Getting fed up! Been off the road for 4 months now, the last month of which is down to things going wrong. I need some help!
Almost got there this weekend. Bodywork finally back on and I'm just about to take it round the block and it won't start!
It had been running not 10 minutes before, although admittedly only for about 15 seconds while I reversed it out of the garage. Normally once
I've started it I let it run for while. The only things I did to it while it was standing was diconnect and then reconnect the vacuum take off
from the inlet manifold to the servo eand refit the pedal box cover.
It's a 2l Zetec on weber 45s and a GEMS ecu. I've got fuel and a spark, which would suggest timing. But why would it go out just like
that?
Other than the above I guess the significant factors are:
1. When it wouldn't start it was very low on petrol - in fact it may have just about run out had I not switched it off
2. At the moment it's running very, very rich (for reasons discussed below). I have a feeling it may be well and truly flooded. I can sort out
the fuel delivery but do I need to disperse the excess fuel itself or just dry the plugs and try again?
3. Over the winter I refurbishedthe carbs. I noticed that I had massive idle jets and tiny main jets. I re-jetted to about what it should be for a 2l
zetec and the thing wouldn't run for toffee - it was all over the place (I posted at the time). I think the massive idle jets with mixture screws
turned out 5.5 turns (webers should be no more than 2 or 3) are masking a timing issue. In the interim I put the original idles and mains in and it
runs fine, if very rich. I was going to run it like this until I could get it on a rolling road - but actually the issue is probably with the cams I
would have thought so should I start there rather than with the jetting and the ECU? Anyway, point is timing OK or not it was running until this
morning.
Any thoughts appreciated.
Dan
p.s. as an aside why would I have an in-line blade fuse in a wire running between the positive and negative terminals of the battery cut off swith?
If its very rich then the plugs may be partially fouled and although they spark outside the engine may not under compression.I have had this and cured
it by heating the plugs to red heat with a blowlamp and before replacing them spinning the engine on the starter a few times.
Paul.
quote:
Originally posted by contaminated
p.s. as an aside why would I have an in-line blade fuse in a wire running between the positive and negative terminals of the battery cut off swith?
I'll try that, thanks. I have cleaned the plugs right up as well - still no luck.
quote:
Originally posted by paulf
If its very rich then the plugs may be partially fouled and although they spark outside the engine may not under compression.I have had this and cured it by heating the plugs to red heat with a blowlamp and before replacing them spinning the engine on the starter a few times.
Paul.
Waste of time cleaning modern plugs . Try a new set.
Ah I never thought of that. Having a small gauge bypass would allow certain circuits to stay live, but as you say, if you attempt to start, the fuse
would blow - as in fact it has.
quote:
Originally posted by flak monkey
quote:
Originally posted by contaminated
p.s. as an aside why would I have an in-line blade fuse in a wire running between the positive and negative terminals of the battery cut off swith?
Its not the pos and neg terminals, they are both postive....
It will be to keep the power on to something, something like a dashboard or something. Does mean if you forget to turn it on and try to start the car you will blow that fuse.
David
Well I would but they are pretty new and not cheap. May have to now though.
quote:
Originally posted by rusty nuts
Waste of time cleaning modern plugs . Try a new set.
If it is flooded (very easy to do with DCOE carbs) the plugs are wet they just need dried out.
Remove all the plugs and let them dry out. --- heat helps ie use a blow lamp or oven.
With the ignition disconcted and the plugs out spin the engine over for a few turns to dry out the cylinders.
Thanks all, I shall try all of the above.
Dan