Depressurising fuel rail between runs.

[StrongSpearWorks]

Spoke too soon 🤣

[StrongSpearWorks]

So the troubles continue.

I pulled Fuse 1 out last night when I got home (after another smokey clattery start in the morning) to stall and run the pressure down.

This morning I primed the pump a couple of times and it started without issue. Ran perfectly - no lumpy idle, no surging - and just as I was about to set off... it died. Not in a running out of fuel clatter, just a dead stop.

Then cranking, and cranking and smoke and misfiring. Once it had all smoothed out I set off, only for it to stall again while driving (on throttle). Hard to determine if this is a fuel delivery or ignition issue. Possibly both?

I did notice that the wiring to the crank / rpm sensor is very ratty, with deteriorated insulation - a new one is on order, but I don't believe this is the source of my current woes.

I think I'll pull the fuel rail tomorrow and see if any / some / all are weeping.

[Laird Scooby]

Originally Posted by StrongSpearWorks

So the troubles continue.

I pulled Fuse 1 out last night when I got home (after another smokey clattery start in the morning) to stall and run the pressure down.

This morning I primed the pump a couple of times and it started without issue. Ran perfectly - no lumpy idle, no surging - and just as I was about to set off... it died. Not in a running out of fuel clatter, just a dead stop.

Then cranking, and cranking and smoke and misfiring. Once it had all smoothed out I set off, only for it to stall again while driving (on throttle). Hard to determine if this is a fuel delivery or ignition issue. Possibly both?

I did notice that the wiring to the crank / rpm sensor is very ratty, with deteriorated insulation - a new one is on order, but I don't believe this is the source of my current woes.

I think I'll pull the fuel rail tomorrow and see if any / some / all are weeping.

Leave the fuel rail alone and fix the CPS first before going any further!

Also pulling fuse #1 while the engine is running won't stop the fuel pump but is likely to damage the ECU - it's only meant to be pulled when the ignition is OFF and then that is to clear the fault codse memory!

I would suggest pulling fuse #1 before changing the CPS and refitting before attempting to start once fitted so the fault codes are clear, that way once the CPS is new and the memory is clear, any fault codes will be new ones and they may reveal the cause if the CPS doesn't cure it.

[StrongSpearWorks]

Hopefully the new CPS will be arriving today - gives me something to do this evening!

[StrongSpearWorks]

Did a bit of investigation.

I took all the spark plugs out to see if there's any tell tale signs there. No1 was nice and healthy. 2-4 have some black deposits - I image, as far as I know this old bus has done 180k miles on the same valve stems, but otherwise nothing out of the ordinary.
I'm positive that I gapped the plugs correctly when I put them in last year, but No3 was a bit of out spec (too wide).

Then I noticed the vacuum hose between the oil separator and the intake manifold was no longer connected to the little off-shoot on the main PCV hose. That'll create a nice big vac leak!

Also, replaced the CPS - attached pic of the old one...

Haven't had any further starting issues or cutting out - I've only done about 10 miles since.
I'll chuck another bottle of injector cleaner though and change the fuel filter shortly - I've not done it in the two and a bit years I've had the car, and considering all the neglect I inherited with it, I doubt it's been changed recently... if at all!

[StrongSpearWorks]

Everything’s been fine until today, and then leaving work.

Crank crank crank plenty of accelerator pumping coughing into life black smoke misfiring and then… idles.

Only thing different is it’s very warm this afternoon.

This started happening in the little heat wave we had a few weeks back.

Could this possibly (somehow, ridiculously) be a factor?

[Laird Scooby]

Originally Posted by StrongSpearWorks

Everything’s been fine until today, and then leaving work.

Crank crank crank plenty of accelerator pumping coughing into life black smoke misfiring and then… idles.

Only thing different is it’s very warm this afternoon.

This started happening in the little heat wave we had a few weeks back.

Could this possibly (somehow, ridiculously) be a factor?

Pumping the throttle won't have any effect, on a flooded hot start the procedure is to floor the throttle and hold it there then turn the key to start until it fires. It sounds as if you have a fuel vapourisation problem, exacerbated by higher ethanol content in the fuel. Could also be the thermostatic air intake valve has failed in the hot position if you have a n/asp car.

[StrongSpearWorks]

Originally Posted by Laird Scooby

Could also be the thermostatic air intake valve has failed in the hot position if you have a n/asp car.

It’s a turbo.

Considering the continuing oil thinning, I think a leaking injector or four / fpr needs to be ruled out still…


Honestly, my old 940 n/a was never as much trouble as this confounded contraption. 🤬

[StrongSpearWorks]

CPS changed.
FPR changed.
ECT ohm tested at the sensor and at the ECU.

Yesterday it started perfectly after work, having baked in the car park all day long.

However this morning, after a perfect start, while driving along ot cut out on me. Started watching the VAC pressure dance about and managed to cast of into a lay-by. Tried starting again and it caught instantly but died as soon as I touched the throttle.

Gave it a moment, same result.

Gave it five mins and it started again and off I went.

When it cut out it felt like it was struggling to get fuel. No lights on the dash, just … stopped running.
A Ford Mondeo is looking very tempting right now 🤣

[Laird Scooby]

Originally Posted by StrongSpearWorks

CPS changed.
FPR changed.
ECT ohm tested at the sensor and at the ECU.

Yesterday it started perfectly after work, having baked in the car park all day long.

However this morning, after a perfect start, while driving along ot cut out on me. Started watching the VAC pressure dance about and managed to cast of into a lay-by. Tried starting again and it caught instantly but died as soon as I touched the throttle.

Gave it a moment, same result.

Gave it five mins and it started again and off I went.

When it cut out it felt like it was struggling to get fuel. No lights on the dash, just … stopped running.
A Ford Mondeo is looking very tempting right now 🤣

You have a vacuum gauge in yours? Could be useful for diagnostic purposes.

Have you cleaned and applied heatsink compound to the mating face of the ignition amp module at all? It's the sort of intermittent fault that they sometimes give before dying completely, cleaning the mating faces with non-abrasive solvent and polishing then applying new heatsink compound and refitting, giving it a jiggle to spread the compound around often gives it a new lease of life.