This is my first post on here, but I've had my 80 Series for over 10 years and always do any work needed on it myself. I repair/restore classic cars for a living, so am familiar with automotive repair generally, but modern electrics are where I begin to struggle (yes, an 80 Series is modern compared to what I'm used to working on!).
So, to my problem: I have a '96 4.5 petrol 24V Amazon which I took off the road a couple of years ago as it was in need of some cosmetic restoration. During the time it's been off the road, it's been started and moved a few times without any issues... until a few months ago, when I wanted to move it. After charging the battery, I tried starting, but all it would do was start and run normally for a coupe of seconds and then instantly cut-out. It would do this repeatedly, following the same pattern every time, until, after quite a few attempts, it wouldn't fire at all. At this point, I gave up and left it.
Fast forward to yesterday, and as I now want to get it into my workshop to begin the work on it, I've given it another go. After another charge of the battery, the same thing was happening again - start and cut out, over and over. First thing I've tried to establish is whether it's ignition or fuel related. There is a spark, even when it won't start, and I've verified that when it dies after a couple of seconds, the sparks are still coming right up to the point the motor stops spinning, but after it's cut out if you understand what I mean. So I think it's a fuel problem.
So far, I've verified that the pump is running, and a check of the absolute pressure from the pump has given a figure over 80 psi, so I imagine that kind of proves the pump is delivering the goods. I haven't been able to test the actual system pressure due to not having a suitable adapter to splice into the line - and also the difficulty of getting to the incoming line where the vehicle is currently parked. The main EFI relay clicks as it's unplugged and plugged in again with ignition on, so that appears to be switching.
So, if we have fuel under pressure in the rail, and we have a spark, then the only thing to prevent it running is surely the injectors not being given the signal to open? Am I missing something? I should add that it now won't run at all - the starting and immediately cutting out has given way to now not even firing at all, it just spins over with no sign of life. I appreciate there's more to it than this, but if it was a faulty fuel pressure regulator, or a dodgy sensor somewhere, surely it would still run, but just roughly? I'm getting nothing at all now. If there's pressurised fuel in the rail (there is) and a spark (yes), then the only thing preventing the fuel from getting to the spark is the injectors surely? And as all six couldn't fail simultaneously, then my thinking is they're not getting the signal to open.
One final thing to add: having read the codes, the only one I'm getting is 99, which research suggests is related to an immobiliser fault. Could the immobiliser be the culprit here? I know nothing about this. Does anyone know how the immobiliser prevents the engine from starting? I can only think of three ways it could do this:
1) It cuts the ignition circuit, so no spark.
2) It cuts the starter circuit, so no engagement of the starter.
3) It cuts the EFI somehow.
If it's 1 or 2, then that can't really be my problem - but if it's 3, then maybe?
Can anyone help me with this? I really can't even work on it properly where it currently sits, so I need to get it running so I can get it in the workshop. Too far to push and a little tight on space for towing it in there.
Any ideas will be much appreciated.
So, to my problem: I have a '96 4.5 petrol 24V Amazon which I took off the road a couple of years ago as it was in need of some cosmetic restoration. During the time it's been off the road, it's been started and moved a few times without any issues... until a few months ago, when I wanted to move it. After charging the battery, I tried starting, but all it would do was start and run normally for a coupe of seconds and then instantly cut-out. It would do this repeatedly, following the same pattern every time, until, after quite a few attempts, it wouldn't fire at all. At this point, I gave up and left it.
Fast forward to yesterday, and as I now want to get it into my workshop to begin the work on it, I've given it another go. After another charge of the battery, the same thing was happening again - start and cut out, over and over. First thing I've tried to establish is whether it's ignition or fuel related. There is a spark, even when it won't start, and I've verified that when it dies after a couple of seconds, the sparks are still coming right up to the point the motor stops spinning, but after it's cut out if you understand what I mean. So I think it's a fuel problem.
So far, I've verified that the pump is running, and a check of the absolute pressure from the pump has given a figure over 80 psi, so I imagine that kind of proves the pump is delivering the goods. I haven't been able to test the actual system pressure due to not having a suitable adapter to splice into the line - and also the difficulty of getting to the incoming line where the vehicle is currently parked. The main EFI relay clicks as it's unplugged and plugged in again with ignition on, so that appears to be switching.
So, if we have fuel under pressure in the rail, and we have a spark, then the only thing to prevent it running is surely the injectors not being given the signal to open? Am I missing something? I should add that it now won't run at all - the starting and immediately cutting out has given way to now not even firing at all, it just spins over with no sign of life. I appreciate there's more to it than this, but if it was a faulty fuel pressure regulator, or a dodgy sensor somewhere, surely it would still run, but just roughly? I'm getting nothing at all now. If there's pressurised fuel in the rail (there is) and a spark (yes), then the only thing preventing the fuel from getting to the spark is the injectors surely? And as all six couldn't fail simultaneously, then my thinking is they're not getting the signal to open.
One final thing to add: having read the codes, the only one I'm getting is 99, which research suggests is related to an immobiliser fault. Could the immobiliser be the culprit here? I know nothing about this. Does anyone know how the immobiliser prevents the engine from starting? I can only think of three ways it could do this:
1) It cuts the ignition circuit, so no spark.
2) It cuts the starter circuit, so no engagement of the starter.
3) It cuts the EFI somehow.
If it's 1 or 2, then that can't really be my problem - but if it's 3, then maybe?
Can anyone help me with this? I really can't even work on it properly where it currently sits, so I need to get it running so I can get it in the workshop. Too far to push and a little tight on space for towing it in there.
Any ideas will be much appreciated.
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