kevinfourlegs
The only TC member with four legs
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Am I the only TC member in south Wales?
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« on: November 15, 2011, 09:21:37 PM » |
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I dunno if this should be in sparky or oily, depends on what it is.
Used the car yesterday, got home around 1630 hours.
Today at 1220 hours, went to start the car.
Put key in ignition, all warning lights came on, as they should, apart from the orange light with the engine symbol, engine management light.
Turned key off, then on. No EML. Turned off, and on, off and on, still no EML.
Key off, moved auto gear lever from P to 1 and back to P. Did this a couple of times. No difference.
With the warning lights on, except the EML, I cranked the engine. It turns over as it would normally, but it didn't fire up.
If I turn the key and all the warning lights come on, except EML one and leave the key alone, some of the lights go off, as they should, but the Sport mode light begins to flash. Turn the key off.
After several attempts the EML came on and the car fired up. But the sport mode light started to flash. Gearbox was 'locked' in limp home mode.
I turned the engine off. Turned the ignition back on and the EML came on, cranked the engine and it fired up straight away. Drove 6 miles and parked the car.
At around 1600 hrs, I the car started perfect. Moved the car. Parked the car for 30 mins. Car started perfect.
At 1635 hrs, car started perfect. Drove 2.5 miles.
At 1930 hrs, car did same as it did 1220 hrs. This time it only took about 6-7 attempts at starting the car, a lot less than at 1220 hrs.
The car has done this before, but very rarely and only then did it take 1, 2 or 3 attempts at turning the igition on, then off until the car started.
First I thought about the inhibitor switch on the auto box, but car only starts in P or N. Car won't crank if I try starting in R, 1, 2, 3 or D, so I guess it isn't that.
Is there a relay or anything? Ecu fault?
As a footnote, a few years ago I had the pleasure of a Volvo 740 with a starting issue. It didn't have an EML. Turning over, but wouldn't fire. Called me mate and he turned up with his scanner. According to that, it said ecu fault. Swapped for a working ecu, still no go. Did some investigating and it turned out to be the 3 pin plug on the distributor. Changed it for a known working one and car fired first go.
Reason I mentioned the above is, I don't want me car scanned and then I get a certain fault, change part and then in same boat.
Me mate with the scanner now lives in LLanelli, nowhere near me, so I gotta pay now to have car scanned.
Ok guys, any thoughts?
Thanks in advance.
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RWD, as it was, as it is, as it should be for real men.
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Dave the Builder
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« Reply #1 on: November 15, 2011, 09:52:42 PM » |
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you don't have to have the car scanned, you can do the "paper clip test" to read ECU faults. is the car fitted with an alarm ? immobilizer ? intermittant faults can be a right pain to track down  |
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If the above post contains spelling mistakes / grammatical errors / poor use of the quote function / a very weak retort, or is generally shyte; it's because I'm feked on a cocktail of drugs,homebrew and carb cleaner.sorry
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kevinfourlegs
The only TC member with four legs
Wanted: Life
Posts: 1462
Am I the only TC member in south Wales?
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« Reply #2 on: November 15, 2011, 10:27:43 PM » |
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Yes, the car has factory immobiliser and alarm, both working.
I know what you mean about intermittent faults.
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RWD, as it was, as it is, as it should be for real men.
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Dave the Builder
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« Reply #3 on: November 15, 2011, 10:44:02 PM » |
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when it's "playing up" try locking(deadlocking) then unlocking the car from the drivers door. then see if symptoms remain |
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If the above post contains spelling mistakes / grammatical errors / poor use of the quote function / a very weak retort, or is generally shyte; it's because I'm feked on a cocktail of drugs,homebrew and carb cleaner.sorry
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kevinfourlegs
The only TC member with four legs
Wanted: Life
Posts: 1462
Am I the only TC member in south Wales?
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« Reply #4 on: November 15, 2011, 11:01:26 PM » |
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I try that in the morning. I want to check the distributor cap and rotor arm and if they are about shot, I got spares here off the Diplomat. They only 18k and look like new.
I bet a pound to a pinch of shIt that it won't play up in the morning. Sod's law.
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RWD, as it was, as it is, as it should be for real men.
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kevinfourlegs
The only TC member with four legs
Wanted: Life
Posts: 1462
Am I the only TC member in south Wales?
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« Reply #6 on: November 16, 2011, 10:23:00 AM » |
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I want to check the distributor cap and rotor arm, so I shall see how it behaves. I got a good, no better than good, cap and rotor arm off my Diplomat. Virtually like new.
One thing I have remembered, it was a bit nippy here yesterday lunchtime and last night at me mate's, it was coming in foggy and cold. Ambient temperature or damp in the air got something to do with it?
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RWD, as it was, as it is, as it should be for real men.
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kevinfourlegs
The only TC member with four legs
Wanted: Life
Posts: 1462
Am I the only TC member in south Wales?
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« Reply #7 on: November 16, 2011, 03:42:36 PM » |
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Typical, car has been good today. Only played up once, turned off and then on and it started.
I didn't check the distributor cap and rotor arm, due to the fact its a wet day. I suffer enough with the cold and damp without standing out in the drizzly rain.
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RWD, as it was, as it is, as it should be for real men.
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kevinfourlegs
The only TC member with four legs
Wanted: Life
Posts: 1462
Am I the only TC member in south Wales?
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« Reply #8 on: November 17, 2011, 04:53:35 PM » |
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Ok, so I done the distributor cap and rotor arm. See me thread in show off, for the details.
The car started as it should. I will be monitoring this as time goes by to see how frequently it does/does not play up.
I start a thread and the car behaves. It knows.
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RWD, as it was, as it is, as it should be for real men.
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melinx
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« Reply #9 on: November 17, 2011, 05:02:41 PM » |
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Ok, so I done the distributor cap and rotor arm. See me thread in show off, for the details.
Seen it  well done; I know what you mean about the distributor, I had a 2 Litre previously which on rare occasions totally refused to start and then it did. I removed the distributor and found that it was a bitch of a job  couldn't find anything wrong, put it all back together and never had a problem again  Let's hope that you have the same experience |
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kevinfourlegs
The only TC member with four legs
Wanted: Life
Posts: 1462
Am I the only TC member in south Wales?
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« Reply #10 on: November 17, 2011, 05:59:01 PM » |
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Fingers crossed! I hope its a year or two before I have to do it again. Its definitely one for a summer's day, not mid November, especially when one has a headache, nose bunged up and a croaky voice.
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bootie3367
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*Ahem* Enix village, Spain, miles from Murph!
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« Reply #11 on: November 17, 2011, 07:34:03 PM » |
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Funnily enough, I also have a starting problem. Now normally I can leave the old girl for my time away offshore, come back home and she starts on the button. leave her to warm up then switch off.
This time, the battery was a bit run down (still to investigate that one) so charged up, re-fitted and fired her up, was a tad lumpy, felt like a double misfire... few revs but stayed that way.
As it was nearly 5 years since the last change of dis cap, rotor plugs and leads I thought I had better take a look.
Suffice to say, a new dis cap, rotor and plugs are winging there way here from Andy C
Then I can get her moved to nearer the trailer store and start stripping the interior (finally)
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Drives: 2.6 CDXi estate, Lowered, 16" 5 spokes. De-catted. Soon to be chipped (maybe)
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kevinfourlegs
The only TC member with four legs
Wanted: Life
Posts: 1462
Am I the only TC member in south Wales?
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« Reply #13 on: November 17, 2011, 10:04:23 PM » |
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[quote Funnily enough, I also have a starting problem. quote]
Don't you mean the car has a starting problem?
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RWD, as it was, as it is, as it should be for real men.
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kevinfourlegs
The only TC member with four legs
Wanted: Life
Posts: 1462
Am I the only TC member in south Wales?
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« Reply #14 on: November 18, 2011, 08:40:14 PM » |
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The change of distributor cap and rotor arm hasn't solved the starting issue. Didn't think it would, but you never know.
It only played up once and it only took 3 attempts. 3 more than I would have liked.
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bootie3367
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*Ahem* Enix village, Spain, miles from Murph!
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« Reply #15 on: November 19, 2011, 10:13:02 AM » |
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[quote Funnily enough, I also have a starting problem. quote]
Don't you mean the car has a starting problem?
Ha ha, well, at my age I DO sometimes have starting problem  @ Mel, cheers mate, will look into that. |
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Drives: 2.6 CDXi estate, Lowered, 16" 5 spokes. De-catted. Soon to be chipped (maybe)
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kevinfourlegs
The only TC member with four legs
Wanted: Life
Posts: 1462
Am I the only TC member in south Wales?
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« Reply #16 on: November 19, 2011, 02:42:05 PM » |
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Truth be told, I also got a starting problem. Had I been a car, I would have broken for parts long ago!
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RWD, as it was, as it is, as it should be for real men.
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kevinfourlegs
The only TC member with four legs
Wanted: Life
Posts: 1462
Am I the only TC member in south Wales?
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« Reply #17 on: December 05, 2011, 06:15:04 PM » |
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Drove 6 miles, parked the car just before 1300 hours. Went back to the car at 1600 hours and the woes of starting reared its ugly head again.
I lost count of the times that I switched the ignition on and off until the engine management light came on. Its been bad before, but this is the longest its taken. Was the best part of 2 minutes.
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carlton_mad
3.0 CDX and now Diamond 3.0 24v
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dartford kent
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« Reply #18 on: December 05, 2011, 06:51:35 PM » |
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try the ecu plug if its got a bit of damp and the terminals have gone green there is the problem contact cleaner is your friend and contact grease is his best buddy!!
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what would life be like if we all drove fwd cars? feckin boring that's what rear drive or bust
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kevinfourlegs
The only TC member with four legs
Wanted: Life
Posts: 1462
Am I the only TC member in south Wales?
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« Reply #19 on: December 05, 2011, 07:27:09 PM » |
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Would I be correct in assuming that the ecu in question, lives under the plastic weather shield, below the windscreen?
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RWD, as it was, as it is, as it should be for real men.
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melinx
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« Reply #20 on: December 05, 2011, 07:30:39 PM » |
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It's behind the kick panel on the off side of the drivers foot well.
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kevinfourlegs
The only TC member with four legs
Wanted: Life
Posts: 1462
Am I the only TC member in south Wales?
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« Reply #21 on: December 05, 2011, 07:43:04 PM » |
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I was at the wrong side of the car. I assumed it would be under the windscreen, as it may be damp.
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Murph
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« Reply #22 on: December 05, 2011, 09:36:46 PM » |
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The autobox ECU is under the windscreen on the passenger side. The engine ECU is in the drivers side kick panel and can get damp if you have rust forming in the scuttle drain channels. They run down by the bulkhead nearby.
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kevinfourlegs
The only TC member with four legs
Wanted: Life
Posts: 1462
Am I the only TC member in south Wales?
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« Reply #23 on: December 06, 2011, 04:56:49 AM » |
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At least the drain channels aren't blocked.
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RWD, as it was, as it is, as it should be for real men.
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kevinfourlegs
The only TC member with four legs
Wanted: Life
Posts: 1462
Am I the only TC member in south Wales?
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« Reply #24 on: December 06, 2011, 09:24:44 PM » |
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Drove the car today, about 20 miles and parked it up around 1030 hrs. Back in the car at 1515 hrs, drove 9 miles. Done a couple of short stop start trips in town and the car behaved itself. No wonder we refer to cars as a 'she'. Like the old saying goes, "if its got tits or wheels, it will give you problems"  |
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RWD, as it was, as it is, as it should be for real men.
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