'89 2.7 lux cut out and won't start

[ronjon1163]

Hi

I will try keep this short. I have had the car almost a year with no problems.

Day 1 - Car starts easily off to work. Car starts in evening, travels less than a mile and cuts out, just stops. Refuses to start. 15 minutes later car starts, no problem and finish 3 mile journey.

Day 2 - Car starts easily. Travel 14 miles to work park car, start it in evening and travel same distance home. No problem.

Day 3 - Car starts easily, travels about a mile cuts out, just stops. That was three days ago. Still can't get it to go.

Engine turns over easily but is not even thinking of starting.

DME is okay, there is power from solenoid to distributor and then sparks at the plugs, I don't appear to be getting any fuel as even after turning it over plugs are bone dry. I don't understand why it started, then cut out and then ran great for a day then cut out again and won't start. Where can I start.

Any suggestions much appreciated

Thanks
Ronnie Ferguson

 

[944 man]

Does the rev counter bounce when turning over?

 

[robwright]

If you definitely have spark then it sounds like fuel to me. There is a procedure on here somewhere for checking your fuel delivery rate. It involves removing your DME relay and shorting out two of the pins. Search for 'fuel delivery' and you should find it.

Failing that if nobody else beets me to it I will find the procedure in the manual and pass it on to you. I'll bet good money that your problem is fuel.

 

[robwright]

To check sufficient fuel delivery remove the fuel pressure test nut from the fuel rail.

First make sure you observe the normal safety precautions as fuel is under very high pressure.Wear glasses , make sure you cover the nut from fuel spray and protect your eyes and don't do this with a hot engine . Remove the coil lead so the engine can't fire up.

Take care not to lose the ball bearing seal inside the nut

Attach a length of plastic garden hose to the fuel rail boss put other end in a 2lt plastic bottle

Remove DME relay and Jumper pin 30 and 83A under the relay with a piece of wire ie earth wire from 30 amp elec cable for 30 seconds .

Measure lts of fuel pumped using wife's best food measure jug and compare to spec.

If fuel flow is ok then you may need to get injectors cleaned and jets reset. As long as you run the engine up to temp once a week the injectors will self clean.

 

[ronjon1163]

Just went out in the rain. The rev counter bounces up and down when turning over, oil pressure is good, still nothing.

Cheers
Ronnie Ferguson

 

[944 man]

If the rev counter bounces then the crank sensor is working; so Id suspect the DME relay. It is such an Achilles heel that it has to be the first part ruled out. Buy a new one from an OPC, whichll probably be cheapest too.

Simon

 

[ronjon1163]

I have already replaced the DME in the fuse box which makes no difference. I was thinking that I don't hear the pump prime itself prior to trying to start the car, however I can't remember if I could hear it before it broke down. I take it the next step will be to physically check the fuel pump.

Thanks

 

[AntB]

could it be something as simple as a blocked fuel filter?? do you know when this was changed last.

 

[Andy H]

Also had a similiar fault to you, and it was the DME,relay.
It had been replaced at the dealers 4 months previously and had gone pear shaped again.
I was advised from the forum members to try a 3 way jumper for the DME (connects the 3 main pins for pump and ignition), first turn of the key !,,, sucess.
replaced the relay again and its been great ever since.
For £20 odd quid its the easy option to try first.

 

[ronjon1163]

No I have not tried it as yet hoping to get to it tonight both the filter and pump should be checked, I will let you know the outcome.

Cheers
Ronnie Ferguson

 

[ronjon1163]

3 way jumper for the DME (connects the 3 main pins for pump and ignition), Can some one explain this to me, do I buy one or make it?

Am I being stupid, when I get this fixed the first thing I am going to do is buy a manual.

 

[pauljmcnulty]

Am I being stupid, when I get this fixed the first thing I am going to do is buy a manual.

Manuals are free to download from Promax's website, and when working from Ricks.

Most workshop repairs and diagnosis available from Clark's.

 

[944 man]

Theyre all clicky-links. Paul, the colours really need smartening up a bit, links are hard to see and probably not noticed by the uninitiated...

 

[mr brightside]

When i suspected the fuel pump relay had breathed its last breath on my old Volvo 240, i made up a 2 core wire with male spades on one end and a light switch on the other, i removed the fuel pump relay and plugged the spades into the appropriate holes so as to override it. Flicking the switch comfirmed the problem straight away and all this took about 15 minutes.

Assuming you're not already sorted would you know how to do this? It would prove the supply to the pump and the pump itself. I can see you've got a lot of suggestions already so don't drop what you're doing right away, but this is the one that worked for me.

 

[xenon]

ORIGINAL: ronjon1163

3 way jumper for the DME (connects the 3 main pins for  pump and ignition),  Can some one explain this to me, do I buy one or make it?

Am I being stupid, when I get this fixed the first thing I am going to do is buy a manual.

Simply make a cable with some spade connectors and some 30A cable. Cut the cable into two pieces, each a few inches long. On one end of each cable crimp a spade connector and then join the two with another spade. You end up with "one" cable with three spade connectors on it.

You should always keep this in the car as you can bang it in in seconds if the DME relay fails. Also in your particular case it will eliminate the problem if you remove the realy and hard-wire it in the on position temporarioly.

Link the connectors 87, 87b and finally 30.

 

[iputthebootin]

Got a similar problem with my 85 lux. Had trouble starting it a couple of weeks ago. Tried all the usual checks and ended up at the ref/speed sensors which were all gunked up. Cleaned em up and all was fine for a week but then while i was out last sunday it wouldnt start again.
Tried everything but couldnt get it going so ended up caling the AA who did all sorts of checks but couldnt get it going either.
He also suspected the ref/speed sensors were knackered and this was backed up by no bounce at the Tach so im gonna change them at the weekend and hope that gets me back on the road.
shaun

 

[ronjon1163]

Right next chapter

Still won't start, New DME in place, fuel pump tested and in order fuel filter also working. Plenty of fuel on bar at top of engine. Spark plugs seem a bit weak when sparking, however even when pumping the pedal I am not getting very much fuel into the chambers as the plugs are maybe damp certainly not wet. Must be getting to the problem now surely. Any advice

 

[JamesO]

Where in the world are you? I have a few bosch bits left over from my ecu conversion that can be used to fault find.
Also the rotor arms on these have a nasty habit of the end fracturing and still producing a spark but not enough to start the car.

 

[Mike_Pollock]

Basic but is it turning over fast? what voltage are you showing?
Also got working dizzy and arm if Leicester is closer.

Mike

 

[ronjon1163]

Hi

You are both a bit out of my way, I am in Dumbarton just outside of Glasgow. I am now going to clean and test all my sensors, of which I believe there are a few.

Cheers
Ronnie Ferguson