Help please . . she won\'t start! :(

[kirsty]

As a few of you will know from JAE, I\'ve had a few problems with the gen 2 starting.  
It seemed to be ok starting cold or starting just after switching off hot, but not when the engine is warm.
She will start no problems with a good push or a tow to bump start her.

The exhaust does seem to get exceptionally hot but the exhaust/cat are not choked at all.  And she doesn\'t seem to be flooding as the spark plugs are dry and the sparking seems ok.

Could it be an issue with the fuelling?  Any help would be much appreciated as my mechanic doesn\'t have any rotary experience and I\'m lumbered with a VW golf until the rex is fixed

[NixRX7]

I had the exact same problem with my Gen2, was fine when cold, but an absolute pig when warm or hot.
I cured the problem by fitting a switch in the dash that controlled the fuel pump, when i wanted to turn the car off i just flicked the switch and let the engine die, then when i came back i would flick the switch on to prime the system, turn it off again then start the car, soon as the engine fired turn the switch on and off you go.
I believe the actual problem was soething to do with the injectors leaking or something like that, but a switch was a lot cheaper.

HTH

Nick

[kirsty]

Thanks for that Nick, I\'ll let my mechanic know.

Cheers

[Brett]

How many miles does the engine have on it?

[kirsty]

It was rebuilt about 4000miles ago as far as I\'ve been advised.

[grinder]

hummm i had similar problems with mine to be honest , had done about 115K with no rebuild

a mechanic showed me a real simple fix - if the car wont start , clamp the rubber fuel hose with locking pliers - start the car - jump out and remove the pliers

this allows the engine to burn the fuel as it gets no more - and has enough to bring her to life and gives you time to remove them

it worked every time for me ( and did the next doors a few times )

cheap aswell - £1 from the £1 shop

take care

stu

[kirsty]

LOL - love a bargain  Ta

[TRex]

Have you noticed if you are losing any water/coolant?

[kirsty]

She did 680miles round trip for JAE with no other problems. No sign of an water loss or problems with temperature.

[Brett]

Ok, if you get this problem again there is another fix which does not involve clamping the fuel hose.  On the right hand side of the engine bay (looking at the car from the front) is a fuse box.  Remove the EGI fuse.  TUrn the engine over for 15-20secs (it wont start) replace the fuse. The car should start now

[Brett]

I\'d also recommend premixing a bit of 2 stroke oil in with your fuel, it should aid the sealing.

 Have you checked the plugs etc?  TBH, if it genuinely has had a rebuild you should not be having these problems unless the injectors are knackerred and leaking into the housings.  Where was the rebuild done, do you have any recipts at all?

[gsb876]

hummm i had similar problems with mine to be honest , had done about 115K with no rebuild

a mechanic showed me a real simple fix - if the car wont start , clamp the rubber fuel hose with locking pliers - start the car - jump out and remove the pliers

this allows the engine to burn the fuel as it gets no more - and has enough to bring her to life and gives you time to remove them

it worked every time for me ( and did the next doors a few times )

cheap aswell - £1 from the £1 shop

take care

stu

Hmmmm £1 from £1 shop why am i not suprised  :rollin  :rollin  :rollin  :cool

[kirsty]

Well - still stumped!  Mechanic tried removing the EGI fuse as above but no joy. He doesn\'t think it\'s to do with the injectors and leaking as it would struggle to start from a bump in that case.
I really don\'t have any mechanical knowledge so I\'m just playing piggy in the middle

[grinder]

have you tried disconnecting the fuel pump and then starting it ( i think thats the same as the EGI fuse trick though )

daft question, have you tried jump starting it with a booster battery ?

[kirsty]

Yeah booster battery had no effect - tried that at JAE. Only thing that works is a bump start by pushing alot or towing.