Engine stopped.. and never restarted

[CrtlAltSuppr]

Hello Board!

Long time since I have been around. Indeed, I have not used my Elan during the whole winter, which could explain why I have not posted... and why I got an issue indeed.

So. Today, sun popped out, was time to restart my elan after 4 months in the garage. As expected, battery completelly down. I grab the cable, start the engine, perfect!
Time for a first drive, 10 minutes, back home... battery stil down.
OK, restart with cables, let's drive over 30 minutes. After 5 minutes of drive, I stop at a fuel station, waiting in the cue for my turn, engine running (and cables waiting on the passenger seat....).

AFter 5 minutes at idle, the engine stops by itself. I ask for some help, try to start with the cables, alternator turns, the engine start, caugh, and stop. Several tries (almost 10, accelerating), engine start at low rpm, even with accelerator, engine speed goes only to 2500rpm, then decrease until it stops.

Severals tries later, not even a caugh.

I guess the engine might be "drown", but I feel like if gas was not arriving to the injectors. I think I had an issue some time ago where after the engine started, it was caughing like if some water was in the fuel tank.

What's your point of view?

Thanks for your kind help,

David

[trig]

Your problem could be no more than a flat battery that's not getting charged by your alternator ,, what does your battery gauge show when the engine is running ? ,, engine wont run for long on a flat battery that's not getting charge ,, try another good battery and keep an eye on your volt gauge or use a volt meter

[RayD]

I agree with Trig, if it were running properly for the time you were out I doubt there will be much wrong with it.

It may have been a good idea at one point to lose the old fuel but you have probably topped it up.

Ray

[CrtlAltSuppr]

Hello all,

Sorry, I've been away in Sweden for 2 weeks, have not been able to look at your answers.
Thanks for your help! I have bough today a new battery (the previous one was not giving the right voltage anymore) and have tried to start the engine.

- starter turns, engine makes a strange sound, goes up to 2000rpm then stops. Have tried 3 times, did not want to try too hard.
- strange thing : I got a "tic-tac" noise coming somewhere close to the fuse box on the passenger side, like if the warning knob was on. When I put the warning knob ON, some strange noise like if the car was trying to make 2 warning noises at the same time, then the sound from the passenger side stops. I put the warning OFF and everything is fine.

For first issue, I guess I at least need to drain the fuel, something bad might be inside.
For second essue.. well, may be there is an electrical issue that is linked to the first issue...

Any thoughts?

Thanks again,

[CrtlAltSuppr]

Little update.

I open the door of the car, and the turning lights starts to flash again, sound still comes from the passenger side.
The normal warning does not stop those lights.

Does it has anything to do with the alarm? I have bought the car one year ago, I have never used the alarm and according to the previsous owner, it has been disabled because it was too sensitive...

[RayD]

David,

It is the alarm activating.

You are seeing the normal, visual part of the alarm process.

It seems only the siren has been disabled by the previous owner.

The alarm will activate each time you reconnect the battery ... it is normal

It should be possible to turn it off with the key fob if you have one.

Try to identify which alarm is fitted ... it may be possible to make an adjustment and get it back into service.

With regard to the starting problem ... check every vacuum pipe you can see in the engine compartment for leaks or being disconnected.

Ray

[CrtlAltSuppr]

My keys have several remotes :
- one written Gemini with 2buttons on it
- one round with a kind of opel sign on the button. I guess thisone is for remotelly open/close doors...

Can the alarm switch off the injection system?

[CrtlAltSuppr]

I have pushed every single button, alarm does not stop

[CrtlAltSuppr]

I have read the board, saw that the alarm could be disabled with the master key. I have the key oh well, at least, it looks like a key for something precious.
It seems it is possible to use it, but I don't know where in the car...

Remonder : I have a S2

[RayD]

Can the alarm switch off the injection system?

It is highly unlikely on an Elan.

Ray

[RayD]

I have pushed every single button, alarm does not stop

Is there an indicator light on each key fob showing the internal battery is in good order?

I have read the board, saw that the alarm could be disabled with the master key. I have the key oh well, at least, it looks like a key for something precious. It seems it is possible to use it, but I don't know where in the car... Reminder : I have a S2

Most master keys I've seen from this era have been a short simple cylindrical tube with a notch cut in. The isolator is usually in the engine compartment.

Ray

[HJ2]

Can the alarm switch off the injection system?

It is highly unlikely on an Elan.

Ray

Unless i did something other very very utterly stupid, and that's why i think Ctrl etc. is right! (PB sent by the way...)
Tonight i found out the hard way...

As you know i removed the OEM Gemini Aquila Alarm earlier (S2, LHD). Without going into too much detail on the forum (duh!) i found a circuit for controlling the starter motor relays and the fuel pump.

Just 1 hour ago i stumbled by accident into the abandoned Gemini horn assembly, Hanging there like an appendix of the old days, so i thought: let's remove it as it is good practice to not leave dead circuitry behind.

So I cut the entire wire loom with clippers and removed the horn. Now the car won't start any more, the Fuel pump does not prime, leaving me with a dead Elan as well!

Does anyone please know if there is a heartbeat like signal to the Gemini box (Which is out!) to check if the wiring loom to the horn is not clipped!? Can it be bridged where the Alarmbox used to sit?

A PB would be highly appreciated! and also help CrtlAltSuppr at the same time.

[RayD]

Henk,

3 years ago you wrote ...

I have quite a big list of things to improve on the Elan. One of them is removing the Alarm ...
Can i just rip out the parts, or do i have to make new connections or else i will get stuck wit a non working fuel pump

I can now answer this question ... Apparently you'll get stuck with a non working fuel pump!

Mine's an SE with the immobilizer wiring quite separate to the alarm.

Ray

[HJ2]

Good find, haha!
But, everything was fine and under control, and i thought all components were gone! (The Aquila box certainly is...) No running issues,
Untill i removed the sirene just now

I hope somebody has the answer. If not: i am reconnecting the PCB of the sirene, brett board style, make some connections and see what happens.
Deduction dear Watson, deduction.

BUT PLEASE HELP!

[CrtlAltSuppr]

I have pushed every single button, alarm does not stop

Is there an indicator light on each key fob showing the internal battery is in good order?

Ray

Yeś the red light is working on the key fob (the gemini one) but not on the key.

The additionnal key I have is flat with some spherical dots in it. I will check under the bonnet tomorrow... Do you know where it is exactly ( unless it is really obvious...)

[CrtlAltSuppr]

HJ2, just saw your PM. Will check that tomorrow! Thanks

[CrtlAltSuppr]

The key for the alarm only switch of the sirene. I am now sure of this, ans my neighboors also

My guess would be that the remote alarm control is desyncronized with the car alarm, witch does not sounds good at all. I don't know which remote to use : the one with the 2buttons (grey and red) or the round one with only one button...

Anyone knows the reference of the gemini alarm of an S2, might be possible to find out how to re-synchronize...

Any thoughts?

And thanks again to HJ2 for is private help

[HJ2]

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