My rebuilt engine

[Ned]

Glad to be some help, but now what are we going to do till xmas? someone else must have an odd problem we can get involved with?

[norma]

I've got a problem!
I cant decide whether to buy a TVR Cerbera or an Audi RS4

[MattD]

RS4 - if you can afford the fuel bill.
But then you'd have to part with the RS2 !

And later on a 420ps 4.2 40v V8 would be a hell of a kitcar powerplant.

[stylussprinter]

Well if you insist on buying TVR then at least get a Griffith or a Tuscan ----- the Cerbera's a canal boat with a big engine ---- ducks for cover

Actually this fun discussion should probably be in TOPIC ''doesn't fit anywhere else''

[norma]

moved ..........

[stylussprinter]

Anyone reading my Goodwood 25th June post in Events will know I had problems with starting just before being called up to start . I thought , after finding that the starter had never engaged fully with the ring gear , that modifying the starter was the problem( seeing as ecu's don't like having less than their required volts).
Once modified it started first time so I forgot all about it till today .
Today it did exactly the same apart from not properly engaging ------ whizzed it round for what seemed minutes , just as it did on the startline BUT it wasn't having any

In the winter after my rebuild it was the damn sensor in the water rail that was preventing fuel getting in but that item's replaced so where do I look now NED

[norma]

i don't understand - did the starter motor engage properly this time? i.e. was it the starter solenoid not pushing the gear across properly?

[stylussprinter]

i don't understand - did the starter motor engage properly this time? i.e. was it the starter solenoid not pushing the gear across properly?

Yes , engaged correctly and spun it round fast for minutes but without starting . At Goodwood there were two problems , one --- it missed the cog engaging fully , so made grating noises then secondly finally gripped but took ages to start .

It's that taking ages that's happening today , in fact won't start at all so it's clear I was simply lucky to get away at all at Goodwood .

[stylussprinter]

I think my Stylus must be in retirement along with the driver Just now I was about to remove the dash top to look at all the wiring joints ---- then thought , it's been on charge all night , I'll give it another go --- would you believe it started first turn
Maybe it's the ecu cutting functions unless the power to ' it ' is sufficient Anyway I ran it to temp' before switching off then tried it again --- immediate start so now totally baffled , not that it takes much to baffle me ecu and electronics wise

[norma]

nothing worse than an intermittant problem!!!! Impossible to find

[stylussprinter]

Matt suggested I ran the ecu from a seperate battery source if it happens again to prove or otherwise that it's an ecu defensive mechanism . Also that I could install a bulb in the battery positive to the ecu . That way if it dulled while turning the engine over without the engine firing then it would prove the above to be the case

Something for me to consider if it won't start next time

[stylussprinter]

Similar problem to last year listed in all previous posts BUT not sorted by heating the water temp to ecu sensor with boiling water
Very strange too because I start and run it up to temp every 2/3 weeks which I'd done last in January without any issue . I checked/tried all the same ideas gleaned from you all during the previous non-start post --------------------------- no go. Then I decided to check the toggle switch that interupts positive supply to the ecu . Pulled off the connectors , tightened them a touch with pliers , greased and put back ------------------------- still no go. Then just to be sure put a small nail between both connectors ------------- away she went immediately After removing the nail/switch now on , it continued to run ---- Then running up to temp and turning off , tried a re-start ---- no go . Nail back in position --- started ok.
New switch ordered now so we'll see what other tricks ' she ' can get up to , just to confuse me
By the way , I removed the switch while the engine was running via '' nail '' power , popped it onto a battery with a headlight bulb ----------- yes you guessed it , it functioned perfectly , switching on and off several times SO we'll see just what my new switch will achieve soon

[mikeb]

I had the same problem. maybe use a relay to supply the ecu.

[norma]

maybe you should rename your car 'Christine'

[stylussprinter]

maybe you should rename your car 'Christine'

Not sure I ' get ' the joke but it's name's always been '' The Bitch '' due to how many knuckles I've scraped during the build and since