When turning the key, car tries to start but wont ignite. Was fine on Sunday then later on in the day it just wouldnt start. I thought it was the leads so i bought a new set of Magnecors (not cheap!) but it still wont go. Any ideas?

 

Usual; could have a boost or vac pipe loose, toasted fuel pump relay, damp dissy...

 

Fuel pump relays ok, dizzy was damp but dry now, tried another dizzy in it. All boost/vac pipes are ok. All four plugs getting a spark

 

Maybe you've knocked your dissy out of place when you've been playing with it?

 

Na it only goes on one way does it not? It clicks into place if you spin it around? ie- theres a wee slot that fits into the cap itself. Would it still spark if it was on wrong?

 

ignition timing. . !?

fuel pump prime?
got spark still?

 

Ignition timing was set up perfectly about 4 weeks ago. Was running spot on 3 or 4 hours before it wouldnt start! Fuel pump primes, all 4 plugs still getting sparks!

 

did ou refit the dizzy at exactly the same timing it was at before you took it off for a new one?

check breather pipes are all connected, ecu, rocker cover, block, metering head and they are not blocked.

metering flap bobbing up and down when turning over? try when someone is turning it over, hold the flap down 5mm and see if it starts!

still not starting?

check fuel going to injectors.
take injector out, turn it over and get someone to press down on the metering flap to see if fuel spray's out.

was the fuel set up when the ignition timing was done?

The sensor ontop of the dizzy (black) think it's called a "hall sensor" can also be fragile, if nocked about or move dout of place it will not start!

 

i had a problem like this on my old RS turbo, the fuel gauge was reading i had fuel, but i was empty, take the main fuel pipe off the fuel filter, put the end in a milk bottle or something, and turn the car over, see if your getting fuel being pumped up to the filter.

and dont do what i was doing, you think you have fuel as when the pump primes, it puts what little fuel you have through the pipe, you need to crank the car over to make sure theres constant fuel when engines turning over

 

im guessing your ignition timing is out did you sort this when you fitted the new dizzy

 

cold start injector, in the centre of the inlet manifold branches. Check its connected correctly. I've known them to unclip.

 

I only changed the cap itself. I didnt take the whole thing off! Timing was perfect before it wouldnt start.

Its definitely getting fuel, you can smell it when im turning it over. And there is 3/4 tank in it.

Is this the flap under my air filter? Not checked this

 

Has jayrs2000 touched it

 

s1_turbo, yep that's the flap im talking about.

RST MFI engines work off vacuum (with std breather) the engine vacuum sucks the metering flap down when turning over if their is a leak it wont go down when starting. If your oil cap is off it wont start.

 

Turns out theres no fuel getting out of the metering unit. Looks like i need a new one

 

tried holdin ya foot flat on the floor while turning over? works for mine, wont start if i dont hold my foot down in the cold

 

If theres no fuel coming out of the metering unit, could possibly mean one or more of your sensor plugs have come off and it cant work out how much fuel to throw in.

 

Did you press the flap down whilst cranking over? i dont think fuel will come out unless you do this.

 

also if you do take the pipe off the petrol filter then you will need to replace the copper washer as it wont seal again and you will have no hope of starting it then!

 

LOL not yet mate

 

Put a new metering unit on, fuel definitely getting to injectors and definitely getting a spark (i took it into Ford where i work!) but it still wont start. It turns over but just wont go. The fuel just floods the plugs. When cleaned up they still get good sparks. Would it still do this if my immobiliser was goosed? I got a Clifford 300. Its doing my head in now i want to put a match to it

 

timing OK? Are you sure the belt has'nt slipped?

Compression test?

 

The mechanics were at it again today - still not going! Definitely getting fuel and spark. they cant figure it out at all?
The metering unit flap goes up and down now and fuel goes to the injectors but just floods the plugs. They disconnected the cold start valve to see if that was affecting it but to no avail! Its really worrying me now

 

hi you sure that the HT leads are in the right places on the cap ????????

and as said make sure all brathers are ok and the oil cao is on right as i found this out the other day when my cap poped off and it wouldnt idle or start with out holding my foot down

 

I cant see why it wont start, seriously think the ignition timing is out, if it is it wont start.

immob usually cut's fuel or spark or starter.

try holding the metering flap down 5mm when someone cranks it over, how about getting a tow and see if it'll start from that, atleast if it does you'll know it does run.

 

After SEVEN hours in the workshop they discovered the leads were on the wrong way
I put them on when i got the Magnecors!
It ORIGINALLY wouldnt start cause one of the leads ends were broken but i fooked it completely by putting the new ones on wrong. Teach me never to touch my car again

 

wayhay i was right

 

says alot about ford mechanics

 

is this true???????

cuz ive had mine off, an i cant get any juice out the metering unit to the injectors !!!!!!! plz reply asap

 

if the copper washer did not seal propperly you would see petrol leaking.(3psi of pressure an all).