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Author: Subject: Megasquirt help required - trying to go for first start with Zetec
adrianreeve

posted on 3/2/12 at 04:40 PM Reply With Quote
Megasquirt help required - trying to go for first start with Zetec

Hi there, looking for some advice / help starting my zetec fr the first time. It's a 2l Silvertop with 40mm Jenveys, and an MS2 V3. Wired it all up, set the req fuel, set up the TPS, calibrated the sensors and checked the wiring. Got a base map from Phil at extra efi for a zetec with throttle bodies. all good so far, just turn the key and go! Err, no actually, turn the key and cough cough, wants to catch by the sound of it, but no joy. Turned prime pulsing off to make sure I don't flood the engine, and tried several times, but no joy. If it helps, it seemed to want to start more when I used a little bit of throttle.

Any help or advice as to where to start fault finding would be great.

Cheers

Adrian

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scudderfish

posted on 3/2/12 at 04:43 PM Reply With Quote
Are all your plugs sparking? Are the right leads on the right plugs?
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paulf

posted on 3/2/12 at 04:47 PM Reply With Quote
Assuming it has a spark and the plug leads are correct then i would think you probably need more fuelling , either increase the cold start enrichment or increase the fuel bins a little on the bottom and first rows.Another option is some carb cleaner sprayed in the intakes whilst cranking.
Paul

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omega 24 v6

posted on 3/2/12 at 05:00 PM Reply With Quote
Mines is still a bit like that yet . Feathering the throttle does indeed start it from cold but once its warm its no problem at all.
Check the ign timing using a std timing light
Check the coils/plugs are not 180 degrees out
Check the plugs are not soaking. If they are step down your cranking pw





If it looks wrong it probably is wrong.

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gregs

posted on 3/2/12 at 05:14 PM Reply With Quote
Just increase you req fuel a small bit at a time, never had the calculated value work for me!
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ashg

posted on 3/2/12 at 06:09 PM Reply With Quote
more fuel required in weather this cold. increase the cranking pulse and the afterstart enrichment and it will catch eventually .



if you want to set it up properly do it like this

drop the cranking pulse right down as well as the afterstart enrichment. then setup the priming pulse. the priming pulse should get it to catch for about three revolutions, basically a splutter.

once you have it doing that, add fuel to the cranking pulse width. by now it should catch and run for a few seconds then die.

once you have that, add fuel to the after start enrichment to keep it running until its warmed up to about 60 degrees.

if it dies once its got up to temp and the after start enrichment is off, either add more fuel to the required fuel value or increase the idle fuel cells until it will run without after start enrichment on.

if you adjust the req fuel or the idle fulel value go back to the first step and work from the priming pulse again.


its pretty easy to get right if you work in small steps





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gregs

posted on 3/2/12 at 07:44 PM Reply With Quote
quote:
Originally posted by ashg
more fuel required in weather this cold. increase the cranking pulse and the afterstart enrichment and it will catch eventually .



if you want to set it up properly do it like this

drop the cranking pulse right down as well as the afterstart enrichment. then setup the priming pulse. the priming pulse should get it to catch for about three revolutions, basically a splutter.

once you have it doing that, add fuel to the cranking pulse width. by now it should catch and run for a few seconds then die.

once you have that, add fuel to the after start enrichment to keep it running until its warmed up to about 60 degrees.

if it dies once its got up to temp and the after start enrichment is off, either add more fuel to the required fuel value or increase the idle fuel cells until it will run without after start enrichment on.

if you adjust the req fuel or the idle fulel value go back to the first step and work from the priming pulse again.


its pretty easy to get right if you work in small steps


Can't fault this, but if the base fuelling isn't setup then won't he be continually chasing the afterstart to compensate? My take would be getting running by pushing the req fuelling up, warm it up on this then back off the req fuelling to keep it idling well. Once this is done, then you've got a baseline to run the process you've laid out?

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ashg

posted on 3/2/12 at 07:55 PM Reply With Quote
i was working off the basis that Adrian already has a pretty good map that Phil gave him which would have the base fuelling setup.

I think the real issue here is that its just bloody cold at the minute. I'm sure if Adrian tried to start it on a warm summers day it would fire up first go.

as many have said just adding a bit of extra fuel should get it going.

if it was me and the map that i had was "known good" i would avoid messing with anything other than start up fuelling.

[Edited on 3/2/2012 by ashg]





Anything With Tits or Wheels Will cost you MONEY!!

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Exocet (Finished & Sold)
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gregs

posted on 3/2/12 at 08:15 PM Reply With Quote
Makes sense, but the base map can't 'know' certain criteria like fuel pressure - hence why i'd suggest lifting on the req fuel. If it turns out to be ok, you'll end up with the req fuel back where you started once it's warm
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omega 24 v6

posted on 3/2/12 at 10:44 PM Reply With Quote
Also the base map will not know if your ign point is spot on





If it looks wrong it probably is wrong.

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adrianreeve

posted on 4/2/12 at 05:29 PM Reply With Quote
Thanks for the replies gents. Just checked the timing with my strobe, and it seems to be firing at around 10 deg btdc, so think its ok. Been a while since I used my strobe, but if the timing was 180 degrees out, the timing mark would appear directly opposite where it should be, is that right. If so, fairly happy that the timing is near enough to start. Its all standard ford stuff, so I don't think it's easy to get the timing wrong if the base Map info is correct, and the map was suppllied by Phil at extra efi, so should be ok.

If I want to knock the cranking fuel down, do I have to reduce the value for each temperature value, if so, by how much?

New problem now, it's so cold that my brand new battery will crank for less than a minute before dying - crappy weather!

Cheers

Adrian

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rusty nuts

posted on 4/2/12 at 06:54 PM Reply With Quote
As already suggested it needs more fuel to get it going, It's well worth giving the engine a squirt or brake or carb cleaner down the inlet just to get it running.Fine tuning can be done when it's up a running
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kemills1

posted on 24/2/12 at 10:02 PM Reply With Quote
MS starting

Hi,
I've had a little experience with the MS. My brother in law fitted a 3L V6 duratec to his lotus esprit and I set up the MS for it. I think you've been given good advice and all I would say is that the fuel enrichment for cranking can seem quite excessive but is neccessary and especially so in cold weather. I might be able to dig out some figures but all will depend on your injector rating.

If you suspect there is not enough fuel, you could try increasing the required fuel setting temporaraly by say 20-30% and see if it will start. Also I believe the MS uses wasted spark and banked injector firing so if your timing were 180 degrees out, it shouldn't make much difference.


Kev.





Kev

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