Guest misslea Posted May 22, 2014 Share Posted May 22, 2014 recently put our xr3i bk on the road after cover up threw winter... when we were driving it, it would cut out and then would not start as if the battery was flat we were told it was a starter motor problem so we had a new starter motor fitted 3 days ago but they have put a diesel one on it and over the last 2 days it wouldn't start as good as it should so we took it bk to the garage and they have fitted new ignition leads, crank shaft sensor and coils ... its still strugglin to start after tryin different ways (e.g. turnin the key slightly or turning on then off then try startin it ) we are goin out of our minds and need advice desperatley Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
StuDaBear Posted May 22, 2014 Share Posted May 22, 2014 Is it a efi xr3i? When you say struggling to start do you mean the engine is turning over slowly or is it turning over at a decent speed but just not starting? Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
RScab Posted May 22, 2014 Share Posted May 22, 2014 What year is the car and is it MFI or EFi? Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Guest misslea Posted May 22, 2014 Share Posted May 22, 2014 its 1990 efi when we turn the key its makin all the right noises just not firing up for ages or not at all Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
RScab Posted May 22, 2014 Share Posted May 22, 2014 Could b a few things can u hear the fuel pump running when u turn the ignition on? are you getting a spark @ the plugs? Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Guest misslea Posted May 22, 2014 Share Posted May 22, 2014 yeah we hear the fuel pump... when i said b4 about tryin a few different ways of turning the key, we wait to hear the fuel then turn the key off then wait do it again then turn the key to start it but only slightly and that WAS workin... but we have tried other ways instead of that way, like just turn the key normal lol when i was at the mechanics today they did something with an ignition lead and a spark plug and it wasn't sparkin untill the key was being turned off so thats when they ordered and changed the ignition leads aswell as the other stuff they changed Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Guest misslea Posted May 22, 2014 Share Posted May 22, 2014 we were told that couldnt get a starter motor for our car which is the reason auto elecs put diesel starter motor on it .... we have just seen starter motors brand new on ebay should we put a petrol one back on??? arghhhhhh advise please cos we thinking this could be the reason the car wont start up now AND sounds like a diesel (obvs sounds shit) im thinkin we have been duped out of tooooo much money for no reason roll on tues when i go bk to the knob that has done this to us Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
escortrs2000.co.uk Posted May 23, 2014 Share Posted May 23, 2014 The original application of the starter motor is irrelevant. The "Diesel" starter motor will just be a higher torque starter motor so in theory should start the engine quicker. A lot of RS Turbo's run Transit Connect Diesel starter motors. If the starter motor was second hand then there may be an issue, also don't disregard the unit as being faulty. If the car sounds like a diesel there must be a mechanical fault somewhere. Does the engine actually turn over on the starter? I had a gamble with a starter motor from a MK2 Focus off ebay on my CVH. All fitted but the dog wouldn't engage with the flywheel so it just whirred at me. Do you get a spark when it turns over? Can you smell fuel on the plugs after an unsuccessful attempt at starting? Can you bump start it? Lee Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Guest misslea Posted May 23, 2014 Share Posted May 23, 2014 Since having the diesel motor fitted the car takes alot longer to start sometimes a few attempts than it did b4 .. its created more problems in our eyes doesnt seem to be a spark when turning over, been told it might be worthwhile upgrading spark plugs even though just had new ones fitted with the service at the weekend ... if it doesnt start it is possible to bump start ... feel like its been ruined and just want it to sound and run like it is capable of doing Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
escortrs2000.co.uk Posted May 24, 2014 Share Posted May 24, 2014 If it bump starts, then it must be the starter motor. Like I say, a "diesel" one will start it quicker than the standard one due to it being higher torque. I'm guessing it's faulty. Lee Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Guest misslea Posted May 24, 2014 Share Posted May 24, 2014 I am gonna take the car bk to the guy who told us that we couldnt get a normal starter motor and thats why he put the diesel one on .... Granted we dont have to bump start it all the time but we just want a normal startin car like it was before he fitted the new motor It wasnt startin problems we were concerned with when we took the car to the garage it was a problem with cutting out at junctions while driving lol Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Guest misslea Posted May 24, 2014 Share Posted May 24, 2014 I am gonna take the car bk to the guy who told us that we couldnt get a normal starter motor and thats why he put the diesel one on .... Granted we dont have to bump start it all the time but we just want a normal startin car like it was before he fitted the new motor It wasnt startin problems we were concerned with when we took the car to the garage it was a problem with cutting out at junctions while driving lol Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Guest mk3cabby2014 Posted May 24, 2014 Share Posted May 24, 2014 Try getting a compression test done on your engine, sounds like it might be the gasket. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Guest misslea Posted May 24, 2014 Share Posted May 24, 2014 Ok thanks we will look into that 👍 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
escortrs2000.co.uk Posted May 24, 2014 Share Posted May 24, 2014 Try getting a compression test done on your engine, sounds like it might be the gasket. Doesn't sound like the head gasket at all... Stalling at junctions will most likely just be the ISCV and breather system needs a clean. But get the guy to replace the starter. Kind regards, Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Guest mk3cabby2014 Posted May 24, 2014 Share Posted May 24, 2014 i've had cars that have ran one minute then cut out, started ok from cold then not when hot and the other way round all turned out to be low compression. be it a valve, gasket or ring etc. The gasket does deteriorate even if you dont use the car. Some people check it by removing a plug and cranking with a volenteer having his finger near the hole to feel for pressure, if any are different then thats your prob, better to use a compression tester but thats a free way of looking, if compression feels good and even then check spark while the plugs out, if thats ok look towards fuel probs. True they do clog up though rs2000 you probs know more than me thats just things ive experienced before. hope you sort it mate. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
escortrs2000.co.uk Posted May 25, 2014 Share Posted May 25, 2014 I guess we should ask: once it's started does it run and sound like normal? Does the earth point down by the horns look clean? Lee Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Guest Lee81 Posted May 27, 2014 Share Posted May 27, 2014 First off before anything else remove the plugs and gap them to 0.6 mm this is below what they should be. not sure on ford settings but would think is 0.9mm. Clean them with petrol. Charge the car battery fully up. If it starts then all good, set plugs to wider gap as in ford spec and try again. If issues occur you probably have nackered or crap coils that don't give correct voltage. Very common. As is the plug gaps not being set at all. Reducing plug gap will overcome a low voltage coil as will it also help old engines run with compression and oil contamination issues. If it didn't start. Remove each plug and put around 5-10ml of petrol in each chamber. If it now starts your problem is fueling related. If you do manage to get it running keep an eye on voltage at battery. 13.8v is ideal but also rev engine to check no drop off. The most likely things to happen when cars arn't run for long period are spark plug failure, battery not holding voltage and alternator issue seized/coroded bushs. ISCV is also prone to stick on all cars though this will be eased by wd40 and application of throttle on startup wont prevent a engine start. It usually sorts itself out with use. If stored for long periods in cold conditions MAF and other temperature senders are prone to failure. As is ECU though a good dry out with a hairdryer and hoover will usually sort this if ecu was functioning fine recently. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Guest Deano1 Posted September 5, 2016 Share Posted September 5, 2016 if the garage advanced the timing to stop the car cutting out this will effect it starting. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Guest username Posted September 13, 2016 Share Posted September 13, 2016 Timing not adjustable on EFi, most likely the cutting out at junctions is related to either the ISCV or gunk in the throttle body although on our Mk5 we sorted the cutting out at junctions by winding the air bleed screw out further than standard. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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