broken down

[john-160]

Broke down Sunday afternoon going home on m90 at the turn of j9, car going fine no warning just cut out. AA rescue back home, he thought it was my rotor arm, got new rotor arm today fitted no joy, had an awful thought so checked timming belt it seems fine. I then stuck an old plug in lead cranked over it is sparking. Ideas welcome! K seres s1 160.

[roadboy]

Check the basics. Fuel, spark, compression, timing. If it's got all those there's no reason for it not to run.

Dan

[Rich H]

Fuel pump running?

[Mikie711]

With Rich on this. When you turn the key you should hear the fuel pump run for a short time if not then chances are that is where the problem lies. There is a large 10a fuse next to the MFRU in the rear left hand side of the engine compartment. Check it is OK and not corroded or blown. Can also check the inertia switch hasn't tripped. Big rubber looking button in about the same area.

[Shug]

Where are you based? Fill that info in on your profile and you might get someone local who's happy to take a butchers if you're stuck.

I'd be inclined to agree if you're getting sparks and there are no nasty clanking noises as the valves bounce off the pistons then the fuel pump fuse/inertia switch would be the next check.

[campbell]

I think John is in Fife area? Anstruther / Crail come to mind but I could be way off beam!

[john-160]

I stay in Newburgh, I had a quick look for the inertia button but I think it is behind the itg filter, I will go out to the garage later remove filter and try it, the fuel pump makes it usual noise when ignition on and switched off,

[mac]

I'll state the obvious but it's quite often over looked so please don't take offence.

It does have fuel in it - not just indicated on the gauge but actual fuel in the tank?


Mac

[john-160]

16 litres on gauge when I was driving, my gut feeling when you have fuel starvation car does not cut out right away, usualy you get feeling through the throtle easing of and it goes , putting foot down kills it.

[Shug]

16 litres on the dash is one of those situations where the good old S1 gauge (piece of s**t that's left me stranded more than once) can't be relied on - bear in mind, although it says 10l before it goes to refill, 'refill' usually means 'fumes'. I hear what you say about what usually happens with running out, although all the times I've done it in the Elise (and yes, there have been a couple) it's just died, no warning, no splutter.

Do yourself a favour, before you get too buried in taking things to bits, chuck a can's worth in it and just rule it out mate.

We've all done it (like I say, me more than once - f@*$ing gauge...)

[Rich H]

Sudden cut outs are usually electrical and it has to be affecting all the cylinders as it'll start and run rough still on 3

Filled up at Tescos recently?

[woody]

A while ago, the coil to distributor lead on my car chaffed through against a bracket, with similar results. Worth checking, I replaced plenty of parts before I found that, and still got a spark.

[Mikie711]

Just because it's getting a spark doesn't mean it's A: strong enough and B: at the right time. Like Woody says worth pulling all the HT leads and checking there is no chaffing or obvious cracks. Have a look at the crank position sensor. Make sure the plug is secure and the wiring looks OK. Same goes for the coil pack wiring. Could be the coil pack itself that' giving up the ghost.

[Rich H]

To run it only need 3 weak sparks. It'll run rough but it'll run...

To stop it you would need to loose a coil pack or something more drastic...

[john-160]

thanks mac and shug getting me down the fuel road, I went for 5 litres of fuel put it in turned the key and hey bisto, My face is slightly more red than usual, due you guys a pint some time. Still showing 14 litres on stack!