont run.We were driving the car at the time it stopped,and it just ground to a halt as if it had had the fuel supply instantly stopped,or the ignition was switched off.I dont think the spark is particularly good(checked on both banks),but would both coil packs pack up at the same time?I would expect one bank to still be ok?Both coil packs are the cheaper pattern citroen type from local motor factor,and are roughly 2k miles old.
any help much appreciated-cheers,Mike

Del 203

12,728 posts

279 months

Tuesday 21st October 2008
quotequote all
Should've stuck with the RV8 wink

& Sorry can't help frown



Duke Thrust

1,680 posts

269 months

Tuesday 21st October 2008
quotequote all
Not something like an immobiliser problem?

Crank sensor?

What does the ECU S/W say?

clive f

Original Poster:

7,259 posts

263 months

Tuesday 21st October 2008
quotequote all
Thanks for replies so far-even yo,Delhehe
Unfortnately i dont have the software,or any idea how to use it,even if i got hold of it.I'd like to think it was a coil problem,but surely not bnopth coil packs at onceconfusedIf it were the crank sensor,would i get a spark at all?
What is the crank sensor off,and how easy is it to change,ie do you need to remove the bell housing?

touching cloth

11,706 posts

269 months

Tuesday 21st October 2008
quotequote all
Alternator output ok? Getting a spark but it's weak could be just a bad output not giving enough ooomph, could even just be the notorious (and my favourite diagnosis which I suggest for everything) big fuse biggrin

blujay10

583 posts

260 months

Tuesday 21st October 2008
quotequote all
Assuming Cerberas have the same 100 amp fuse as the Chimaera, might be worth a quick look?

GreenV8S

31,024 posts

314 months

Tuesday 21st October 2008
quotequote all
clive f said:
Were getting fuel and a spark
Are the plugs wet? This would prove that fuel is actually getting into the cylinder which rules out a load of ECU related stuff.

clive f

Original Poster:

7,259 posts

263 months

Tuesday 21st October 2008
quotequote all
yes plugs are wet, so fuel side seems okay.

WIL35

548 posts

240 months

Tuesday 21st October 2008
quotequote all
Mine just stopped when the timing chain broke! No noise or fuss, just wouldn't restart. As long as you can't just spin the alternator pulley with your fingertips, it's probably not that. Good luck!

high52kojak

505 posts

227 months

Tuesday 21st October 2008
quotequote all
Dont want to scare you but thats what mine did and it had snapped the timing chain, might be worth taking the oil filler pipe off (just a couple of small cap head screws) and having a look at the chain see if its tensioned and not loose like mine was

GreenV8S

31,024 posts

314 months

Tuesday 21st October 2008
quotequote all
clive f said:
yes plugs are wet, so fuel side seems okay.
Clutching straws it could be something affecting all the coils - I assume they share a common supply, and perhaps some common electronics wihin the ECU, but the fact you have a spark at all makes that seem unlikely. I have a depressing feeling you could be looking at a cam drive failure. Anyone know if this engine is 'safe'? I wouldn't be at all optimistic that is is.

If it *is* a cam failure then possible symptoms would be no intake suction or exhaust pressure while cranking. Are any ancilliaries driven off the cam/timing chain? If so you could see whether they're still connected.

clive f

Original Poster:

7,259 posts

263 months

Tuesday 21st October 2008
quotequote all
Thanks for further replies.The jackshaft turns the alternator,so the chain is still going around,when looking through the hole left by removing the oil filler the chain is still taught up against the tensioner.We seem to have plenty of fuel,but the spark isn't brilliant,according to a pro mechanic neighbour.Weve swapped coil packs,to no avail,also swapped ecu's!.I've also checked for excessive current drain but there isn't any.Really stumped!!!

brogenville

941 posts

231 months

Tuesday 21st October 2008
quotequote all
Just be damn glad for the time being that it isnt your cam chain! smile

C3BER

4,714 posts

253 months

Tuesday 21st October 2008
quotequote all
Bloody hell old boy...C3BER to the rescue...I Hope.

Just had the same thing happen to mine. Plenty of fuel, kicks over, nice happy spark but would not start.

Answer: and thanks to Ian at TvR, the temperature switch. The thing was buggered and it was telling the car it was hot but it was not. I'm no spanner guru so I'm told it works like a choke. So the out come was I was getting to much fuel which caused flooding, hence car conking out and not starting.

Toadusmodus

693 posts

311 months

Tuesday 21st October 2008
quotequote all
Possibly water in the wiring loom to the ecu, or faulty crank sensor. Hook a laptop up and see if there are any fault codes.

clive f

Original Poster:

7,259 posts

263 months

Tuesday 21st October 2008
quotequote all
checked the temperature switch, and replaced the crank sensor, unfortunately still stumped.

Guy J Russell

346 posts

218 months

Tuesday 21st October 2008
quotequote all
Well if your getting a spark and fuel the only other thing is timing which should be ok as it was running before and is a little hard to check for and compression. It would be worth checking this if only to rule it out. Was the temperature normal when it stopped did you notice?

cupra20v.t

1,149 posts

219 months

Tuesday 21st October 2008
quotequote all
so the car is cranking over? does the turning over speed sound normal?

how were you driving it when it stopped? had you driven it hard. would the timing have gone out slighlty?

check the big fuse, makesurethe earths have a good contact. check fuses in the boot.

is the alarm working like normal?

sorry for all the Q's but you have to cover all aspects

clive f

Original Poster:

7,259 posts

263 months

Tuesday 21st October 2008
quotequote all
the RAC man has been out and is happy with the spark,and to be honest,i did look good now that the light has faded.were wondering about the fuel pressure regulator?Is ir the same as the rv8 one?

sonnylad

1,165 posts

255 months

Tuesday 21st October 2008
quotequote all
Can you hear the fuel pump prime ?