Engine 850: B5234T/2.3/20v/T5: Starting issue

Originally Posted by stuartvolvo

I have not checked the voltage in the lt circuit while cranking, but i have checked it with the ignition on and i was getting a reading of 11.78v

I could check that for you first thing tomorrow morning and let you know

cheers make sure you check it with the engine hot (ie not starting)

[stuartvolvo]

This was with the engine OFF and the ignition at pos2.

Cheers
Stuart

Originally Posted by stuartvolvo

This was with the engine OFF and the ignition at pos2.

Cheers
Stuart

ok, what i need to know is what voltage (if any) your getting at the coil LT side with the engine being cranked with the starter (with the engine hot) does that make sense?

[stuartvolvo]

I can certainley do that for you tomorrow morning chow and report back. If i can get her to go ill go for a run to warm her up then get my old man to crank her over while i check the voltage.

Cheers
Stuart

good stuff, im sure with the amount of collective knowledge on the forum we can between ourselves sort it......cant we???

[ShadeTek]

Something I've always meant to do is put a 12V LED across the coil permanently for quick diagnosis. Also you will be able to see it from the drivers seat

[DLM48]

I still think it is the dirty gearbox engine flange issue since this started after you had a different engine put in the car ................fairly easy to eliminate voltage drop to the LT side of the coil - connect the car to your fathers jeep with jump leads and with his engine running at say 1500 rpm that should make sure your battery voltage is at 13.5/14V - try starting the car with them both connected - i replaced the battery the starter and the coil on mine without any effect other than reducing my bank account significantly.

regards

David

[DLM48]

Originally Posted by chow

ok, what i need to know is what voltage (if any) your getting at the coil LT side with the engine being cranked with the starter (with the engine hot) does that make sense?

Some sense BUT which side of the LT side of the coil are you going to test - Both?

ALSO if there is 'SOME' voltage there how do you know what the correct voltage is?

You then need to check a few cars to get an average voltage at the coil with the car cranking.

Stuart should test the voltage with the engine cold before he tries it warm to estabish is there is any difference between hot and cold - but then it will probably start when the engine is cold before he can get a sensible reading so he will need to disconnect the fuel supply as doing enything to the ignition side will just introduce 'another' variable into this investigation.

Also these coils are not to be played with as they are rather dangerous - not like the old lucas coil of days of old.

regards

David

[stuartvolvo]

I am sure that the coil is fine, as this morning, she did not want to start on her own accord at all. The battery eventually went flat, so i had to connect the jump leads to my dads jeep, even after doing that it took 10min or so before she decided to spark.

[Phil45]

I thought your problem was cranking too long then starting

sounds like the same problem I have

1st time left in a car park during the day for about 3 hours in hot weather - wouldn't start, called recovery but after checking a few fuses etc 10 minutes later it sarted

1 week later left overnight and tried to satrt it midday, hot weather again - checked fuses etc started 10 minutes later.

3rd 4th and 5th times all left at car park at work all hottish days tried to start either at lunch time or 4.30 ish at home time.

We tried one time checking spark but I can't be 100% sure that the coil lead was held to a good earth.

I'm now carrying around a multimeter, a spare spark plug to stick in the coil lead, and a home made led code reader - just waiting for it not to start again

and to realy pee me off I noticed tonight on the way home in traffic a puff of smoke from the exhaust every time I accelerated from standstill! valve stem seals I presume?

can they be changed without removing the head anyone know?

Cheers

Phil