spanish dave

Hi all
I am located in Spain and have just acquired (been given) a 1987 XR3i convertible (mfi) ... really nice mint car ... only problem, won't start. The previous owner has not run it for 2 years and I have discovered the fuel pump not working which I have replaced ... now it primes and fuel gets to the engine. The engine has been *messed with* slightly I think as the plug leads were on in the wrong order .. I sorted this and now with new plugs it only runs on about one and a half cylinders for a few seconds then after trying a few times to start it finishes up with 3 wet (really wet) plugs and one damp one (number 4) I have just changed the plug leads and it is still no different. There is so much fuel that it is coming down the exhaust manifold and leaking out of the exhaust joint http://images.ibsrv.net/ibsrv/res/sr...ilies/wall.gif
I have checked the compressions all good and even ... #4 very slightly lower. The ignition timing is set OK .. marks lined up at TDC and pointing to #1 in the dizzy.
Is there some way of adjusting the mixture ... I'm thinking that whoever got the plug leads wrong may have been twiddling screws as well.
Anyway sorry for such a long first post, but I do need help with this one .. my other cars are 1965 Shelby Mustang and a Cobra replica .. both of which gave me no trouble with engine rebuilds etc.

stevo123

Often the ignition amplifier can go on the fritz. It is the black box held onto the body of the dizzy by 2 screws. Firing order 1342 anticlockwise. Make sure that when you looked at TDC that as well as the crank mark; the cam arrow was pointing in the right place else you could have been 180 degrees out.
I would re check that then look at a replacement dizzy and or coil and check the airflow flap is not sticking open forcing more fuel then needed. To dispel fuel in cylinders/manifold diconnect pump (or the pink relay under dash), open throttle to full and crank motor 30 seconds or so.

let us know how u get on m8

tabetha

Unplug the 5th injector, these engines were very prone to flooding, make sure the air deflector plate in the mfi fuel distributor isn't jammed, if so clean with old toothbrush and carb cleaner till the edge is nice and clean.
tabetha

spanish dave

Thanks for the replies ... I am convinced that it is an ignition problem as it does run (sort of) on #4 which comes out with no gas fouling (the one that it runs on) ... the other 3 are soaking wet. I have checked the air deflector plate and it seems free ... I have also disconnected the starting injector (I think that is the one on it's own with a electrical plug connected to it) All these made no difference ... I have checked the spark on each cylinder by a grounded plug and there is a spark on each ... the # 3 was a bit stronger than the rest ... but there is no way of knowing how they behave in the combustion chambers. I shall try and find a second hand Bosch dizzy, which won't be too easy here in Spain as they usually want as much as a new part for some second hand bit.
I was going to try another coil, but I only have coils for normal V8s ... they are the same size (and probably voltage) as the XR3i but the on on it says electronic ignition coil ... is there a difference ?
I have been looking into the operation of the MFI system as I just couldn't figure out how it worked ... quite a simple system really ... compared to EFI and associated ECUs etc. Makes a change from carbs for me lol.
On another subject ... is there anyone who sells the 3 rubber insulator mounts for the fuel pump cage ?

spanish dave

I have eventually got the car running ... the problem turned out to be a sticking fuel distribution plunger (fully in), due I assume to the car being stood for a couple of years. It was a bugger to get out ... soaking and tapping and pulling with grips. I then cleaned everything and reassembled ... then amazingly it fired up ... clouds of grey / white smoke which died down after a bit ... I assume it was the unburnt fuel in the exhaust, together with dampness, insects and other stuff in the exhaust system. It seem to run OK but then produced a pool of oil under the engine ... this was coming out of the dipstick because as I found out the oil (well really oil / petrol) level was really high ... I had checked the oil originally but with all the attempted starts there must have been half a gallon of gas gone down the bores into the oil !
After an oil change it starts and runs but there is a miss and it is running a bit rough which I have to sort out ... this could be due to the fact the 2 back boxes on the exhaust are shot, or I may have to dismantle the fuel system completely and clean everything out .... anyway its getting there !