Help getting it started

[jimbom30cab]

Hi

Engine is a C2 2.7 on DME 1.3 with a "speedtouch" C2 ECU Chip.

Just had full re-build.

- Compression of 200PSI on all 6 cylinders
- All spark plugs sparking
- Manually operated teh fuel injectors (2 and 36 pins bridged with pin 16 then 17 to ground) click heard. I have them all a good tap and all the plugs were wet with fuel. Fuel pump working (brand new)
- Dizzy and rotor brand new but took them off and all checked out ok.
- 525 Ohms at ECU pins for CPS
- 2700 Ohms at ECU for Blue temp sensor.
- 20 and 40 Ohms at ICV which buzzes
- HT leads double checked fitted in the right order.
- Tried a standard 2.5 ECU and another AFM with no difference.
- Ran through this check list here https://i.imgur.com/AICltfZ.jpg and it was all perfect

The only thing i noticed is the CPS is from an e34 535i (also DME 1.3) and i don't have an M20 one to hand.

I put a vacuum guage on the FPR vac line to the inlet manifold and it read zero whilst cranking, which i would have thought might have given some vacuum (guage is known good one)

Any help really appreciated.

[jimbom30cab]

When cranking, every few seconds it seems like it's trying to go as the the cranking momentarily almost stops, like it's working against compression.

[E30Loading]

Most likely the cps, as this controls when to fire? Also the fpr shouldn't have any vacuum, the intake creates vacuum when connected to the fpr.

[Speedtouch]

Check the engine-to-body earth strap is sound. Perhaps try spraying some brake/carb cleaner down the throttle body while cranking it over.

If the spark plugs are wet with fuel, try leaving it for a while - perhaps it's flooded.

Has the engine recently run?

[jimbom30cab]

Thanks mate, it's a fresh re-build.

I've got a spare earth strap so will put that on also, can't do any harm.

I'll try again tomorrow once it's dryed out

Thanks

[jimbom30cab]

I just tried again , last time for tonight

it coughed a couple of times, like it was about to start.

That's an improvement

[jimbom30cab]

Nothing happening here

I checked all the plugs are sparking - yes

I took all the plugs out and cranked over the engine to see puffs of fuel vapour coming out of each cylinder

Thought i'd do another compression test - 210PSI every cylinder

I don't know what to do now

[Brianmoooore]

Possibly oil contamination on the plugs from the rebuild. There's a difference between plugs sparking in free air and when they're under compression in a cylinder.
Once the engine's running, the contamination will soon burn off, but while the contamination is there, it won't start - Catch 22.
Try taking the plugs out and heating the ends in a gas flame. Probably not good for the plugs, but that's the old school way of doing it.
Alternatively, see if you can get it to run on gas, a far superior fuel to petrol, which doesn't contaminate plugs. You can do this by removing the AFM, and feeding gas directly into the big air tube. Your source of gas can range from a can of carb. cleaner to my favourite, a 3.9Kg bottle of propane connected to a high pressure blowlamp, with the shroud and jet removed, and pushed into the end of the air tube. With this arrangement, I've started, run and driven cars with no working fuel system at all.

[jimbom30cab]

Thanks Brian. When I took the plugs out there was a lot of wet black fuel on them and I've been cranking it a lot today. I've cleaned them all off with carbon cleaner and left the plugs out overnight so the fuel can evaporate.

Just going to check the timing tomorrow next

Then will remove AFM and squire up carb cleaner as I don't have any propane gas at home.

Cheers for the advice

Jim

[Speedtouch]

I personally wouldn't remove the AFM, just temporarily undo the intake tube into the throttle body and squirt the carb/brake cleaner in there until it fires.

[jimbom30cab]

It turned out everything was fine with this engine except one bit i'd done wrong.

So she now runs. Fired up straight away on the turn of the key.

Sounds a bit "tractorey" at the top end so need to check a few things but idles smooth on all 6 so that's a good result.

[Speedtouch]

Good to hear that, Jimbob!

[jimbom30cab]

Thanks mate I'm well happy.

[BenHar]

It turned out everything was fine with this engine except one bit i'd done wrong.

Come on Jim, 'fess up!

Well done for getting it going.

Ben

[jimbom30cab]

The rotor arm bracket which bolts onto the end of the cam shaft. I'd not got the key way engaged properly so it was about 10 degrees out. Must have been distracted when fitting it, kids most probably.