andyrst88

Hello,

I've spent many years restoring a escort rs turbo'88 to now have it 95% complete. I'm trying to get the engine on and running happily... I wonder if anybody can help!? Until now I've never needed to post on this forum as thankfully I've always found my question already answered on here!

In a nutshell, she starts everytime, sounds smooth, begins to automatically settle into idle and dies. Sometimes i'll get 2 seconds out of her, sometimes 10. Playing with the throttle doesn't affect it cutting out (i can't keep it on by trying to rev it)

I've googled starting issues to death and have a complete second engine I've been swapping pieces from one bit at a time to eliminate pieces from the puzzle! Nothing has changed it yet. Some of the things I've been through and done the following...

- New fuel lines, fuel tank out cleaned & refitted
- Spark plugs/leads/dissy etc aren't new, but have a few sets and swapping between hasn't affected it
- Air hoses checked and checked again for airleaks, also swapped with spares
- Swapped each sensor out & metering head sensors with spares & cleaned - no change
- cold start valve unplugged stops car from starting cold - so I'm guessing this is working
- and there's probably some other stuff 'cos I've been trying to get her working for ages!
- just today found my spare engine had a coolant sensor (grey) fitted under inlet, but one in the car didnt have this - so I've installed this & plugged into empty plug on wiring loom, but hasn't made anydifference

Engine is standard, with a pace intercooler, and aftermarket cams (engine was running when I took it out of a doner vehicle some 4 years ago) In my rebuild I havent rebuilt engine (yet) and used the same wiring loom/metering head/engine/gearbox that all came from this once running car, really hoping it'd plug & play! But I'm beginning to get a bit stumped now

One sympton I've noticed is sometimes I get a bit of popping and bangs coming up through metering head... enough to once blow off a loosely placed cone filter - maybe this is a clue? I'm not sure what this means

Any help apprechiated chaps - thankyou!

moesin2005

I had this problem check earth on the wiper mount

RSmark84

This is where you want to go:

http://www.rsownersclub.co.uk/rsocbb...play.php?f=173

We've got a skilled and qualified old skool electrician and mechanics on the RSOC who can source the problem and tell you how to cure it.

andyrst88

Thanks guys, I'll pop up a post on rsowners too!

I've had another fiddle this evening, specifically the earth around wiper mount. I bridged this direct to battery with no change I guess this suggests the earth here is/was ok

I also tried disconnecting fuel black ecu, and it doesn't change anything - would've thought this would make things worse! Also tried a spare fuel ecu with again no change.

Can anyone tell me how many/or where earths should be in engine bay? maybe the fuel ecu isn't powered properly if its the same without it connected? On my engine lift hook (close to wiper motor) I've got a treaded hole with nothing in it - could this be an additional engine earth point i'm missing?

Another query, not sure if connected, is I have 3 empty small femalespade connectors with nothing obvious to plug in. One at the wiper mount, and a pair an inch off the main ecu - does anyone know what these are for? (will try to attach pics of these)







Thanks again guys, Andy

mentalasanything

If my memory serves me correctly, there's an earth from that lift hook to the inner wing. Then there should be one from the gearbox to the other wing.

Lee

andyrst88

For those interested I've got her running. Problem was not enough fuel in tank (bit embarrassing!) 10ltrs wasn't enough after I'd refitted tank... there was enough fuel pressure to start using cold start valve but not enough to get through injectors, more fuel and bridging fuel pump got fuel through injectors pronto and she started and ran beautifully