69 replies to this topic

[Horace]

Hello, Sorry about another 'car wont start' thread, but I've searched with limited success. My 53 VXT wont start. Recently, it has not started, then started 3rd or 4th attempt, but with EML light staying on. Car has run fine in this state, but sounded slightly 'throaty'. Last week, I removed the coil pack and found water ingress in one of the spark plug wells. I dried this out, but the symptoms remained. Then, the problem went away. Car starts fine, and no EML light. This morning, car starts up first button, so I drive off immediately, but engine cuts out after 10 feet. Car will now not start. Engine turns over fine, and I'm pretty sure I can hear the fuel pump priming. I've cleaned the coil pack master plug/socket with light sandpaper, and ensured that the socket inserts are pushed together, and removed fuse 8 for an hour. Still no joy. Advise would be appreciated. Failing that, where would you take it for professional fixing.

[LY_Scott]

First ting to do is find someone in your area with an OP-COM or similar device. Find out what the EML was for, it'll be your best clue.

[Horace]

Will removing fuse 8 have cleared the codes? I need to be proactive with this, as it's just sitting on the drive. Limited VXT owners in the area. Please could someone advise me where I can get the correct OP-COm device. Thanks

Edited by Horace, 18 March 2011 - 02:03 PM.

[ds03mar]

if youve deleted the codes by pulling fuse 8 and now no codes are present. you restart the engine so the eml and codes will reappear. you obviously had a fault so pulling the fuse may delete the code but you should have had the fault read. the code still may be present you NEED to get a diagnostic scan done to tell you the fault. then take it from their. your to far away from me sorry i cant help.

[Mike (Cliffie)]

Has your car been out in the rain? The multiplugs behind the expansion tank can play up when they get wet. Did it on mine during a downpour at Silverstone and it did exactly as you describe.

[Crazyfrog (Fab)]

The multiplugs behind the expansion tank can play up when they get wet. Did it on mine during a downpour at Silverstone and it did exactly as you describe.

silly you for living the car outside in a torrential rain ........
vx+lots of water=

[Mike (Cliffie)]

The multiplugs behind the expansion tank can play up when they get wet. Did it on mine during a downpour at Silverstone and it did exactly as you describe.

silly you for living the car outside in a torrential rain ........
vx+lots of water=

Well you lot wouldn't shift over and let me get my car in the pit garage. Barstewards.

[Crazyfrog (Fab)]

Well you lot wouldn't shift over and let me get my car in the pit garage. Barstewards.

mine you i waited for you outside silverstone and couldn't be much help

[Horace]

Oi! Stop spamming my thread! Car lives permanently out in the bloody rain! Do I need to move the expansion tank out of the way to get to the plugs? Cliffie: How many plugs am I looking for? What did you do to resolve the issue? Is WD40 a good idea?

Edited by Horace, 18 March 2011 - 03:10 PM.

[ds03mar]

i dont own a turbo but look at the pic 6 in this post it shows the car without the clam. i take it these are the plugs hes talking about. wd40 is a penertrant and displaces water. and may help if their damp. or if their soaking- a blow down then a spray up may help.

[ds03mar]

sorry forgot to post the link
http://www.vx220.org...69#entry1159669

[Horace]

Ah, helpful pic. Ta. Err... blow down, then spray up?

[techieboy]

I'd go in from the wheelarch myself. Disconnect each of the plugs, clean up the contacts, make sure all of the individual contacts on the male and female halves of the socket are making proper contact, then reconnect firmly.

[Mike (Cliffie)]

Oi! Stop spamming my thread!

Car lives permanently out in the bloody rain!

Do I need to move the expansion tank out of the way to get to the plugs?

Cliffie: How many plugs am I looking for? What did you do to resolve the issue? Is WD40 a good idea?

There are two multiplugs back there, WD40 will (or should) do the trick.

[Horace]

I'd go in from the wheelarch myself. Disconnect each of the plugs, clean up the contacts, make sure all of the individual contacts on the male and female halves of the socket are making proper contact, then reconnect firmly.

Will give it a go. Was hoping not to have to remove the wheel arch liner (although it should be easier after my engine mount replacement last year), but it looks like the only way. How do I "make sure all of the individual contacts on the male and female halves of the socket are making proper contact"? Do I need to do a conn check upstream and downstream of the plugs on the loom?

Off outside to swear at the liners.

[Horace]

Wheel arch liner was a pig. Stripped another 2 thread holders(?) off. You know, those rubbish things that keep the screws in. Those 2 plugs are both bone dry. Boo. Now that the plugs/socket are apart, are we saying that I should spray WD40 directly into the exposed sockets? Please can someone point me to the correct op-com lead/disk on ebay for my laptop, i.e., one that is proven to work. Ta.

Edited by Horace, 18 March 2011 - 05:53 PM.

[Zoobeef]

WD is more a water removal spray rather than to keep it out in the long run. An electrical contact grease would suit better. Check the earth on the bottom of the ecu and anyother earth you can find. Also may be worth sending moneyhonster a pm to see which earth was broken on my old car as that was turning over but wouldnt start. Have you tried another coil pack to see if thats it too?

[Horace]

I've made sure the battery connections are tight, and cleaned up the earth strap to the ECU, but still no joy. Gonna order an OP-COM from ebay, and see if that shed's any light. Whilst I'm waiting for that to arrive, any other suggestions? The fault gradually got worse over a period of about a week, so I'm thinking either the coil pack is breaking down, or I have a chaffing wire somewhere. Ideally, I think I need to swap my coil pack as the next logical step in diagnosis. Does any kind member have a spare one lying about? I'll gladly pay for P+P. Is there any point in changing the spark plugs?

[Horace]

DARCINI very kindly sent me his coilpack. Unfortunately, it made no difference to the problem. New sparkplugs tomorrow, then I'm at the limit of my diagnostic ability. Boo

[techieboy]

Can't imagine all of the plugs have terminally expired at exactly the same time, so don't think it will be those. Did you ever check to see if you were getting fuel at the fuel rail?