8 replies to this topic

[dennisb]

Hello everyone - I hope someone's able to help me out...

On Saturday I decided to clean-up the dodgy earth in my boot. No bother there - nice new bolt and washers in onto bare shiny metal. Car started perfectly, and now my clock doesn't stop in the middle of the night!

Next day I thought I'd charge my battery. I was asked to move my car a few feet and out of habit and without thinking I started the engine while it was charging and it made a fast clicking noise and didn't start. Balls. After the 'charged' light came on, I started it to see if I did any damage and it worked perfectly. Phew.

Yesterday I noticed when driving along that if I flashed my lights or tooted the horn, my radio would cut-off for a second or two.

Now today I went to start it and all that happened was the starter spun but nothing else - as if there's no spark or no fuel. When I turn the key I can hear the fuel pump starting up. All the electrics work as normal, just not the engine ones!

Hope someone can help me get it back running again!



Just as an aside, like I said about the clock, if the power keeps getting cut in the middle of the night, does that mean my ECU resets each night?



I'm a mechanical novice by the way - so I'm sorry in advance if I'm not much use!!

The car's a 2000 MPi Cooper with an MED stage 3 head, and W+P stage 1 kit and fuel pressure regulator.

[robtheplod]

How old is your battery, and are you sure it's ok?

[dennisb]

The battery is only about 4 months old. I can't remember the type no, but it's defo the one the manual told me to buy for an MPi - I had to order it in so really made sure.

I forgot to say on my original post, I've had a good look most of the day through others posts, but I can't see anyone with the same problems as me. Sure some very similar, but none happening the same way. I only took apart the earth strap in the boot and re-attached it and charged the battery so I've not interfered with any other cables or parts like a lot of other people's posts. A few days ago it was perfect except for the loose earth.

[dennisb]

After reading some other peoples posts, I just tried the following...

Pressed the fuel cut-off switch - no difference.
and
Tried to reset the ECU (10 presses on the pedal at pos 1 - tried it at 2 too) - no difference

I think the next thing is to try to see if there's a spark. Problemn here is that I seem to remember someone telling me once that with an injection engine you shouldn't do the plug against the block test because it might damage something - is this true?

Is there a safe way to test for a spark? I've only got basic tools by the way...

Thanks in advance.

[sirweste]

testing for a spark is the (first) next step - bear in mind coil packs throw out about 33'000Volt so you wana use insulated pliers. Never heard of not sparking it to the block - I've never done any harm

[Sprocket]

Tried to reset the ECU (10 presses on the pedal at pos 1 - tried it at 2 too) - no difference

You forgot to run around the car twice inbetween the pedal presses

Sorry, I just dont think these things do what everyone think they do, I an yet to be convinced

As for what you problem is, it is difficult, and Im afaraid I wouldnt know where to start to describe a possible solution. I would be looking for blown fuses and the likes, but I really dont want to say that the ECU has taken a hit

If you remove the power from the ECU it wont loose anything, infact if you remove the ecu from the car and put it on the shelf for a year, it would still have the same information in its memory when its plugged back in

Charging a battery with it still connected to the wiring is BAD, you may have fried the alternator voltage regulator. Does the battery show anything above 12v with the battery disconnecterd?

Other things to consider is the imobiliser.

Pure speculation however

[dennisb]

After reading other posts, I did the sync of the immobiliser (pressing the blank button 4 times) - didn't help.

I'll get my hands on some well insulated pliers and some rubbery gloves and do the block test tomorrow sometime. Maybe know more then...

I don't have any equipment to test electrics, so I'll try to borrow some from someone in the club to see what I can find. Better still, maybe get that person to help me seeing as I'm bloody hopeless.

Thanks very much for getting back to me sirweste and Sprocket!

[dennisb]

Sorry about me not getting back in a while - had big problems with the house.

Did the spark plug test and every plug is sparking - admittedly though the sparks looked a bit orangey. Not blue like I expected. Having said that, the sparks were enough to ignite the fuel while the plugs were out for the test.

The pump primes and there's defo fuel getting into the cylinders i could smell it when doing the spark test.

Even though I'm convinced the battery is fine, my friend, got his gp behind and tried a jump start. It made no difference at all and my starter spun away like normal.

None of the 4 big fuses at the front, or the ones inside, have blown.

It's almost as if the timing's out because it want's to start, but it's very shuddery (new word?) and just doesn't kick-in.

[dennisb]

Wee update for you.

got it started. A friend told me that the plugs would be gassed because I had tried to start it so much. Got them out and burned them dry/clean over the gas cooker. the car started instantly!

Managed a run ok to give it a good blow though to clear out any unburnt fuel.

Still haviung problems when trying to start sometimes... when I switch the ignition to 2, the oil and battery lights are dim and flicker - plus there's a ticking noise coming from the engine bay. If I put the ignition on and off an few times it seems to clear itself and then start fine. Going to check all my earths and battery connections. Again.

Also, still cutting out the radio sometimes when I flash the lights or tot the horn. Clock also doesn't go, even when driving.

Strange.