starting problems...HELP!

[hawker182]

Ok had a call from the garage the other day and they reckon its in need of a new alternator, apparantly its not charging when the engines running and this is effecting the fuel pump relay because its not getting a feed from the alternator. This is not 100% but its all they can think of thats causing the problem.

So any one have a spare alternator they want to part with?

Cheers Adam

[hawker182]

Ok got a new alternator from ebay but what was sent was not an alternator from an RX7, very very annoying seeing as i cant get hold of the guy anymore. So i pose the question again

Anyone have a alternator for a 1990 TII they want to sell?

[Mobilemick]

take it to a auto electrician, sure they can repair it

[hawker182]

Thats not a bad plan may see if i can get that sorted whilst the hunt continues, as the busted one is just sat in the garage fourcourt. Cheers mick

[Grizzly]

I\'ll have a look through all my Bits, see if i have one knocking about.

[hawker182]

Right UPDATE time...............

Had a new alternator delivered today (about time) got it bolted on and still the same thing happens each and every time. This has me thinking that the garage didnt know what they were talking about and my old alternator was fine. Anyway\'s now i\'m stuck, gonna take it all apart tomor and see if i\'ve overlooked something but am thinking a new AFM might be a good idea?

Anyone got one knocking around, the round type? Also should it make any difference to the car if its removed as i\'ve seen some hard piping induction kits that fit without the AFM on Jap ebay and they seem to do without the AFM all together!?

Was so gutted when it died tho as i\'ve waited months for an alternator, got it fitted and thought Sweet take here out but no, back to square one

[grinder]

can you do a bullet list of exactly what happens and in what order ?

Stu

[hawker182]

Yeah no probs

1. Turn key in ignition to AC - no priming noise from fuel pump
2. Start engine - 1st time everytime no probs
3. Engine revs to 3000rpm and cuts out

If i remove the AFM sensor from the AFM housing and start the car it runs, lumpy and very smokey but runs for as long as u want. Plug it back it in dies. If i rev the engine whilst the AFM sensor is out it dies also.

Have checked the fuel pump, its fine, must be anyway cause the car will run, checked for VAC leaks, none found, new alternator fitted, this cant be the cause anymore. Confused.com!!!!!?? lol

[grinder]

so if you leave the car as it is with everything plugged in - then you can start it and it will run for 10 seconds and then die ?

OK try something silly

unplug the fuel pump ( passenger side rear shock tower ) - then start the car - does it do EXACTLY the same ?

so you can remove the AFM connector , and it will idle for over 20 mins if you dont touch it ??

Stu

[hawker182]

Yeah runs for about 4secs then dies. Will try and see what happens with the fuel pump unplugged tomro morn, think i did try that cause i was running a +12v to the fuel pump earlier and the same happened but will unplug it all together 1st thing 2moro morn and post up results

Yeah AFM connector unplugged it idles at about 3500 for as long as it wants....strange

[grinder]

3500 RPM - WOW thats pretty high matey

are you starting the car with the clutch up or down ??

saying that - i wonder what the AFM actually controls ?? as if you unplug it and it runs - this proves the fuel pump is working OK

have you checked what the manual says about checking the AFM ?

[hawker182]

This is what i\'m wondering, surely it cant have that biga affect. I remember on my old SW20 MR2 i fiited an induction pipe which meant removing the AFM and sensor and it didnt make one bit of difference. Will check up now on the PDF

[hawker182]

Literally says that it just detects the air intake temperature, nothing to say what it may affect if faulty.

[grinder]

i thought the FSM told you how to check it to see if it was working or not

UNLESS

if you unplug it - it defaults to sensing that its really cold - hence the AWS kicks in and holds the revs to 3500 ( auto warmup system )

let me see if i can find anything

Stu

[grinder]

page 80 tells you the OHMS of the AFM

you could always check this out and see what it says

and also read pages 23-25

although it doesnt tell you much - its a start i suppose

failing this

1 - get another AFM from somewhere
2 - remove the ECU and have a look at the inside for damage

Stu