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Topic: Starting trouble - fired but wouldn't run (Read 394 times) |
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DavidBE
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1998 Ghia X 2.9 24V Auto Estate
Posts: 135
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Starting trouble - fired but wouldn't run
« on: Jan 2nd, 2008, 4:44pm » |
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Juat had an embarrassing time with the RAC ...
P-Reg 2.3 Ultima Auto saloon. Been running fine since I got it in October.
Car has been standing since Sunday. Went out today, car started fine, I drove about 15 miles and parked in a supermarket carpark. Came back to the car after 5-10 minutes and tried to start. Engine fired up first touch as usual, but the moment I released the key from the ignition position the engine stopped dead. Repeated attempts produced the same.
Phoned the RAC and was told they'd be 75 minutes. While waiting, four times tried to start with same results. RAC guy turned up after 40 minutes, about 2 minutes after my last starting attempt. Asked me to spin it while he looked ... and - of course - it fired up and carried on runing just fine. As it was going, we left it at that, and I abandoned the other stops I was going to make and came home in case it wouldn't go again if I stopped again.
Nothing looked odd, no warning lamps on the display other than the normal at starting.
Any ideas what could have been wrong? At the moment I don't trust it to go anywhere where I can't leave the engine running.
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scorpio_man
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Ford Kuga awd
Posts: 5654
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Re: Starting trouble - fired but wouldn't run
« Reply #1 on: Jan 2nd, 2008, 5:19pm » |
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hi there
i'd have a look at relays 17 and 21.
hth
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Snoopy
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Very old.BAD tempered and missing friends.
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Re: Starting trouble - fired but wouldn't run
« Reply #2 on: Jan 2nd, 2008, 7:03pm » |
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If it is NOT relay 17 or 21 look to the back of the ignition switch, Contacts could be a little worn or even burnt out..
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DavidBE
Full Member
1998 Ghia X 2.9 24V Auto Estate
Posts: 135
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Re: Starting trouble - fired but wouldn't run
« Reply #3 on: Jan 3rd, 2008, 5:23pm » |
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Well the car started twice fine today.
Relays 17 and 21 looked OK, but other than a visual inspection I don't know how to test them. One of the blade connectors sticking out of 21 was a little discoloured just where it disappears into the plastic - not a coating, but the actual metal as if maybe it had got quite hot some time ... maybe.
The back of the ignition switch ... you mean if I take the barrel out as in http://www.fordscorpio.co.uk/manual/electrical/intbasic/IgnLockBarrl.pdf and just look at the back of it?
I hate this kind of thing. If it just wasn't working I'd feel I had a chance of definitely finding the problem. Now I just don't know whether I'll get back if I take the car out. 
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Snoopy
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Very old.BAD tempered and missing friends.
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Re: Starting trouble - fired but wouldn't run
« Reply #4 on: Jan 3rd, 2008, 5:45pm » |
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Relays are notoriously difficult to diagnose. The contacts can sometmes stick/burn out work intermitantly so the ONLY reliable method of checking is to replace but that can be an expensive way to do things..... Try a scrap yard the relays are standard type..
Re the ignition switch I mean oysically look at the back .. where the wires are fixed to its only a case of taking the cover off held by two screws
It is always More difficult to diagnose intermitant faults.
From the way it is behaving I would go with the relay theory but that isonly MY gut reaction.
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DavidBE
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1998 Ghia X 2.9 24V Auto Estate
Posts: 135
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Re: Starting trouble - fired but wouldn't run
« Reply #5 on: Jan 3rd, 2008, 5:49pm » |
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OK. Thanks for the help.
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