Possible Goodwood test day on 14th December 2013

[stylussprinter]

Have offered £100 for a Goodwood trackday on 14th Dec to the director of CLASSIC & SPORTS CAR Magazine and it's been accepted . He can't make it due to other commitments but now need to contact Goodwood to arrange swapping of car and driver over etc.
Obviously I'm not going to be able to drive ' all out ' with the db's max being 98db but it will give me a chance to scrub in the new tyres and get a feel for how the car behaves on the 13 in wheels Flat out would be bad for scrubbing in anyway but it'd be nice if a dry day appeared for the occasion
ALSO VERY CHEAP

[MattD]

I was going to say I'll take the day off, but having checked its a Saturday anyway.

See you there Rob

[stylussprinter]

I was going to say I'll take the day off, but having checked its a Saturday anyway.

See you there Rob

I'll let you know asap , when he's sorted with Goodwood , over car & driver change Simon B's thinking he'll come too but not in his OMS

On another point Matt , when's this FDMC dinner dance 2014 ' F ' keeps asking me .

[stylussprinter]

Let's hope they don't remember my car when I tell'em max rev's are 6000

[bluestu]

If it wasnt a saturday i would come along,hope the weather's kind......have fun

[stylussprinter]

If it wasnt a saturday i would come along,hope the weather's kind......have fun

Thanks Stu , Simon and Matt intend coming , so will have some company and someone to check tyre temp's at the front when returning to paddock. It won't be particularly accurate in guiding set-up though , due to the slower lapping , re-- db's

[stylussprinter]

Paid Ben Guynan now , so just waiting for the amended paperwork . A dry day would be nice.

[stylussprinter]

Confirmation of my place from Sandra May/GOODWOOD this morning so just need to get through the sound test on the day At 98db's I'll need to bend the truth a little regarding max rpm ---- hopefully 6000rpm should fit the bill
On a dry sunny day even declaring 6500rpm has got me through at 98db's on occasions ------ I've never admitted to 8000rpm though , even at sprinting's 105db's maximum

[stylussprinter]

Bought some stainless steel wire wool to hopefully lower the db's a little . Inside my exit perforated pipe in the silencer , I fitted a 4 inch tube that's around 1/2 inch smaller diameter than the perf ' tube --- did this years ago when upping the bhp . Basically at each end I've welded over 1/3 rd of the 4 inch tube entry/exit but at opposite sides/ similar to a ' cresent moon ' .
So , what I plan doing is to fill this 4 inch tube with the S Steel wire wool and hopefully the 1/3 rd plate welded over the exit end will hold it in for a while at least --- obviously exhaust can still flow around that 4 inch tube and away but some would have originally gone through as well , only now much less will get through without lowering the tone
Worth a try I thought

WELL -- tried it and ran the engine to temp ' then revved it to 6000rpm on and off for some time ======= no wool exited the tailpipe , so we'll see on Saturday

[stylussprinter]

Being a belt and braces sort of guy and our weather not very predictable in December , I decided to start and load the Stylus today as it's dry and sunny I run it every couple of weeks when not competing , the last time being last week ---- today she has other ideas
Plenty of battery so whizzing it round and not a hint of firing , this has been an intermitant fault ever since going throttle bodies with full engine management in 2006/7 . At one point I thought it was sorted having been steered towards replacing the waterail water temp sensor ie, extra fuel when cold . I've replaced it twice in 6 years but not certain it's the cause this time --------------------- that's the problem with intermitant faults
The fan heater's been warming her up under the bonnet for an hour or more but still no firing at all. Last time this happened I poured boiling water over the sensor and it started immediately. The really anoying thing is that it will probably start if I leave it till tomorrow but I'll be none the wiser as to why
All cars are most definitely females
Having checked fuel at the rail which is there but plugs out with engine spun = no spark --- also no smell of fuel from the open cylinder head. I checked every wire that was relevant and fuses but with no fuel or spark I'm assuming the ecu hasn't told the injectors that the engine is turning over ------- so am now thinking it may be the crank sensor Will buy a new one tomorrow and try again

[stylussprinter]

New sensor bought and fitted ---- bingo , started straight away BUT got stung big time at £43 from MR FORD garage . Couldn't get a delivery fast enough to buy online cheaper plus couldn't be certain the right piece would arrive. Anyway it's loaded now and battery on charge till SATURDAY 5-30am

[stylussprinter]

Life isn't that easy re - bingo
CORRECT ------- it wouldn't start at GOODWOOD Totally pissed off so went round with MattD in the ALFA . It was very greasy and dangerous , although not raining , just mossy stuff growing out of the tarmac in the noname entry and tricky everywjere else
Didn't bother using 6th gear just kept it in 5th down the straights then 4th or 3rd in corners . Even so the 1.65 tonnes pulled along the straights at 100 to 120 mph was hairy under braking and corner entry , with the stupid abs plus Alfa track control system interfering with my own desire for control -------------------------- quite horrible feeling so can't see the benefit at all. Just had to get a bit of value from my £100 paid

[kevp]

Hi Rob,

Sorry to read about the starting problem.

I cant believe that you are having problems still, especially after changing several sensors over the years.
Is it always in the colder weather that the car plays up? what compression are you running. It reminds me of some of my past motor bikes (2 cylinders), if they didnt start in the 1st 2 turns, then they wouldnt start. Give it a rest for 30 or so mins & charge the battery to tip top & all would be OK. Initial battery crank was always the answer. In the summer or once started had no problems from then on.

[CMA]

If you've changed most sensors (have you changed the crank/cam sensor) and are sure the crank sensor is well shielded (and the cam one if that's in use)

If those are ok, then could it be a faulty ECU?

[stylussprinter]

If you've changed most sensors (have you changed the crank/cam sensor) and are sure the crank sensor is well shielded (and the cam one if that's in use)

If those are ok, then could it be a faulty ECU?

Previous post above -- changed cranked sensor then it started immediately , loaded onto trailer but wouldn't start at Goodwood. Plenty of battery to whizz it round , just no sign of trying to fire. Before changing the sensor took plugs out --- no fuel coming in and no spark -- hence the new crank sensor. Bearing in mind that this car has been started on a regular basis since my last event in OCTOBER (every two weeks)
What really puzzles me is --- if it started after a new sensor then the ecu must be fine and it could now be the cam sensor BUT if it is , why did it start and run perfectly to load , after fitting the crank sensor. Obviously fuel/spark arrived in the right place for it to start.
For the moment it's in the bloody shed without any charger on and I've no intention of looking at it right now. Any bids for my £40,000 investment