Starting problems

[Mr Fixit]

All
You may have noticed that I sold my M100 however the guy who bought it is having a starting problem and cant get logged on here so I'm trying to help him out.

It is a 1991 Se turbo and has had the alarm removed. the car drove away fine and all he has done is just changed the battery but she now will not start, I have asked him to check fueling and its getting to teh filter OK.

Any ideas if there is likely to be any 'residual' alarm items that prevent starting also let me know fits worth resetting the ECU (and how)

Thanks

Nick

[CalElan]

Is it cranking over?
Did the fuel cut get triggered?

[Brit-Car-Nut]

I am assuming that the engine is cranking on the starter but not starting?

Please clarify that as I might be way off base.

The M100 SE has a Fuel Cut Off Device (Inertia Switch) in the battery box area (which is not an easy place to do any work).

It will trip and turn off the fuel pump if the car is in a collision. Due to the cramped location, he could have bumped the Inertia Switch and switched it off so he isn't getting any fuel.

Here is a picture:

Inertia.jpg

[tb10]

I had a similar problem yesterday and I managed to flatten the battery by my persistance in cranking the car. However I wasn't sure if I heard the fuel pump priming when I had initially deactivated the immobiliser but when I put my booster pack on i heard the pump working. It started eventually but it was not good for a while but it started fine this morning when SWMBO went to work

Ask him if he can hear the fuel pump.

Also ask him if there is fuel in the tank!

regards

John

[evert]

I have tried to start my Elan (Turbo version) after two years stalling in my garage last weekend, no result. Replaced the battery, the engine is cranking and the spark plugs are firing (that means the CAS sensor is okay I guess?), no result.
Located the inertia switch, it was not activated. When attempting to start or switching ignition on I cannot hear the fuel pump, should it be?
I thought that after cranking (and when engine does not start) you normally hear it running for a few seconds?

Will check the alarm tonight (it also can break the line to the fuel pump), in case there is pollution in the fuel, how to solve?
I read about a wire to the engine management (a mass) that is more often found to be causing this (located at the inlet manifold?)?
The "engine failure" light in the dashboard remains on during cranking, is this normal?

Any suggestions are appreciated ;->

[lotusflasherman]

I have tried to start my Elan (Turbo version) after two years stalling in my garage last weekend, no result. Replaced the battery, the engine is cranking and the spark plugs are firing (that means the CAS sensor is okay I guess?), no result.
Located the inertia switch, it was not activated. When attempting to start or switching ignition on I cannot hear the fuel pump, should it be?
I thought that after cranking (and when engine does not start) you normally hear it running for a few seconds?

Will check the alarm tonight (it also can break the line to the fuel pump), in case there is pollution in the fuel, how to solve?
I read about a wire to the engine management (a mass) that is more often found to be causing this (located at the inlet manifold?)?
The "engine failure" light in the dashboard remains on during cranking, is this normal?

Any suggestions are appreciated ;->

Fuel pump should whirr for about a second when you first switch on ignition as fuel pressure builds up. Sounds very likely that you have no fuel pressure, so that's the first thing to investigate.

[evert]

Thanks, will try tonight. Any suggestions on the wiring? Can a bad ground wire, like from a sensor close to inlet manifold, cause the ECU not to turn on the fuel pump?

By the way, the lower screw from the CAS cover fell and I cannot find it back!!! Any suggestion where to look? It was not on the ground, looked already >30 minutes for it ;-<

[lotusflasherman]

Thanks, will try tonight. Any suggestions on the wiring? Can a bad ground wire, like from a sensor close to inlet manifold, cause the ECU not to turn on the fuel pump?

By the way, the lower screw from the CAS cover fell and I cannot find it back!!! Any suggestion where to look? It was not on the ground, looked already >30 minutes for it ;-<

Fuel Pump wiring is here ...

sheet 5.JPG

The fuel pump relay is in the rear speaker compartment on LHD cars, alongside the Inertai Switch. Might be an idea to check that first..

Your CAS screw is probably sitting on a reinforcing web of the clutch housing. I have a magnet on a long thin welding rod that I poke around with when steel bolts go missing. Lucky the housing is aluminium and doesn't grab the magnet ...

[Candles]

There are numerous little places in the gearbox housing that the CAS cover screw could have fallen into. You could dangle a magnet around there (as the gearbox and clutch housing is alloy) and see if it picks anything up. The screws are quite small as you know, but are steel.

AND they are 7/32" heads! What is going on - I thought the car was ALL metric! I want a refund

[lotusflasherman]

AND they are 7/32" heads! What is going on - I thought the car was ALL metric! I want a refund

You've been thinking wrong then. The nut that holds the handbrake lever on the rear caliper is 11/16" A.F. It measures 17.4mm so 17mm too small & 18mm too slack.

forum.lotuselancentral.com/viewtopic.php?f=41&t=24698#p311281

[evert]

Checked the relays and stuff yesterday, it seems 12V is coming right till the connector on top of the fuel tank for 2 seconds after switching ignition on, so that looks okay. I cannot hear a single noise or hum from the pump, so must be it I guess?

How can I remove the fuel lines (the red and white kind of "connector")? Do I need a special tool for that?

[Fredjohn]

How can I remove the fuel lines (the red and white kind of "connector")? Do I need a special tool for that?

Take a look at this thread

or alternatively this one

If the pump is faulty this may help in removing it

[HJ2]

Hoi Evert,

Long time no see! Ik had niet gedacht je nog on-line aan te treffen, je hebt de Elan dus nog steeds niet verkocht

There is a tool to unclip the fuel lines (Brit Car Nut has several for sale) But before I had that, 2 small screwdrivers sufficed to undo the clips.
Take care not to damage the plastic fuel lines. There are several topics about testing and replacing the pump and there's one with changing the float that has decent pictures too.

Good luck!

edit: John beat me to it whilst typing!

[evert]

Hi HJ,
decided to keep the car that time, but with 3 kids it was not used for some years!! Now I get some time, so decided to bring it back to the road again ;->
Cannot find the link to the fuel pump repair place with pictures...

[HJ2]

Good for you and good luck with firing it up!

Kind regards
Henk-Jan

[evert]

Engine is running now! It was the fuel pump and the injectors were polluted.
Does anybody suffer from those speed-ramps ;-< ?? I touch the ground with the nose section very rapidly at those ramps, could it be that my front springs are weak?

[HJ2]

Hi Evert,

It is possible, yes. To be sure: have the shock's tested at a local 'bandenboer'
Also: never brake when driving almost on the up-ramp at the speedbumps! I have a spare front rubber lip if you need one
Try to drive over them diagonally helps as well.

Good that the car is running again.