11 replies to this topic

[nev_payne]

Seems SirD doesn't want to start. Last 2 mornings I've been trying to get him to a garage for ECU clearance.

First try I thought was possibly a flat battery. charged him up last night and it was the same case this morning.

Fuel pump primes and can be heard over the engine turning over when trying to start. Checked cut of switch, checked ignition leads.

The ignition, what there using it sounds like there's some sort of firing but not enough to start the engine over. Say... 1 in every 3 or 4 half turns is firing. This continues until you stop pushing the key forward.

Any ideas? Cheers people :)

[R1minimagic]

Did you try the other ECU?

[nev_payne]

Didn't have time this morning. Seems like a bit of a cheat almost, not to mention I'd have to have words with the dash and get the immobiliser changed out too - they're there as a spare only.

I'll get the spark plugs out tonight and check them over incase the coils gone bust.

Any other ideas?

[charie t]

have you got a spark?

[nev_payne]

Tested all the sparks this morning - only 4 was having a bit of intermittency. They were all flooded pretty heavily with petrol so cleaned them off.

Still nothing other than coughing.

Removed the injector power cables so the engine would run on on just sparks and no fuel, and sure enough it ran for about 2 seconds.

Tried again and it turned with no coughing.

Injectors cables back in and hes running again! Leaves the question of why the cylinders flooded in the first place.....

[welshdan]

i have had some problems with my mpi in the past. one starting problem was an intermittent non start - i tried everything, in the end it turned out to be the water temp sensor. sometimes the car wouldnt even start off a bump, even when being towed. after months of chasing this problem it was the water temp sensor - they are fairly cheap new, it may be worth looking into. also this continuously showed on the diagnostics. give it a go. cheers, dan

[Joethechippy]

my mpi used to stutter and stal quite alot. I cleaned up the air temp sensor, unscrewed it and cleaned the black gunk off it with solvent (green one down below the airbox) Fixed it and ran very smooth after that. Not sure if this will fix your problem but its worth a try. Just wish my current issue was so quick

[jamesmpi]

i was told that if you leave the battery disconnected long enough (30mins or so).....(or if its flat then no need to disconnect it), then your ECU will clear itself of fault codes......anyone know if that is true or not?

[nev_payne]

i was told that if you leave the battery disconnected long enough (30mins or so).....(or if its flat then no need to disconnect it), then your ECU will clear itself of fault codes......anyone know if that is true or not?

Well mine was disconnected for 4 years. Certainly didn't clear a full memory bank.

[Bartje]

i was told that if you leave the battery disconnected long enough (30mins or so).....(or if its flat then no need to disconnect it), then your ECU will clear itself of fault codes......anyone know if that is true or not?

Nope, the only thing it does is resetting the idle position, that's why it'll idle a bit rough after starting again, it needs to relearn it's new idle position.
The MPi ECU does however perform a self-check after every time you turn on the ignition, so it checks for faulty sensors and stuff. If there has been a faulty sensor or loose connection or broken wire, and that problem has been solved, the ECU will again start using that sensor instead of using the limp-home values.

Remind: the SPi ECU does NOT perform a self-check, so saved errors on the SPi ALWAYS need to be reset with a FCR before the ECU starts using that sensor again!

[Realminiman]

solved yet ..?

[nev_payne]

Yeap been running for sometime - see 18 March 2012 - 01:28 PM - Post 5.

Has since had a second gearbox rebuild and a vacuum hose replacement, running even smoother now.

Edited by nev_payne, 06 May 2012 - 11:57 PM.