Advice needed

[Flash4203]

My sister has this car currently

 

http://i720.photobucket.com/albums/ww207/flash4203/Sisters%20XR3I%201989/17112008384.jpg

http://i720.photobucket.com/albums/ww207/flash4203/Sisters%20XR3I%201989/17112008383.jpg

http://i720.photobucket.com/albums/ww207/flash4203/Sisters%20XR3I%201989/17112008382.jpg

 

 

Here are the specs then i will say what the problem is

 

 

Reg: E120 WKR

Model: 1.6 XR3I

Colour: White (Arctic?)

Millage: UNKNOWN (at present)

Modifications: none

TAX: Registered as disabled

Test: 29th April 2011

 

Body work has service rust and a few dents,

Roof doesnt leak

Interior is imaculate

 

She did have a N/Side prang at the front and got this repaired, when she hit a concrete base of a sign post that was in the road when we had alot of rain and subsided the post and base.

 

now the car apparently doesnt start, they thought it was the altinator, so got a new one and nothing

the guy said he thinks the engine has had it.

 

Thing is what else could cause it not to work, and if possible how would you check which part was at fault. a friend off mine said could be starter Motor.

 

any advice would be great. as if it is a simple fix could get myself a summer car lol.

 

Thank you.

 

Rich

Edited February 28, 2011 by Flash4203

[shawdreamer]

Alternator has feckall to do with starting, thats entirely down to the battery for the initial firing of the engine.

Starter motor wouldnt be required for a push start.

 

1.Does it even turn over on the key?

2.Have you atleast tried bumpstarting it?

3.Have you tried hand turnin the engine out of gear?

4.Stop listening to "mates" with extremely random unrelated suggestions

[escortedal]

battery?? does it actually turn over?

distributor cap and rotor arm?? turns over but wont fire?

plugs?? turns over wont fire

timing belt?? engine has bent valves if its broken..

unless you state how far along the starting process it is going then it is quite hard to help without all relevant info as shaw said above.

give a more detailed explanation of what happens, i.e turn key to start, does enginre turn over as normal? if it does id there any strange noises?

best to remove plugs, dist cap and rotor arm, give them a good clean up, check it has plenty fuel, look under the timing belt cover to check that its not snapped.

once that is all done and appears ok try to start again. if it dont start, check your getting a spark by using an old spark plug fitted to no.1 ht lead, hold it with insulated pliers and touch the end to the engine block then get a mate to turn it over, do you get a spark ?? if not then its an ignition fault, if it has a spark get a strobe light on it to check ign timing is ok , sure its meant to be about 8 degree btdc, use marks on lower cover which are in 2 degree btdc inrements.

could be a fuel problem??

Edited February 28, 2011 by escortedal

[Flash4203]

battery?? does it actually turn over?

distributor cap and rotor arm?? turns over but wont fire?

plugs?? turns over wont fire

timing belt?? engine has bent valves if its broken..

unless you state how far along the starting process it is going then it is quite hard to help without all relevant info as shaw said above.

give a more detailed explanation of what happens, i.e turn key to start, does enginre turn over as normal? if it does id there any strange noises?

best to remove plugs, dist cap and rotor arm, give them a good clean up, check it has plenty fuel, look under the timing belt cover to check that its not snapped.

once that is all done and appears ok try to start again. if it dont start, check your getting a spark by using an old spark plug fitted to no.1 ht lead, hold it with insulated pliers and touch the end to the engine block then get a mate to turn it over, do you get a spark ?? if not then its an ignition fault, if it has a spark get a strobe light on it to check ign timing is ok , sure its meant to be about 8 degree btdc, use marks on lower cover which are in 2 degree btdc inrements.

could be a fuel problem??

 

 

Ok, well like i said my sisters car. and she has only gave me the info i gave you. have fed this back to my sister waiting for a reply back.

[Flash4203]

Just spoke to my sister.

 

 

right as car was being drove after gettin a new alternator, the battery light came on then died.

when my sister was recovered apparently the Recovery man said it might be a fuel pump relay?

 

When you turn the key it makes a funny weering noise. there is sparks as they are new HT leads and plugs. thats fine.

but nothing else happens

 

it was apparently running rich

 

it had started to get spluttery from cold

 

backfireing after new alternator fitted.... when they could start it

 

but my sisters partner apparently ran out of fuel in it. but she said the fuel system got flushed through so clearing any sludge out of the lines.

 

 

This is all the information i have got.

 

i hope this helps

Edited February 28, 2011 by Flash4203

[shawdreamer]

does she know if the fuel pumps fires up on ignition?

 

If the relay is suspect (I think its a pink'un iirc) then you wont get the telltale "whirr" noise when ignition is turned on.

 

To check she should have a mate turn the ignition on while she stands down by the drivers back wheel listening, no whirr.... no fuel pump kicking in.

 

I'm not 100% on whether the mk4's had inertia switches either, which if the "knock" she had was sudden and violent enough could be triggered (as that's their job), Im sure someone can tell you whether there should be one or not.

[escortedal]

Just spoke to my sister.

 

 

right as car was being drove after gettin a new alternator, the battery light came on then died.

when my sister was recovered apparently the Recovery man said it might be a fuel pump relay?

 

When you turn the key it makes a ****funny weering noise****. there is sparks as they are new HT leads and plugs. thats fine.

but nothing else happens

 

it was apparently running rich

 

it had started to get spluttery from cold

 

backfireing after new alternator fitted.... when they could start it

 

but my sisters partner apparently ran out of fuel in it. but she said the fuel system got flushed through so clearing any sludge out of the lines.

 

 

This is all the information i have got.

 

i hope this helps

the funny weering noise you mention could be the fuel pump, they do that when they run out of fuel, more so when facing downhill, (did on my mk2 orion 1600 ghia inj** same engine set up**)

check the timing belt is still ok before attempting any further starts, but i dont think it will be that...but best be safe although if broken dmage will be done already..

possible fuel pump is fubar, listen under car on drivers side rear, fuel pump is located there, get someone to turn ignition on to get dash lights on, dont turn it over yet,

you should hear the fuel pump priming, about a 2 second buzz from it, if it keeps going then it has no fuel going to it or through it,

if no noise then it may be the relay( dont know if it got one or not or where it would be) or the actual pump as they are common for failing.

hope this helps.

[Flash4203]

Just told her

 

if she has got a dead engine.. what kind of lump could go in, say if i wanted it ???

 

or should i not bother???

 

thought apparently sister says its original XR3I...

[escortedal]

does she know if the fuel pumps fires up on ignition?

 

If the relay is suspect (I think its a pink'un iirc) then you wont get the telltale "whirr" noise when ignition is turned on.

 

To check she should have a mate turn the ignition on while she stands down by the drivers back wheel listening, no whirr.... no fuel pump kicking in.

 

I'm not 100% on whether the mk4's had inertia switches either, which if the "knock" she had was sudden and violent enough could be triggered (as that's their job), Im sure someone can tell you whether there should be one or not.

think they do have a cut off switch shaw, small black box with a white plunger, same as the mk5 .

 

Just told her

 

if she has got a dead engine.. what kind of lump could go in, say if i wanted it ???

 

or should i not bother???

 

thought apparently sister says its original XR3I...

rs turbo, another 1600 cvh, got to be the inj head as different from the carb ones, zetec, basically anything that has been done in the past but depends on your knowledge and funds..