Technical MK1 Punto, flooding, won't start

[Mendologist]

Hi Guys.
My daughters 8v 1998 single point 1.2 Punto will not start.
Had a mobile "Technician" out today and got nowhere!
The injector seems to be flooding the engine?
Occasional blowback through throttle body of fuel.

Once its flooded, if we pulled off injector connector plug the engine ran for a second or 2 burning off the fuel.

Replaced the plug - back to flooding.

There are sparks and tried a new set of plugs.

Leads were changed about 2 months ago.

He said - it could be manifold coolant sensor, replaced with a new one.

He said - could be throttle body, got a second hand 1 from scrappers - exactly same problem.

He said Lamba sensor. I don't think that would cause this?? Maybe bad running when engine is going??

I've ran out of ideas.
The car is only worth a few hundred quid, cost of parts is mounting up!!
:bang:
What would faulty crankshaft sensor do?

Could it be ECU?

Anyone else got a clue please?

Thanks for any info.

 

[rallycinq]

What happened immediately before?

Cam timing?

Cheers

SPD

 

[Mendologist]

Thanks for the interest rallycinq -
Before this happened, the car would start first turn!!

I reversed the car about 10 metres, engine must have been running for about 15 to 20 seconds, then turned off. It was running from cold and unusually a little bit 'chokey'.

The idea was to stop the car dripping oil. I replaced the apparently, always leaking, rocker cover gasket and then put air filter box back on.
The car just hasn't started since!
Coincedence?
Nothing else was touched just airbox and rocker cover.

 

[Moosey]

Like Rally said, possibly lambda. As it tells the ECU the oxygen content in the exhaust gas, and adjusts fuel trim accordingly. Check the cam timing, 8vs use timing marks so it won't be hard to check.

Did the mobile guy plug in a scanner and read the ECU for fault codes?

 

[luke15000]

Have a look at head gasket, mine had same problem and it was this...

 

[bredsticz]

How would a head gasket make it flood?
Also you said it was cold and a bit chokey on the mornings. A well serviced car will not be chokey even in the cold.

I'd say lambda sensor or coolant temp sensor, which if has been replaced can be ruled out. There are 2 temp sensors in the mk2. Don't know if yours does too

As rallycinq said though, check the timing

 

[Mendologist]

He didn't plug his reader in and wouldn't or didn't have the right plug!!
He also said it wouldn't pick up on this sort of fault!! Probably his excuse for the above reason!
It was my reason for calling him out. I thought stuff like this would be readable?

Waste of 35 quid.

I thought lamba would only come into play when engine running?

 

[bredsticz]

Comes in as soon as you start cranking as far as I'm aware, will only show up on a code reader if the engine management light is on

 

[dave]

lamba dont usually stop car starting, this has all the symtoms of what rallycinq said slipped cam belt,
tdc sensor plug is on cam cover though, could have got knocked when doing cam cover is it plugged fully in and no wires snagged by cam cover

 

[Mendologist]

TDC sensor - is that also known as crankshaft sensor?
The one at the bottom?
The wiring on the top is not snagged, I doubled checked cos I thought it might be something simple like that..
Pulled out the plug and pushed back in to the connector, all connections at the top are clean.

I'll have to try timing check tomorrow.

 

[dave]

TDC sensor - is that also known as crankshaft sensor?
The one at the bottom?

yes

 

[Mendologist]

I got piston no.1 on to compression stroke, carried on turning crank until bottom mark lined up, went to top pulley and this is where the mark is!!

Does this look like its jumped?

If so, I just release the tensioner and turn back the cam till it lines up with the mark?
The belt was slackish, manual says should just only be able to turn through 90degrees for tension?

 

[rallycinq]

Yup, that looks like its jumped,.

When was the belt last changed?

Was the tensioner changed at the same time?

If not, do both.

Cheers

SPD

 

[dave]

Yup, that looks like its jumped,.

When was the belt last changed?

Was the tensioner changed at the same time?

If not, do both.

Cheers

SPD

:yeahthat:

you have a safe engine though, so no valves will be bent

 

[Mendologist]

We've had the car about a year. Invoice indicates belt was done about 25,000 miles previous, I'm guessing tensioner not changed.

So if cam pulley is rotated backwards - anticlockwise, with belt off, things should be timed back up?
Is it ok to work off the Haynes "90 degree" turn tensioning theory?

Thanks for all the help so far guys.

It's been really frustrating to say the least. Over a week now since it last ran.
Sorry for all the questions, I'm a plugs and points man not these new computer controlled vehicles!!

Cheers.

 

[dave]

Is it ok to work off the Haynes "90 degree" turn tensioning theory?


Cheers.

yes that is what we all do

 

[bredsticz]

Use flywheel markings for the crankshaft rather than the marking you posted a pic of

 

[ST60SX]

Is it ok to work off the Haynes "90 degree" turn tensioning theory?

Yes but you shouldn't have to force it to make it turn 90deg, with finger and thumb it should be as difficult to turn as say unscrewing a bottle top...

If it's too tight you will get a 'whizzing' noise as you rev it (most noticeable in the car when changing gear), and maybe a rubbing sound at idle. I've also found the belt will sit nearer the cylinder head on the camshaft pulley. After a few turns the belt should sit near the centre of the pulley if it is tensioned correctly.

 

[Mendologist]

So the flywheel marks are through a hole in the bellhousing and I need a torch and a mirror to see them??

 

[bredsticz]

So the flywheel marks are through a hole in the bellhousing and I need a torch and a mirror to see them??

Don't need a torch in daylight really, with the engine running you should be able to see the flywheel turning if you have the black plastic cover off. Which 2 of my cars never had on!