Turns over, but wont start...
18 June 2012, 06:15 PM
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Turns over, but wont start...
I'm stumped... got a problem with my car and cant figure it out... I need help 
Its a version 6 STI with a few mods, nothing done in recent months or even the last yr.
So its running fine, I drove it all day long, no problems.
The next day it struggled to start, but with some enthusiastic reving I got it off the drive and round the corner... it then stalled. Took ages to get it running again and had to keep the revs above 2k otherwise shes just died.
It turns over but doesnt start. I've checked to see if there's a spark, yes all 4 plugs sparking. I've checked the fuelling and there's pressure, yes the pump is doing its job. The injectors are pulsing, yes.
I thought maybe its contaminated fuel? So I drained the system and put new fuel in from a different petrol st. Still no joy. I even tried another ECU, but still didnt work (I've got a simtek and tried my bro's simtek and also a std ecu).
I bump started it and it ran beautifully being towed in 2nd gear, like there was nothing wrong, but when you put your foot on the accelerator... nothing. If anything it goes to hold back? No boost or anything, very strange.
There's other little tricks and tests I've carried out to try and get it running, but none of them work
What am I missing? Why wont it start?
What if the fuel pressure regulator isnt working would that cause a problem like this? I'm out of ideas... cam belt jumping a tooth might mean it wont start, but then it would run like poo and after the bump it ran fine.
Its a version 6 STI with a few mods, nothing done in recent months or even the last yr.
So its running fine, I drove it all day long, no problems.
The next day it struggled to start, but with some enthusiastic reving I got it off the drive and round the corner... it then stalled. Took ages to get it running again and had to keep the revs above 2k otherwise shes just died.
It turns over but doesnt start. I've checked to see if there's a spark, yes all 4 plugs sparking. I've checked the fuelling and there's pressure, yes the pump is doing its job. The injectors are pulsing, yes.
I thought maybe its contaminated fuel? So I drained the system and put new fuel in from a different petrol st. Still no joy. I even tried another ECU, but still didnt work (I've got a simtek and tried my bro's simtek and also a std ecu).
I bump started it and it ran beautifully being towed in 2nd gear, like there was nothing wrong, but when you put your foot on the accelerator... nothing. If anything it goes to hold back? No boost or anything, very strange.
There's other little tricks and tests I've carried out to try and get it running, but none of them work
What am I missing? Why wont it start?
What if the fuel pressure regulator isnt working would that cause a problem like this? I'm out of ideas... cam belt jumping a tooth might mean it wont start, but then it would run like poo and after the bump it ran fine.
18 June 2012, 06:20 PM
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has a boost pipe come off? had same symptoms on my silvia when the fmic blew off?
failing that check the crank/cam sensors, and check the maf and icv!
good luck matey
failing that check the crank/cam sensors, and check the maf and icv!
good luck matey
20 June 2012, 03:01 PM
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I've got a simtek so no MAF.
Checked all the pipes, boost, water, oil... every single one.
I've recently had an ICV ECU problem which got fixed so its not that.
Also bump starting it and it running fine rules out crank sensor (so I'm told).
...I havnt tried the battery yet, cheers for that Rob
Checked all the pipes, boost, water, oil... every single one.
I've recently had an ICV ECU problem which got fixed so its not that.
Also bump starting it and it running fine rules out crank sensor (so I'm told).
...I havnt tried the battery yet, cheers for that Rob
21 June 2012, 04:26 PM
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my dads gonna lend his mechanical hand to it once I get the car recovered to his garage... failing that I will use a specialist... TFS, FB, API... whichever
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21 June 2012, 05:40 PM
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Fuel pump running ?
Usually if they won't start on the key, but will with a bump, it is the water temp sender which send a dodgy message to the ECU when the starter turns, and the car doesn't know whether the engine is hot or cold - so defaults.
Usually if they won't start on the key, but will with a bump, it is the water temp sender which send a dodgy message to the ECU when the starter turns, and the car doesn't know whether the engine is hot or cold - so defaults.
Last edited by APIDavid; 21 June 2012 at 05:42 PM.
22 June 2012, 12:22 PM
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Thank you David... I checked the fuel pump andfuel is definately pumping. Altho on inspection of the spark plugs they're dry so for some reason the fuel doesnt seem to be getting to them. Its getting to the injectors and rails as I've checked.
So the water temp sender could be the culprit?
How do I locate that on my ver6 engine, would you mind pointing me in the right direction please?
22 June 2012, 12:29 PM
#11
It's on the rear (bulkhead/firewall side) of the coolant cross-over pipe, which lays across the top of the block.
It's the larger of the two brass coloured sensors (the smaller one is for the binnacle's temp gauge)...
It's the larger of the two brass coloured sensors (the smaller one is for the binnacle's temp gauge)...
Last edited by joz8968; 22 June 2012 at 12:43 PM.
28 June 2012, 06:24 PM
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I got the replacement switch... but its not where it should be according to the diagram? 
I've looked all over that coolant ally pipe but cant find the b'stard, grrr...
In that pic it looks like its just next to where the turbo sits, but there's nout there in the way of a switch as pictured...
I've looked all over that coolant ally pipe but cant find the b'stard, grrr...
In that pic it looks like its just next to where the turbo sits, but there's nout there in the way of a switch as pictured...
28 June 2012, 07:45 PM
#18
I apologise alex. 
I think there are two different places for it, depending on MY. And it looks like I posted the pics for MY93-98 cars... and not for our MY99/00 ones. Sorry dude.
At least the switch is the same!
I think there are two different places for it, depending on MY. And it looks like I posted the pics for MY93-98 cars... and not for our MY99/00 ones. Sorry dude.
At least the switch is the same!
Last edited by joz8968; 28 June 2012 at 08:19 PM.
28 June 2012, 08:06 PM
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Dont be silly, you dont have to be sorry... I found it in the end 
Ok I've replaced it, but its made no difference what so ever.
I've not tried starting the car for a while and it starts, but its like there's no fuel and its running on fumes. It just about ticks over, but pushing the accelerator makes very little difference.
I think the ptoblem is the fuel not getting to the plugs. Altho I've checked and the pump is workin and fuel is gettin to the rails and the injectors are pulsing so what could be stopping the fuel reaching the plugs??
Ok I've replaced it, but its made no difference what so ever.
I've not tried starting the car for a while and it starts, but its like there's no fuel and its running on fumes. It just about ticks over, but pushing the accelerator makes very little difference.
I think the ptoblem is the fuel not getting to the plugs. Altho I've checked and the pump is workin and fuel is gettin to the rails and the injectors are pulsing so what could be stopping the fuel reaching the plugs??
28 June 2012, 08:15 PM
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Thanks for the advice on that one matey but I tried that already. Fortunately my brother had exactly the same car as me so I swapped over as many of the things I could from his engine 1 at a time trial and error to elliminate as much as poss
28 June 2012, 08:26 PM
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If I listed everything I've tried and tested... I hate not being able to figure it out its really annoying
Ok that was my last clutching at straws, I'm getting the car recovered to my dads garage. He's a mechanic, but old school so might not get anywhere with it, altho I've learnt not to under estimate him.
After that I think the car will be heading up to API if David will take it on?
Ok that was my last clutching at straws, I'm getting the car recovered to my dads garage. He's a mechanic, but old school so might not get anywhere with it, altho I've learnt not to under estimate him.
After that I think the car will be heading up to API if David will take it on?
13 December 2016, 08:45 AM
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I'm stumped... got a problem with my car and cant figure it out... I need help
Its a version 6 STI with a few mods, nothing done in recent months or even the last yr.
So its running fine, I drove it all day long, no problems.
The next day it struggled to start, but with some enthusiastic reving I got it off the drive and round the corner... it then stalled. Took ages to get it running again and had to keep the revs above 2k otherwise shes just died.
It turns over but doesnt start. I've checked to see if there's a spark, yes all 4 plugs sparking. I've checked the fuelling and there's pressure, yes the pump is doing its job. The injectors are pulsing, yes.
I thought maybe its contaminated fuel? So I drained the system and put new fuel in from a different petrol st. Still no joy. I even tried another ECU, but still didnt work (I've got a simtek and tried my bro's simtek and also a std ecu).
I bump started it and it ran beautifully being towed in 2nd gear, like there was nothing wrong, but when you put your foot on the accelerator... nothing. If anything it goes to hold back? No boost or anything, very strange.
There's other little tricks and tests I've carried out to try and get it running, but none of them work
What am I missing? Why wont it start?
What if the fuel pressure regulator isnt working would that cause a problem like this? I'm out of ideas... cam belt jumping a tooth might mean it wont start, but then it would run like poo and after the bump it ran fine.
Its a version 6 STI with a few mods, nothing done in recent months or even the last yr.
So its running fine, I drove it all day long, no problems.
The next day it struggled to start, but with some enthusiastic reving I got it off the drive and round the corner... it then stalled. Took ages to get it running again and had to keep the revs above 2k otherwise shes just died.
It turns over but doesnt start. I've checked to see if there's a spark, yes all 4 plugs sparking. I've checked the fuelling and there's pressure, yes the pump is doing its job. The injectors are pulsing, yes.
I thought maybe its contaminated fuel? So I drained the system and put new fuel in from a different petrol st. Still no joy. I even tried another ECU, but still didnt work (I've got a simtek and tried my bro's simtek and also a std ecu).
I bump started it and it ran beautifully being towed in 2nd gear, like there was nothing wrong, but when you put your foot on the accelerator... nothing. If anything it goes to hold back? No boost or anything, very strange.
There's other little tricks and tests I've carried out to try and get it running, but none of them work
What am I missing? Why wont it start?
What if the fuel pressure regulator isnt working would that cause a problem like this? I'm out of ideas... cam belt jumping a tooth might mean it wont start, but then it would run like poo and after the bump it ran fine.
13 December 2016, 09:17 AM
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Holy "4 year old thread" resurrection 