cabrio zo

Some may remember upon bringing it out of hibernation we had problems with a dodgy battery, the result of it being sat in the garage all winter causing running and cutting out problems – battery was replaced and seemed to be fine since.

The new battery unfortunately had run down a couple of times, but been fine after a quick charge (really must get a trickle charger) Saturday J spent most of the afternoon tinkering with the actuator and finally got it running great holding about 14psi – all the time starting it, taking for a quick blast then back to the garage to wind it up a bit more. We stopped at local Tesco to check tyre pressure and I was going to drive it home, it started then stalled a second later – then cranked and cranked and wouldn’t start (this happened beginning of the year too) the battery then died – put the batterY from the XR on and it started and ran fine.

Started and ran sweet as a nut on way to Trax doing 100 odd miles, holding boost at 15psi sitting at xxx mph at one point and sat in all that traffic getting in. Left Trax with no problems, stopped about 40 miles from Silverstone to top up the fuel (£1.02p a litre ) then pulling out of the slip road it died, cranked over and over and wouldn’t start – eventually started and got another 20 odd miles down the road, didn’t boost and didn’t drop the revs (I know they take a lot of power from the battery on full load, though the alternator is charging as battery showing 13.9v when running so still not convinced it a voltage problem? And revving it makes no difference it still dies, in fact you aren't able to rev it, it just cuts out completely) slowing down for some traffic and it cut out again for no reason. Luckily coasted to a layby, theres no hardshoulder on this part of the A14 so had to call recovery and get it trailered home – bastard started first time and drove up the ramps, also started once home and drove into the garage, and fired up perfectly the next morning.

So pretty sure it can’t be a battery fault, or fuel (its only stage one running standard 4x4 injectors, no1 plug slightly black but mainly smells slightly of oil) we going to check the ignition amplifier terminal and J got a couple other things he going to check, seems to be an intermitent problem which confuses me, seems a mystery why it seems to stall for no reason out of the blue any suggestions anybody?

Z

FordFans

Crank sensor?

Had a similar problem on our Escort, would cut out about 3krpm and if it got past it again about 6krpm but would kick in again, the limiter worked though but sometimes trying to start it would turn over and over and wouldn't fire, put a booster over the battery or another battery and fine again, already had new battery as well.

Dave Henshall

crank sensor connector full of water and/or dried out ming, when its cranking and not firing , whip a plug out and check that you have a spark, chances are there isnt one.

cabrio zo

I believe it had crank sensor fairly recently (well within a couple of years, don't hold me to that though) it doesn't go out in the wet, though perhaps condensation or something may have got it or simply worn - cheers something to check, bloody annoying as you can only check when it decides to break down and ATM it seems to be running fine until the next time it decides to cut out just have to go round and round the block until it breaks again!

Z

FordFans

Even so, I'd still be tempted to change it, as even new components can fail after short periods.

foreigneRS

next time it's playing up, try and read a fault code from the ecu

cabrio zo

if it is the sensor I'm thinking of it has been replaced a few times (usually when wouldn't fire at all in the garage) fingers crossed get to the bottom of the problem, must be something simple, strange that after leaving it for a few mins it seems to be ok again

Silly question, how would you do that, have it plugged into diagnostics?

Z

foreigneRS

http://www.homepages.hetnet.nl/~pete...cs/electronics

have a look there mate, might help you out

cabrio zo

thats a very handy site! All got to do is make my own LED test box!

But it doesn't work on chipped cars

Z

Dave Henshall

i heard a romour that teh tdc and phase sensors only lasted about 30K miles before they needed replacment anyway, this has been true on my cars aswell.

cabrio zo

Must go on time too as the cossie barely does 1k a year! Defo had to replace before, probably gets fouled sat about for weeks etc so think that the right direction Dave, thanks

Z

cabrio zo

Following on from Stu's Tech topic about fuel pressure where voltage to the fuel pump was mentioned - J wondered if the fuel pump was dodgy causing the above problem (which is intermittent) so is it feasible that the wiring/voltage to the fuel pump is dodgy? (how do I test the voltage to the pump?)

Z

Stu @ M Developments

iTrader: (12)

When she cuts out, does the rev counter drop like a stone, as though your turned the ignition off?

Intermittent and then starts again after cool down period:

1st suspect is the Ignition Amplifier.

2nd suspect is the crank Sensor or wiring.

3rd is the Fuel pump relay.

Ginge !

thats whatr mine was doing, changed the crank sensor and that never cured it so i removed the engine and bought a new one

bit extreme bit with all new sensors, engine, fuel pump and loom im hoping its solves it