G Reg X3I Efi Starting/ Running Problems

[Guest Andrew Bennion]

Hi guys,

 

I have just bought a 1990 XR3I on a G plate to join my SE, GTI and Ghia Cab.

 

It has had an easy life and very solid (never welded) but I am having a few issues with the engine.

 

When cold, it struggles to start even with a new battery.

 

When hot, the revs drop and it can something stall.

 

I have put some injector cleaner in and fitted a new battery.

 

I am yet to replace the plugs and leads but they didn't look too bad to be fair.

 

I do not know the efi engine very well but I have noticed a blanking pipe on to the right of the efi unit on the top of the engine and also no pipe coming from what looks to be a breather.

 

Any ideas? Or quick fixes would be appreciated otherwise she will be on ebay this weekend - lol!

 

Thanks!

[Guest Paddy]

I think the blanking plug is normal, but there should be a pipe on the other outlet - don't know where it goes to tho sorry, somewhere behind the inlet manifold I seem to remember.

 

Paddy

[Guest Andrew Bennion]

Thanks for that, i will have a look, more of a curiosity thing as I dont think it would cause the poor starting/ stalling.

 

Cheers!

 

Anyone else got any ideas?

[Guest Paddy]

It might do as it's effectively un-metered air so it'd be running lean (assuming your air flow meter is next to the airbox which I think it is on the efi).

 

At the moment it's effectively unrestricted as to how much air it can draw in, whereas if it was connected to eg a breather hose that would restrict the air drawn in & so richen the mixture.

 

I had a similar problem with my cab and changing where the pipe was connected to did stop the engine running in some cases. Admittedly the pipe on mine was direct to the inlet manifold, whereas yours has the throttle body in between so the effect may not be as much.

 

Paddy

[Guest Andrew Bennion]

Cheers for the information mate.

 

To update this post, plugs are clean and dandy and so are the leads.

 

I have looked everywhere for a possible connection to the lower pipe (not the inlet manifold one) and cant find one, I have covered the hole and it doesnt seem to do much.

 

I am hoping the wet weather has something to do with its awful starting otherwise it most definately will be on ebay in the upcoming few days.

[Guest murcus]

if i were you the first thing i would change or clean would be the idle control valve, this shout sort your problem

[Guest El87cabi]

it's not a breather, the pipe you have circled is for the 3rd gen ISCV, if it's the original 1 for your engine it should be blocked already.

I've spent a lot of time on my efi and you wanna check ur ISCV, simply unplug it, if the car stalls or try's to stall, it is working.

BUT before you do that check the main plug and cable attached to the throttle position sensor and injector rail, i had a fault like that, it turned out to be a duff earth lead to the TPS on the loom end of the plug i mentioned.

 

Hope that help's, all the best

[Guest El87cabi]

Btw check my resto and project 'Getting Started' if you wanna see the difference between 2nd gen ISCV and 3rd gen, i swapped mine up

[Guest scoby]

hi m8

 

ive had the same problem with my 1989 efi ,i changed the coolant temp sensor ( the one under the inlet manifold back of engine )that seems to have made a big diff in know ticks over when cold and doesnt stall all the time.

 

 

hope this helps