St185 not starting.

[esk34]

HI guy's.
I have had a couple of minor problems getting mine on the road. was meant to be already tomorrow, but now the thing won't start. We checked the fuel pump thinking it could have gone, but it is working fine. Fuel is still getting past the feul filter. SO we don't think it is a fuel issue.
THe sparkplugs are firing.
THe car has stalled for no good reason a couple of times, normally when changing down gears. But I thought it might just be the way I drive. (not very well) And it was running pretty poorly the other morning when taking it for a RWC.
The only suspicion I have is that the fuel is getting cut off beteen the injector rail and the fuel filter. I know the GT4 has some type of over PSI fuel cut thingy, and I think it could be that. I will be taking a look through the BGB tonight to try and work out what it could be.
Do you guys have any idea on what it is?
Is there anything else I should be looking for?

[SilverGhost]

Have you checked the fuel pressure after the regulator? If that checks out and you have confirmed the plugs are firing then I would check for in rough order of probability:

Error codes
Intake leaks
all sensors are hooked up
Check sensor resistances etc with BGB
your ignition timing,
Compression test
Leak down test

[30psi 4agte]

Fuel can still get past the filter? it could still be blocked and only letting small amounts of fuel through. enough for it to want to start but not enough to keep it running!

You can isolate if its a fuel prob or not by pulling off intake pipe at throttle body , cracking the throttle open and spraying something flameable in there ( petrol in a spray bottle works well / aero start) If the car starts and you can keep it running by giving it a squirt you no its a fuel prob.

Just BE careful cos if you spray petrol in there and the timing is out it can backfire and take your eye brows off!! ( been there before ha ha ha )

[TA-022]

air leak after airflow meter??? this would affect ecu control over fuel.

vaccum leaks also notorius for bad running.

[SilverGhost]

I found out once when i forgot to connect my PCV tubing to the intake that when i started it, it would run normal for about a sec then promptly cut out as if someone turned the key off....
if the AFM is not hooked up or the signal isnt getting there and back your car wont start, or if it does will promptly die as soon as u touch the throttle.

[esk34]

OK here is the story so far.

Fuel is getting into the chamber as we pulled the spark plugs out and checked it. There is spark and the compression is good. We have looked at the cam belt and it doesn't look as though anything is wrong with it. (really couldn't get the top cover off all that much without to much playing around.
Have tested the resistance on the AFM, and it is comming up good.
It is comming up with no error codes.
have checked the exhuast and it seems to be fine no blockages.
Have checked for vacume leaks, can't find any yet.
We dont think it would be ignition timing, but may have to look into it.

Could it be that the turbo has seized and wont let air into the engine?
Could it be that the computer has all the timings stuffed up and it doesn't want to work properly from the get go?

I am thinking it is the AFM still. I was getting some weird results at first on the electric multimeter. I will try with mine tomorrow and see what I get.
Is there any other way of testing the AFM, besides the resistance thing, because the simptoms mentioned by silverghost are very similar to mine.

[SilverGhost]

Nah, even if the turbo is completely seized more than enough air will bleed past the compressor to let it idle, easiest way to double check though, is just take your intake piping off and spin the compressor by hand

It does sound like the airflow meter....unfortunately im in the process of moving so cant lay my hands on the bgb....

I would check the vane for free movement, also check if its been tampered with i.e. idle mixture screw not at the right height and/or the cover has been removed before. Then there are 2 pins on the AFM itself that should show a varying resistance if you move the vane whilst taking a reading. if it doesnt then it could be a dud.

Check all wiring going form the AFM to the ECU for continuity. Other than that your leads might be hooked up in the wrong order on the dizzy cap??

[esk34]

Dizzy is OK, as as been checked for corect timimg.
The AFM does look like its been tampered with. I will check it out further.
Does anybody know where to get a replacment cheap?
If I remove the bottom part of the intake I should be able to turn the wheel on the turbo?

[-==L=a=N=c=E==-]

Grab the BGB from my link in my sig. And go thru the trouble shooting section. It is quite good at nailing those troublesome problems.

Does the car start, and then stall... or refuses to start all together?

Cause with the AFM disconnected, i can still get my car to start, but it will stall out shortly after.

[1gt48u]

Have you checked that your igniter is working??

cheers

[-==L=a=N=c=E==-]

Have you checked that your igniter is working??

cheers

He says his got spark, so you'd assume his ignitor is working.

[esk34]

I think we have nutted it down to the erxhaust as the AFM is comming up as good with all resistors. Either that or it's a really well hidden vacume leak.
THe exhaust had a baffle added to it not long ago, so that could be causing problems. Will find out tomorrow. Otherwise I have to put it down to vacume from somewhere? Does anybody know of any common spots that a vacume hose will stop a car from running in a GT4?

[esk34]

The car is turning over, it just wont start at all.
Exhuast is good.
I went to check the turbo, and the bend that goes into it is all cracked and brittle so we are thinking it is this. Turbo wheels fine, so it is not seized. Hopefully by rebplacing the bend it will start.
Hopefully this will fix it.

[Toobs]

Have you considered the dizzy?
Dizzy's often don't stuff up until they get hot... same with coils.

[esk34]

No, we checked the dizzy, it seemed to be fine. Was lining up right and all. We are getting spark so it cant be the coil.
It gets everthing it should to start but doesn't. Must be a vacume leak.