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Zetec won't start
Plunky - 24/7/17 at 07:20 PM

Evening all,
I have recently pulled the engine out of my F27 to allow me to change the rear crank seal as it was leaking.
Whilst I had the engine out I fitted an oil temp gauge and oil pressure gauge and also tidied up some of the wiring.
now I have the car back together, the damn thing won't start!
It is cranking, but coughs and splutters, occasionally catching but immediately cuts out.
Any ideas?
I have tried another set of plugs that I had, but still the same.
Could this be an electrical fault as opposed to mechanical?
any pointers would be massively appreciated as I need the car working to be sold soon!
Thanks,
Liam


r1_pete - 24/7/17 at 07:49 PM

Id start by checking out the wiring you tidied up..... that would seem the major change.


perksy - 24/7/17 at 08:04 PM

As above

Re trace your steps, It might just be something simple that you'll kick yourself for afterwards


Then report back if no joy...


avagolen - 25/7/17 at 04:05 PM

How long since it was last running?

Low on petrol or stale.

Injection or carbs? jets may have got a bit of dirt in them.

Or as previously stated. Important wire not connected or bad connection.


Plunky - 25/7/17 at 05:49 PM

quote:
Originally posted by avagolen
How long since it was last running?

Low on petrol or stale.

Injection or carbs? jets may have got a bit of dirt in them.

Or as previously stated. Important wire not connected or bad connection.



Hasn't ran for a good couple of months now.
Injection.
I thought it would clear itself out and start up but just doesn't want to play ball!
Electronically speaking, what would cause it to crank, start albeit badly and then cut out immediately?


avagolen - 25/7/17 at 06:53 PM

Does it run at all when you release the key from the start position?

If not, you may have the ecu/ignition cct powered from the wrong ignition switch connection.


Plunky - 25/7/17 at 07:02 PM

quote:
Originally posted by avagolen
Does it run at all when you release the key from the start position?

If not, you may have the ecu/ignition cct powered from the wrong ignition switch connection.


It's on a push button. It will occasionally catch once the button has been released and run badly for maybe a second or 2.
The thing is, I've only tidied up the routing of wiring and replaced a couple of dodgey connections. Whilst doing so, I made sure to only deal with one connection at a time to prevent wiring something up wrong.


avagolen - 25/7/17 at 07:23 PM

I would check / replace the fuel and possibly the filters next.


big_wasa - 25/7/17 at 07:45 PM

Sounds like ignition and your dropping a coil / two cylinders.

When it fires feel the manifold to see if any are cold.


David Jenkins - 25/7/17 at 08:07 PM

Dumb question: are you sure that you put the ignition leads back on the correct plugs?

Many years ago, when I first put my xflow back together, I got 1 pair of leads crossed - it managed to start, but coughed, spluttered and backfired and wouldn't rev at all (unsurprisingly).


Plunky - 25/7/17 at 09:24 PM

quote:
Originally posted by David Jenkins
Dumb question: are you sure that you put the ignition leads back on the correct plugs?

Many years ago, when I first put my xflow back together, I got 1 pair of leads crossed - it managed to start, but coughed, spluttered and backfired and wouldn't rev at all (unsurprisingly).


I wish it was that simple!
Luckily the leads are all different lengths so very difficult to mix them up


HowardB - 26/7/17 at 08:33 AM

they are all different lengths at the cylinder end, but not at the coil end - ask me how I know!

It was a really easy mistake I made, and a lot of head scratching later I spotted the mistake Starts first time now


Plunky - 26/7/17 at 08:44 AM

quote:
Originally posted by HowardB
they are all different lengths at the cylinder end, but not at the coil end - ask me how I know!

It was a really easy mistake I made, and a lot of head scratching later I spotted the mistake Starts first time now


Fortunately I left them all connected at the coil end and removed the coil and leads in one


HowardB - 26/7/17 at 08:49 AM

the fault finding I did involved checking for fuel, return line, listening to the injectors fire,. checking the sensors to the ecu etc.
is it on the original ECU? If an after-market one can you plug it into a PC and look at the sensors?

hth


Plunky - 29/7/17 at 01:30 PM

I've spent a little while looking over the car again today.
I've found a blown fuse, which I'm hoping is the cause of the car not starting properly.
However, when replacing the fuse, it keeps blowing!
I'm no auto electrician, and the wiring on this car is a bit confusing. If I was planning on keeping the car it would definitely be getting stripped out and completely replaced!
I don't know where to start with this, are there any electrical savvy locost builders near Chippenham that want to come and have a look for a beer or three?