Scottish Elises

The engine died in the pouring rain today while breaking downhill. While I was able to get it pushed home there is nothing doing with regards to getting it started again.

Have a listen to the noises it makes when I turn the ignition and see if you can diagnose it for me:

http://sdrv.ms/15mBKMY

For those of you who are video challenged I believe I can here the starter motor and fuel pump turning, but nothing even approaching ignition.

That will soon be sorted out for you by our resident experts.

For a start check the fuel pump fuse, think it is 30-40 amp, and check if you can here the fuel pump running for a few seconds when you turn the ign on, but before you turn to start.

tut

Dirtributer could be damp, or the plugs in the head. I had similar today after being out in the rain, mine seems to be alarm related, as it takes forever to start, once it has, the alarm light stays on.

Stu

Does,it have any petrol on it ?

I would pop the distributor cap off and have a look then pop the plug leads out with the rain we are having they could be full of water

Definitely petrol in it - the stack reads 29l and I put over £20 in only yesterday.

Fuel pump is definitely whirring.

It's an S1 111S so VVC and no distributor - sorry, I should have said that in the first post.

Ok, so could be water in the plug holes, or an alarm issue similar to mine. Pull all the plugs leads next, and check

Stu

If you can park the car somewhere dry I would remove the spark plug cover, remove the spark plug leads and then leave it like that - if you have a hairdryer or fan heater, set that up to blow warm air at the plug bores. Don't remove the spark plugs, though, or you might blow some crap into the engine.

You may also have gotten the plugs a bit wet with constant cranking, so if you can leave for 24 hours you have more chance of it starting again.

Cheers,
Robin

Quick update today:

It still won't start but it did let out a loud pop when I first turned the key before going back to cranking but never firing.

Does anyone in Glasgow want to earn some free beer to have a look at it?

Def. Sounds like water in the plug bores

And that won't fix itself for so long as the plug cover is left on - well it might eventually, but it's amazing how long it takes to dry out. Hence you need it somewhere dry - is it on the road or in a garage right now?

puffin wrote:
Does anyone in Glasgow want to earn some free beer to have a look at it?

Happy to have a look, but doubt I'll be able to offer much help!

Sounds not dissimilar to what happened to mine after being left out over the winter. Dried out the plug bores (your local vet may help you out with a Jackson cat catheter and a 10ml syringe) but I still had no joy. AA eventually recovered it to MMC where our friends diagnosed a busted coil pack. Both replaced under AA p&l

Ali

It's an S1 so does not have coil packs.

tut

You've not said if it's inside a garage.
If you have some basic mechanical skills, i'd check down beside the plugs for sitting water. If there isn't any, i'd take the plugs out and check the condition of them,( and to make sure nothing major has gone wrong). If two are dry, and two are wet, then coil gone. If all are a bit damp, maybe leave out for a while to let barrels dry out a little, charge up battery too, so when you try again it's on a full charge, and not giving weak sparks.
(make sure if you are leaving plugs out, that nothing can fall down the holes)
Not sure what the immobiliser controls on these cars ( someone with more experience may be able to tell you, but it's possible it's still pumping fuel etc, but stopping the spark)
Just taking the plugs out and having a look can be a decent indication sometimes of what's going on

tut wrote:It's an S1 so does not have coil packs.

tut

Mines does

http://www.elise-shop.com/vvc-engine-co ... p-643.html