Hey folks,

 

My Car has been parked up since October and turned over weekly to keep it happy. Until last month at least when it decided to not turn over, its sounds like its trying but doesnt seem to be sparking.

 

I had a similar problem when driving once, I lost all power besides the radio, turned out to be the coil pack fuse had jumped out. I tried swapping this over with a known good one but I am still getting the same problem.

 

My car is currently parked up in Fleet so i do not have access to it all the time, I was just looking for a few ideas to check out when I next go down that way.

 

The car was running fine before it was parked up, infact had only done less than 1000 km's since its last MOT.

 

Thanks as always,

 

Dave.

the PTU has dry jointed most likely...you can fix them yourself...better to get a series 2 version....or get a spare off a running zed and try it first just to be sure

Hi Mate yes as UNO says check PTU cables are clean and connection is good. Check CAS connection in the same way. Check your injector and coil pack connectors also. Does the battery need a boost?

Hi Mate yes as UNO says check PTU cables are clean and connection is good. Check CAS connection in the same way. Check your injector and coil pack connectors also. Does the battery need a boost?

 

Cheers fellas,

 

Will take a look at the PTU when i'm down there next, luckily its parked at my old mans and his next door neighbour has a 300 also, a bottle of something special should ensure that I can "borrow" parts off his car to test mine :)

Were now onto the next step.

 

I have now replaced the PTU for a series 2 and have to same problem.

 

I have tried the PTU on another car also so can eliminate this.

 

There was mantion of checking the CAS connection, as I am a little thick, where would I find it? I know where the CAS is but wheres the connection?!

 

Just to confirm, there is no spark present!

 

Hope someone can help!

 

Cheers,

 

Dave.

Look at your engine and on the right hand side timing belt cover is an alloy almost round block and teh connector is on the right hand side.

Clean that, if that don't work post back and we'll tell yer how to test it, bit fiddly for a 1st time and you'll need a sockett set.

Oh how do you know theres no spark mate ?

smithy

Cheers for the response Smithy!

 

I found it, should have looked really :) All nice and clean, cleaned it anyways but still the same problem.

 

That was my old mans defination.

 

What he meant was it was failing to spark. As to how he knows I do not know!

 

Just looking for suggestions of where to look next, its strange, its been standing for a few months and weekly turned over and now its just refusing to do anything!

 

Sounds like it wants to start but thats as far as it goes!

 

Cheers,

 

Dave.

To be honest, periodic quick starts ain't good for these babies, they often flood.

In this link is the ECU error codes, will take you 10mins to do it and you'll know what it is.

http://www.ttzd.com/tech/diagnostictech.html

When you simply turned the ignition on, did you hear anything running like a fan or summit?

To check the CAS, but do the error codes first please. The CAS is held in place with 3 10mm bolts, mark their position in their guide with a felt pen so the CAS goes back in the same place. Undo these and pull the CAS out towards you, with the connector still attached turn on the ignition, slowly turn the spindle at the back of the CAS and you should hear the injectors clicking, no clicking means a duff CAS and just get another second hand jobbie.

smithy

Are you saying that it is not 'turning over', if so then it is either battery fubered or a bad connection to the starter, or am I misunderstanding the problrm here.

sounds flooded to me! don't take much & It won't start at all,

 

How to un-flood the engine:

under bonnet in front of driver is a fuse box!

as you look at it from the front of car, the far right hand fuse (fuel pump) needs to be pulled out!

then with the fuse pulled out, turn the engine over for a count of 10 seconds!

replace the fuse hey presto not flooded anymore!

..hope this helps...

i'd say the battery has been drained over the months.

 

try jump leading it to get it going then take it for a good half hour to hour worth (30/40 miles) that'll hopefully sort it out.

 

Short start stop driving and turning it over tends to drain the battery down, as the alternator doesn't recharge what has been used in starting the car up.

 

HTH

 

Ste

Cheers for the reply fella's

 

We have tried to start the car with jump leads attached and we get the same problems. It went from working to not working in just over a week without any outside help.

 

I will take a look at Smithys advice as soon as it stops raining! Which could be a while :)

 

Cheers All,

 

Dave

 

Hopefully see some of you at Japfest, car permitting!

I can remember an old thread where the car had been standing for a while and turned over periodically (as Smithy says thats not a good idea) that one turned out to be flooded, try taking the plugs out for a quick clean.

Argh!

 

Still no luck,

 

As I have no access to the car, my Father and his next door neighbour (a mechanic and zx owner) have been trying the suggestions given but still to no avail.

 

This is a list of checks that they have made (copied from his email!)

 

CAS Checked according to instructions. Heard injectors. Apparently OK.

 

PTU Changed – Apparently OK.

 

Removed Fuel Pump EGI fuse and turned key. No flooding.

 

Run Test Mode on ECU. Code 55. NO Malfunction. Only subset of all possible checks but ECU apparently OK

 

Turned key - fuel but no ignition/spark

 

Removed coil – connected and tested with spark plug – no spark visible

 

Used meter to check individual coil pack – NO power but there is small pulse from crank sensor. Seems to being told what to do but no power to actually do anything

 

Is it possible that an immobiliser has kicked in and stopped engine starting?

 

I opened the car boot with key when the battery was flat (about 4 months ago J). Apparently some cars (Rover etc) have immobiliser control connected to boot lock. Is there any way that the immobiliser can be switched off? Can the immobiliser be immobilised?

 

Think we’ve checked everything until you have more suggestions.

 

Next logical step seems to be diagnostician. No idea what this would cost. Perhaps you can source one?

 

If anyone has any more ideas to try I would be very grateful!

 

Cheers,

 

Dave.

Are you saying that it is not 'turning over', if so then it is either battery fubered or a bad connection to the starter, or am I misunderstanding the problrm here.

about to buy large fmic where did you get yousr and how much,sorry to diverse

if you havent pressed the Unlock key on your FOB then yes the immobiliser will still be on! Give your Battery some juice press Unlock a few times and try again! Although im sure you have tried this by now! Not to sure what else to suggest!Battery is good?? As if you are getting weak pulse through Coilpack could mean dodgy connection or maybe wiring is split and its pushing charge somewhere else?

is the fuel pump running ?

are the ignition lights on ?

have you checked the feed to the ptu ?

Cheers for reply fellas,

 

We have tried locking / unlocking the car with it attached to jump leads

 

It has had a brand new loom fitted and we have traced and compared meter readings with another zed and they are identical

 

Pretty sure the ignition light is on and I'll ask my old man to check the fue pump. Any easy way to tell besides the car springing to life :)

 

Cheers,

 

Dave

i once could not start my for ages.i tried for ages trying to charge a little lifeinto it and the car seemed to turn over well enoth then i put a new battery on and hay presto been fine since

Its very unlikely to be alarm/immobiliser related.they disable the cranking or fuel circuits.Have you checked the camshafts are turning,take the oil filler cap off look at the cam and crank the engine to see if it turns.It may have stripped the cambelt.Its common for belts to go on start up as they are under a lot of load.Fingers crossed its not that but its worth checking.

Edited April 22, 200916 yr by jimmer

I will take a look Jimmer cheers,

 

Although they Cambelt was changed less than a 1000 k/ms ago.

 

Always worth a look

 

Dave.

I know it may sound like a newbie answer but if the cars been sat that long, is it possible thre fuels gone off and the octane rating is now to low to start the car?

 

Justa thought... prob way off but it dosent seam you've tried sticking in some new fuel yet?

I know it may sound like a newbie answer but if the cars been sat that long, is it possible thre fuels gone off and the octane rating is now to low to start the car?

 

Justa thought... prob way off but it dosent seam you've tried sticking in some new fuel yet?

na mines been off road two years and some times left for 6 months a still starts up cant be fuel

Tried disabling the alarm today but the same problems. Starting to get bored of it all now. Run out of ideas!!!

how far away are you now mate ?

Hiya Paul,

 

The car is now down in Fleet, Hampshire unfortunatly.

 

Just checked with my old man, the cambelt is definalty ok.

 

He also asked me to reiterate that all seems OK except there’s no power to the plugs. I’ve ask him to check power to/from the PTU again when he has a moment.

 

Its never ending :)

 

Cheers,

 

Dave.

Edited April 24, 200916 yr by BigDaveZX
fat fingers!