Ryannn
Posted a lot
Posts: 2,421
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Right, I don't have a clue what to try next! 1.1 petrol k-series Metro. I drove the car 30 mins the day I bought it in December, parked it in the garage and it hasn't wanted to start since. Fuel pump and injectors work, you can see fuel spraying in the throttle body. The car has 3/4 tank of fuel. I've cleaned each spark plug and the inside of the dizzy cap, there is a spark. Done a proper compression test today, 130psi across each cylinder. Basically, nothing changed between parking it up before Xmas and trying to start it a few days later, but it's not having it. I've taken a video in the hope that someone recognises the symptoms! Thanks   |
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Last Edit: Jan 13, 2016 19:19:56 GMT by Ryannn
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benjy_b
Yorkshire and The Humber
Posts: 409
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Have you tried new fuel?
Happened to me with a motorbike I laid up for a couple of months. Changed the fuel and it was cured.
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2005 Subaru Forester 2.5XT
1999 BMW E36 318i Touring with OM605 Mercedes Engine
1996 Lada Riva with Honda S2000 Engine
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Ryannn
Posted a lot
Posts: 2,421
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Have you tried new fuel? Happened to me with a motorbike I laid up for a couple of months. Changed the fuel and it was cured. Not yet no. Can fuel really go off so quickly? The stuff in there is only 2 months old at the most. |
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Last Edit: Jan 9, 2016 16:32:27 GMT by Ryannn
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benjy_b
Yorkshire and The Humber
Posts: 409
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I wouldn't really know the shelf life of fuel. It was in my bike a few months. When it wouldn't start I remember being surprised when just changing the fuel cured it.
Have you tried some easy start?
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2005 Subaru Forester 2.5XT
1999 BMW E36 318i Touring with OM605 Mercedes Engine
1996 Lada Riva with Honda S2000 Engine
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Ryannn
Posted a lot
Posts: 2,421
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I've just been out and bought some easy start, it hasn't made much of a difference though. Feels like I need to start replacing ignition bits now.
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Jan 10, 2016 17:56:33 GMT
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You took the air filter out before you sprayed the eezistart in?
If it didn't fire, then it's gone be on the ignition side. Are you getting a spark at the plug?
A couple of times I've had a car that won't start no matter what. I've either doubled up the batteries or tow started the thing!
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Koos
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froggy
Posted a lot
Posts: 1,099
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Jan 10, 2016 20:39:04 GMT
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As its an 8 valve I'd have a quick look at the belt in case it's slack and jumped a tooth . It's been a while but is there an ignition amplifier on these ?
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Kieran
Posted a lot
Posts: 1,092
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Jan 10, 2016 20:45:35 GMT
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Sounds like it's trying. Sticks me jump leads on it from
a running car
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The Ashby Jackson fleet:-
1979 Mini Clubman 1.8 K series
1978 Skoda 110r Project 130RS K-oupe
1978 Austin Allegro 1500 SDL Estate
1984 BMW K100 Sidecar outfit
1999 Yamaha FZS 1000 Fazer
1991 Kawasaki ZXR400 race bike
2002 Kawasaki ZX9r race bike
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Jan 10, 2016 20:56:30 GMT
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I only had a Metro for about a year and that was five years ago, but it might be worth checking the 'crash switch' - I cant remember what system it effects, but I can recall rallying once and we managed to 'trip' it going over a big yump and it had the same effect: engine was working fine one moment, engine turned over but wouldnt start the next.
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Ryannn
Posted a lot
Posts: 2,421
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Jan 10, 2016 20:59:44 GMT
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Thanks for the replies, the more the better!
I sprayed the easy start straight into the throttle body yeah.
I think it's just a-series metros which have the ignition amplifier, I know my mini has the same one. A mate has lent me a good set of leads and dizzy cap etc to try so I'll see what happens there.
Check the "crash switch" it was the first thing I checked because it's the thing everyone forgets! Haha
I'll have a look at the belt, I've had a belt slip on another car before but that still started, wasn't a metro though.
I've tried to start it whilst on jump leads to my Pajero which has two batteries, didn't work. The spark is there but I don't really know how to tell if it's good or not, to me, a spark is a spark lol.
The guy I bought it off said it happened to him once and he just bump started it. Unfortunately my garage is up a hill and if the bump doesn't work, I have no way of getting it back off the road! Haha
I'll get the new ignition bits on tomorrow and see what difference it makes!
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Last Edit: Jan 10, 2016 21:02:29 GMT by Ryannn
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Jan 10, 2016 21:18:14 GMT
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OK, basics... Valve timing? ...I've had a K-series belt jump a couple of teeth, so just possible, but as the engine doesnt sound like it is hitting valves, then I doubt it has jumped enough to completely stop it running. Immobiliser? ...unlikely as you've got fuel and spark, but might be worth a looking on Metropower to see how it works and what you need to do to confirm it is disengaged. Coil? I know you've got sparks but it sometimes the coil 'half fails' and wont give a spark under compression even if it looks fat with the plugs out. There isnt much that wont run on Ezzy Start if the rest of the engine is ok. Has yours got the coil 'pack' at the back of the engine, or the coke-can on the wing? It is a bit easier to check the one on the wing! Fuel? Can you hear the fuel pump prime when you switch on the ignition? I know you said you can see fuel, but it is just another cross-check. As above, the fact that it wont run on Ezzy Start suggest electrics or valve timing. Sorry, running out of ideas after that |
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gazz81
Part of things
Posts: 842 
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Jan 10, 2016 22:10:15 GMT
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Check your exhaust isnt blocked!
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Jan 11, 2016 12:47:52 GMT
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Rotor Arm
(BTW Rotor Arm).
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Jan 11, 2016 13:27:28 GMT
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Rotor Arm (BTW Rotor Arm). As he said^^, also check the centre tit in the dizzy cap has continuity. Mine would run OK then started being difficult to start, then didn't. It looked fine but had low continuity, change cap and no problem since (apart from self-inflicted ones...). |
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Rover Metro - The TARDIS - brake problems.....Stored
Rover 75 - Barge
MGZTT Cdti 160+ - Winter Hack and Audi botherer...
MGF - The Golden Shot...Stored
Project Minion........
Can you see the theme?
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Jan 11, 2016 16:01:54 GMT
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I've just been out and bought some easy start, it hasn't made much of a difference though. Feels like I need to start replacing ignition bits now. Maybe you need to use some different swear words on it? I used to swear at my Reno in French to make it run, heap of Francais merde! |
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Koos
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Jan 11, 2016 16:35:20 GMT
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Had same problem with K-series MGF, it'll run rough for a while and gradually get worse, weak spark, etc. Change the rotor arm before you try anything.  |
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Check your exhaust isnt blocked! Good call! I had a cat collapse on a R200, and that ended up dying at the side of the road...thinking back, exactly the same symptoms: fuel, spark, timing, etc all good, but just wouldnt run. TBF that happened as I was driving it, but is it possible something else has blocked the exhaust? |
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mk2cossie
Club Retro Rides Member
Posts: 2,964
Club RR Member Number: 77
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Jan 12, 2016 19:32:05 GMT
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Check your exhaust isnt blocked! Good call! I had a cat collapse on a R200, and that ended up dying at the side of the road...thinking back, exactly the same symptoms: fuel, spark, timing, etc all good, but just wouldnt run. TBF that happened as I was driving it, but is it possible something else has blocked the exhaust? Good call, may be gerbils in there if its been stood up for a couple of months  Does sound like the timing may be out in the video above, but then are the ht leads back on in the right order if taken off to investigate? |
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Ryannn
Posted a lot
Posts: 2,421
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Jan 12, 2016 20:47:15 GMT
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Does sound like the timing may be out in the video above, but then are the ht leads back on in the right order if taken off to investigate? I didn't touch anything on the car in the few days between parking it up and trying to start it again. So I think it's going to be a blockage/faulty part rather than something in the wrong place or disconnected. I'm going to try all the new things in the morning and I'll report back! Thanks again! |
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ChasR
RR Helper
motivation
Posts: 10,195
Club RR Member Number: 170
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Jan 12, 2016 20:54:16 GMT
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On the assumption that the HT leads have not been disturbed or the distributor I would go with a few things:
-Iffy Ignition contact on the fuse box ; I've seen this happen to a Metro before ; Does the dash come alive?
-Poor rotor arm ; Get a decent branded item, the cheap ones tend to be useless IMO.
-Slipped cam timing, but I can see a few cars run with the timing 'off'.
-Crank sensor - it will fire a spark potentially but not necessarily in the right place.
If I had to to pick two causes I'd go with either the rotor arm or crank sensor (assuming it has one).
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