1.8 starting problem..... Or non starting to be exact Lol

Hi all, hope you've all had a good Christmas

Right,down to business lol. The missus was driving her 1.8 53 plate money pit home on Xmas eve and it suddenly lost all power and would'nt rev, she managed to go about 100 yards to a layby on tick over then it stalled. I went out and towed it back home, now it won't fire at all ? Checked throttle cable and all ok , turns fine and cambelt is still lined up, seems to be no fuel or spark , no smell of fuel when turning so tried the bump method and could smell juice (only have short driveway so did'nt have room to see if we could get it to fire by bumping). Plugged in my code reader and showing no codes , EML not on either before it stopped.
Bit stumped so if any suggestions then that would be brill
Thanks in advance and Happy New Year to you all.

Crank position sensor at a guess.

As this ^^^^^ or the fuel pump. Have you checked the impact switch? The engine can run on for some time after that has been activated.

Quick update

Fitted new crank position sensor and checked impact switch ...... still no joy , anyone have any tips or tricks for testing the fuel pump without removing from tank ? or any other suggestions are very welcome

have you check for a spark at the spark plug

Need more definite info ie spark fuel etc can you hear the fuel pump, is fuel getting to the engine, has it got a distributor?

Hi all , just been out and checked spark and sparking as it should be, must be a fuel delivery issue but stumped as to what ? Going out to have a look at pump now so will report back shortly

Update

Just been out and ran a 12v feed straight from the battery to the pump , connected + to purple/white ,- to black (top to prongs in pump connection) , outcome was that nothing happened at all , not a sound , I assume that if that is the correct way to externally power the pump then the pump is kaput ?

Update 2

Just ran a compression test to rule out HGF and all cylinders are showing around 230 psi so that's one less option

How about a location

^^^^^ sorry, never thought off that , live just outside of Uttoxeter in staffordshire , about 15 miles from Stoke-on- Trent .

Update 3

Just been and stripped down ignition and checked/cleaned contacts and switch, still not starting though although can hear the fuelpump self priming now when ignition is turned


Still no nearer to getting it running though so ANY suggestions are greatly appreciated.

Is it wetting the plugs and is yours wasted spark or distributor. If it has a distributor I seem to remember resistor faults in rotor arm.

Failing that it wants pluging into a diagnostic and a fuel pressure check

Another update

Wetting plugs,good strong spark but still no go , stripped pump yesterday and replaced filter, checked all fuses and relays and all good, just decided to check cambelt and cams appear to be one tooth out on timing mark - would that be enough to cause a non-start ?

westy1974 said:

Another update

Wetting plugs,good strong spark but still no go , stripped pump yesterday and replaced filter, checked all fuses and relays and all good, just decided to check cambelt and cams appear to be one tooth out on timing mark - would that be enough to cause a non-start ?

Click to expand...

Yes. It may run if you can start it but not very well. It sounds like its flooded too which with incorrect timing you've got no hope. I'd take the plugs out, dry out the cylinders, do the timing and retry

when mine was dismantled to sort hgf, the timing was one tooth out



this didn't make it run like a pig, in fact i never noticed it til i checked the timing marks prior to locking the cams upon removal.

Just been out to start cambelt swap , lined up cams to inlet marks and timing mark and noticed that the sprockets have been marked at 1/2 tooth interval and these line up perfectly with timing mark , can only assume this was done at last belt changed so timing is ok (always ran fine before current problem) so postponing belt change till all other suggestions are exhausted.

If I disconnect fuel line from rail should it just continue prime when ignition switched on as nothing to build up pre-start pressure against ?

It's alive !!!!!!!!!!!!!

Turned out to be a dodgy pump,new pump fitted and she fired first time.

A very big thanks to all who suggested possible causes and keep up the good work