Technical Engine died after attempting to move off from a roundabout.

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Technical Engine died after attempting to move off from a roundabout.

Tommygunn

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I'd just stopped my 1997 Punto 55 at a roundabout and I attempted to press the throttle, to cross over, and the engine just died. Attempted to restart on the spot, twice, and nothing but electrics were running.
What did make me worry is that I'd just been to fill my Jerry can with petrol, for the mower, and after getting home I put some in the car. Of course, I thought I'd used Diesel but since the can was near empty and after doing a sniff, finger and flame test I can confirm it's petrol.

What I've done so far:
1.Tested the battery, it's 12.5V.
2.Engine attempts to crank, starter motor works.
3.Attempted to roll the car and bump start in 2nd.
4.I've removed the fuel pump and tested for function, it runs and spits out fuel.
5.Put pump back in and wired it to an external 12V source and I can hear gurgling at the carburetor/fuel in point.
6.While running the pump I've attempted to see if fuel is going into the carb by opening the carb inlet valve by hand. Nothing, it's dry at the bottom.

Any ideas why it should just conk out?
Would I even see fuel if I open the carb valve or is the fuel directed elsewhere where I can't see it?
What's the next step of diagnosis?

Thanks,
Tom.
 
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Next step is I'll propbably remove the fuel line from the carb and see if fuel really is flowing.
Also, what is the pipe for that goes from the carb back to the tank, excess fuel flow?

Tom.
 
The mower gets neat petrol from the Jerry can.

Not tried a jump, no. I'll try swapping batteries from the other motor and see what happens.

Tom.
 
If it is a 1997 car, it does not have a carb, it has fuel injection, so there is no fuel reservoir at the engine end. Whatever you are looking into is probably the throttle body, so is the inlet to the engine so should be dry.

Check the cambelt is still in one piece.
If cambelt ok, seems like an ignition fault. Check for a spark at each of the plugs.
 
Ok, I've separated the top part, the injector, from the lower part and I've also removed the fuel in/out pipes and two electrical connectors.
Fuel is flowing freely but when connected no fuel is being released from the injector when I activate the pump. I presume I need to have the injector solenoid (orange plastic component) activated to confirm it is working.
Can I just apply 12V to this component to open it?

Tom.
 
try jump starting it before you start playing with fuel

is it just me or it looks like its burned?
 

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I think it is just oil that has leached back from a leak in the rocker box gasket and presumably has roasted over time just sitting there.

Tom.



 
You seem to be fixated on fuel, rather than trying to diagnose the actual problem. Don't assume anything, work methodically.
With it back together, but with the airbox off, cranking it should show if the injector is supplying fuel.

Have you checked the cambelt is ok, and still timed correctly?
Have you checked for spark?
 
yep agreed - put it back together, if you look down the tb while cranking you should see a dribble of fuel on the butterfly.. And as Bill says you need to check for spark too.
And if we assume its cranking over nice and not slower than normal and the timing is still right & If you are not getting fuel or spark its almost 100% gonna be the the crank sensor, commonly called a TDC (top dead centre) sensor or a CPS (crank position sensor).

But you need to go through the motions and give us more detail for a definitive answer. As this could be more than one thing. So check the belt is still in one piece at least, stick it back together and turn it over (can check for fuel at this point), then remove plugs to check for spark (they should be wet with fuel if you have fuel too). Generally speaking you must have lack of at least one of them as if you had fuel and spark it would start or at least make some pops and bangs if the timing was out.

Ultimately it could just be a bad earth too, you could try putting a jump lead from negative battery terminal to somewhere on the engine, this will provide a good temporary earth to eliminate that.
 
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Ok gents.
I've done as you've said. I checked the timing belt and it is solid and tensioned, mind you I've not done a proper timing check.
All spark plugs are sparking and when I crank the engine the butterfly valve and funnel are getting sprayed with fuel.
The engine cranks per normal except just not firing up.

So presumably it is the sensor?

Could there be any other issues, for example, if the oil pump had failed would I get the same results?

Tom.
 
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Ok gents.
I've done as you've said. I checked the timing belt and it is solid and tensioned, mind you I've not done a proper timing check.
All spark plugs are sparking and when I crank the engine the butterfly valve and funnel are getting sprayed with fuel.
The engine cranks per normal except just not firing up.

So presumably it is the sensor?

Could there be any other issues, for example, if the oil pump had failed would I get the same results?

Tom.

fastest way to check timing, align it with the big mark on right and then check if it aligns with the notch on timing belt side

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well if you have fuel and spark then really for it not too actually run you must not have fuel and/or spark at the right time... so yeah, check the timing properly, wouldn't be the first time one of these had jumped a few teeth - one or two teeth and it will generally run but just not as well after that its too far out to run at all.
 
If you have spark and fuel, unlikely to be crank sensor, as this would stop the spark and fuel.

If timing belt has jumped, we need to diagnose why. If it was overdue for replacement, or not tensioned properly, either could cause it. If they're ok, could be a seizing camshaft. Plenty of oil and changed regularly?
 
If you have spark and fuel, unlikely to be crank sensor, as this would stop the spark and fuel.

If timing belt has jumped, we need to diagnose why. If it was overdue for replacement, or not tensioned properly, either could cause it. If they're ok, could be a seizing camshaft. Plenty of oil and changed regularly?

camshaft will seize first if not enough oil?
 
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