Hi Guys,

 

I'm having a few problems with my beast at the moment. Handed it in to a garage just for some basic body work and now there a mechanical problems. Is there anyone in the South London region that could help me out?

 

I have spoken to Johnny and GPS and he told me there were a few of the guys in the region.

 

My car is in Balham at the moment and what i need to do is bring the ignition module from my car and stick it in one of yours. If the car starts, then i know its not the ignition module thats causing problems and if it doesn't, then i've got a bill on my head but at least i know what the problem is.

 

Alternatively, someone could come to Balham if they are local and we could do the testing there. I dont want to inconvenience anyone though.

 

My numbers 07967 078901

 

Any help would be much appreciated,

 

take care

If you're talking about the power transistor unit (PTU) then someone might be able to send you a spare for testing. I repaired one for someone recently and although it hasn't been tested yet I reckon it should be a good'un.

Alternatively you could send me yours (once you have confirmed it's broke) and I'll have a stab at fixing it for you.

 

What are the symptoms ?

I turn the key and the engine turns but does want to start and stay on. trouble is i was on holiday, and when i got back the mechanic told me of these problems. He said that the engine started and stopped after about 30 seconds and now it wont even start. I tried it and saw the same.

 

One thing i didn't mention to him was that over the last couple of months, the engine has cut out on me a couple of times just out of the blue when the car has been running idle.

Sounds like the PTU is a distinct possibility. Might also be worth a look at the cabling to the throttle position sensor (TPS).

Andy fixed my PTU a couple of weeks ago. If you like I can let you have the fixed unit to test. If it turns out that yours is faulty, send it to Andy for him to fix and he can send that one back to me and you can keep my fixed one (or we can swap back if you prefer).

 

I live in Redhill, work in Richmond and get the train up via Clapham Junction most days. So if you want to meet up with me in any of those places, let me know.

 

I'd prefer not to have to remove the PTU from my car if I can avoid it though!

 

[This message has been edited by Dave Marley (edited 19-11-2001).]

And if the PTU is the problem, you should be getting an error code 21 when you do an ECU diagnostic.

I live in Morden so a drive up to Redhill is no problem. Will take me about 20 mins.

 

I'll then try the PTU thats working and if thats the problem, i can send the one thats not working to Andy like you said. I'm not fussed if i get my one back or not. The main thing is that i just wanna get my wheels back on the road.

 

Can you let me know when you are free

 

07967078901

 

or email me your number and i'll call you.

 

Thanks very much for all the advise and help guys!

 

AndyP top banana he can also fix the interior clock cheerZ Andy.

 

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Hey just a thought but I had a car in for some body work once and had exactly the same problem, turned out when the guys were removing some trim in the boot prior to panel change they removed a bunch of earth cable and forgot to refit them, and one was an earth to the fuel pump!! worth a listen to see if pump is running. Jeff TT

thanks Jeff,

 

they removed a panel in the boot so this is quite possible. A few of my bulbs kept fusing when they refit everything so gonna have to take a look.

Mansoor has just called me from the garage.

 

He's tried my PTU from Andy (fixed but untested) and the car still won't start. He seems to be getting error codes 11 (CAS circuit), 13(Engine Coolant Temp circuit) and 21 (PTU).

 

Any ideas?

Sounds like there may be a break in the wiring loom from the front of the engine - all three of those items are on one segment of the main loom.. Other than that, sorry

Hmmm - did this basic bodywork include welding??? If it did you may be looking at damage to the electrical components in which case the place you took your car are responsible!!!

 

CheerZ,

 

Andy

That's not right! Never heard of that many error codes before, something defo not right with the wiring at some point.

 

But you did say it was cutting out before it went into the bodyshop so not necessarily them to blame!

 

Fuse?

hey bud there are two of us in Sutton, thats abit closer can have a look for you if you want.

corroded connectors I betcha.. pretty rare for a loom to be actually broken but dodgy connectors are always a bug bare. Unplug the main connector strip on the ecu, check all the pins are even and corrosion free (clean it with CO contact cleaner) then bolt it back in making sure the connector strip is flush the whole way. Also you may want to pull the back of the ECU and check for any corrosion inside the ECU itself. I've seen it happen.. we changed a chip on an ecu - car was fine before hand, started it up after and it was fine, then 2 days later the car wouldn't start and it was sitting all weekend - was corrosion inside the ECU and it finally had enough.

 

Start (if she starts) and check for error codes.

 

Next go through all the major connectors in the engine bay doing the same thing. Unplug check and clean.

 

All can be done in the comfort of your own home without costing any more than a can of CO Contact Cleaner and some time.

 

If it still doesn't work - well then you've got a problem. Ask who's done any work on the car and whether they've had to move a wiring loom out of the way thereby potentially breaking the wiring inside the loom.

 

Hi guys,

 

Went over to Daves last night to try and test the PTU's on his car but was too dark.

I have left my PTU there so he can try checking it in the daylight.

 

Mechanic said they checked all the points.

 

No welding has been done, just respray.

 

The car is in Balham at the garage which is about 8 miles from Sutton. If any of you guys could come to the garage, that would be really helpful cos i aint got a hope in hell of moving the car at the moment

 

The cutting out before only happened a couple of times in about five months. When i slowed down to a halt, it cut out. Restarted straight away though.

 

One more thing - the mechanic pulled one of the spark plugs out to check if it sparked at all when the engine was turned and we got nothing.

 

Any ideas on the best plan of action?

 

cheers

theres a difference between saying somethings checked and doing it properly (my mechanic has told me how to do things properly!).

 

The connectors really are quite critical, so patience and attention to detail is the key.

 

No spark will be caused by either the CAS or PTU. If the CAS doesn't tell the ECU that it's turning over then nothing will happen. You can confirm this by pulling off the CAS (really easy just undo the what I can remember as 12mm bolts and pull it out) just I think you have to remember which way the spindle goes. Mark the slots before you pull it out so you don't have to reset the timing!. Once you've got it out turn the ignition on and turn the spindle by hand.. you should hear the injectors clicking.. that means the ECU is getting the signal. Now pull a spark plug out with the coil on and check that it's sparking.

 

If it's doing it now when it wasn't before you've definitely got some dodgy wiring going on, or a dodgy plug. Put the CAS back in and restart the car. If it don't start that confirms plugs/harnesses... in which case visually inspect the plugs and clean every bit of crap you can find off them, plug them back in and retry...

 

Don't get carried away with spinning the CAS spindle, as every click the engine is ingesting more fuel, so if you do do it for a while then leave it to sit and let the fuel drain into the oil rather than start it and hyrdaulic the engine. !

 

Thats where I'd start anyway. Temp sensor is no biggie, engine should still start. I did recall one day I left it half of and I had to difficulties starting.. had to have my foot on the floor to get it to start so you should also check the temp sensor plug. I missed it the first time I looked at it.

 

Rowan

The stalling sounds very much like my TPS problem, but given there's (probably) no spark and you have an ECU that reports CAS and PTU errors then I'm not surprised. I think you need to concentrate on the wiring in that area.

Mansoor's PTU tested fine on my car, so that's not the problem.

having looked at the loom in the manual, and on my car, i concur with aaron, that the loom is looking a very strong possibility, especially as all of those connectors are from the same spur.

 

too much of a coincidence.

Bloody hell! Not rocket science is it!

 

Get an AVO on those connectors while turning to see if any juice is getting through would be my first guess.

 

Not right seeing all three of those errors coming up, start with the CAS connectors as obviously someone else pointed out...if the CAS isn't generating a sig. then the PTU is defo not gonna produce bugger all to the coil packs.

 

Check the voltage across that temp. sensor aswell!

 

Start with the basics, have you checked all the fuses...all the ones in the engine bay under the fuse cover where the relays are and not forgetting the nastey ones in the drivers footwell. On yer knees with a torch and look like you've taken Yoga-Extreme up!

 

Check the battery aswell, make sure it's generating 13.84(ish) volts on cranking!

 

Where did all that come from you ask?

 

I dunno...just came to me! LMAO

Guys, it gets worse!!!

 

Episode 76

 

After being without my car for 4 weeks and the mechanic not achieving anything besides doing everything suggested through the forum, i think he's given up.

 

To be honest, i dont think he did it all cos he didn't know how to.

 

Anyway, i need to get the car towed to a proper garage that specialises in z's.

 

Any suggestions gents?

 

I live in the south london area but i'll travel providing they're good but preferably not too far outta London. I need to get it serviced too.

 

take care and if anyone has a spare smile, please lend it to me.

Ring SE mate in New Maldon, Essex

 

01621 858856

Oh dear Timmy, Warren will be upset

 

Countdown for a post from Warren

 

10...9...8...

 

ROFL