[Aramil]

Hi guys!

Me and a friend have recently swapped the head gasket on a 1.7 Puma, and we CANNOT get it to start now!

We've timed it up properly using the proper tools, having reassembled the engine, but it just won't start!

It turns over fine, and seems to be sparking / putting fuel in, as the plugs spark when taken out the bore whilst still connected to the HT leads, and the fuel rail is pressurised. You can hear the fuel pump prime too, when the ignition is turned on.

Can anybody advise anything we can try? Any immobiliser things we've overlooked?

Can't think of anything we have got left to try! It winds over and over, but just does nothing!

The only thing we haven't done is compression test it, as the compression tester we have got doesn't fit down the deep plug bores...

Many thanks, Rob.

[luke]

have you plugged all the wires and sensors in, i missed one on the maf after a rebuild and took two hours wondering why i had a flat spot...
maybe you could try a diagnostics, camshaft positioning out or something maybe???

[Aramil]

have you plugged all the wires and sensors in, i missed one on the maf after a rebuild and took two hours wondering why i had a flat spot...
maybe you could try a diagnostics, camshaft positioning out or something maybe???

As far as I'm aware, everything is plugged in...

Is there a way of flashing out fault codes from the ecu without using diagnostic kit? (Otherwise I'll have to tow it somewhere to get it diagnosed)

We have timed it up and checked it over and over, so I can't imagine it's the timing, but I could be wrong. It has happened before!

Cheers, Rob.

[luke]

do you have the digital dash? if you do (unlike me) then iirc there's a way to bring up fault codes on that...

[pumapilot]

Digital dash unlock here: http://www.pumapeople.com/forum/index.php?...icle&id=109

If you had the problem previously, what caused it then??

Also a location in your profile helps us too.

[luke]

^^^^ ye thats what i was looking for!!! i think he's only had the problem since the gasket was replaced pumapilot

[pumapilot]

We have timed it up and checked it over and over, so I can't imagine it's the timing, but I could be wrong. It has happened before!

I think he's only had the problem since the gasket was replaced pumapilot.

Though problem occured before by reading the above.

[luke]

oh well that depends how you read it... i see where your coming from but i think he means that he has mis-timed other engines in the past. not this one. hopefully he will be along shortly

[pumapilot]

Which is why Pumapeople (especially me) recommend that a proper Puma garages do 1.7 cambelt changes, once it's stuffed up, then it's a pig to put right.

If a garage stuffs it up, then they fix it - if you stuff it up, then you have your work cut out.

[Aramil]

A bit of background info might help this situation! I bought this Puma off my girlfriends sister as the head gasket failed when she was driving it, and the Evans Halshaw dealership in St Albans quoted her £3000 for an entirely new engine and labour to fit it. She just went and bought a brand new car straight out, and offered me the car at scrap value, which I said yes too obviously!
Just brought it back to my unit and stripped it, and replaced the gasket, as that was the only problem with the engine, and now having trouble to start it...

do you have the digital dash? if you do (unlike me) then iirc there's a way to bring up fault codes on that...

To be honest mate, I don't know if it has a digital dash! I'll take a snap and post it up to confirm.
I'll certainly try the digi dash unlock thing posted below by puma pilot if I have a digital dash!

Digital dash unlock here: http://www.pumapeople.com/forum/index.php?...icle&id=109

If you had the problem previously, what caused it then??

Also a location in your profile helps us too.

Sorry mate, I'm in Nottingham, I'll amend it on my profile.

^^^^ ye thats what i was looking for!!! i think he's only had the problem since the gasket was replaced pumapilot

Yeah ran fine before head gasket change, just won't start now!

oh well that depends how you read it... i see where your coming from but i think he means that he has mis-timed other engines in the past. not this one. hopefully he will be along shortly

I actually meant I've been wrong before! It does depend how you read my sentence though I suppose! Never miss timed an engine before, just a little jokey comment... (If you read it again, it should make sense!)

We have timed it up and checked it over and over, so I can't imagine it's the timing, but I could be wrong. It has happened before!

Which is why Pumapeople (especially me) recommend that a proper Puma garages do 1.7 cambelt changes, once it's stuffed up, then it's a pig to put right.

If a garage stuffs it up, then they fix it - if you stuff it up, then you have your work cut out.

Amen, but we're fairly clued up over here, been spannering for a while, and built / building some interesting projects, just not used to this car or engine.

Need to compression test it first really, but need an extension due to the deep plug bores.

Will have to check if its a digi dash too to diagnose any possible faults...

Thanks guys. Sorry for the confusion!

[dancer]

Hi, does the engine crank over normally, or does it sound as though there is a lack
of compression, what we call 'like a sewing machine' if you know what I mean

[Aramil]

Hi, does the engine crank over normally, or does it sound as though there is a lack
of compression, what we call 'like a sewing machine' if you know what I mean

Sounds like it has a normal level of compression, but a compression test will reveal all!

Will be ordering an extension for the compression tester tomorrow!

[dancer]

Even if the valve timing was slightly out, it would start or attempt to start. Unless it was wildly out and
some valves are bent but if the crank and cams were locked correctly that shoudn't be an issue.

Let us know the compressions, we'll go from there.

[chestnutree]

To be honest mate, I don't know if it has a digital dash! I'll take a snap and post it up to confirm.
I'll certainly try the digi dash unlock thing posted below by puma pilot if I have a digital dash!

If it has a digi dash, it will have a small LCD screen in the bottom middle of the speedo. If not it will be the old style numbers that roll round.

[pumapilot]

Ok so your good with spanners so thats not a problem, but you admit that you haven't had much to do with 1.7 VCT fitted Puma engines before.
Which is why we consider it a specialist job.
I wish you the best & hope it turns out to be something simple to fix.

[Aramil]

Right then people; we have performed the diagnostic test as instructed above, and have got four codes:

The first is 'AC44' with 'dAtE' underneath - which after a quick search, I take to mean it is the date of the test in hexadecimal?

The second is 5967 - which means it has run out of fuel at some point in its lifetime...

The third is 9359 - which means 'ignition run / ACC circuit failure, which I assume has come up because the car hasn't actually started while we performed the test...

The fourth and final code is 9318 which means the battery voltage is less than 10 volts...

Nothing really seems to have come from this, but it was worth a try!

Still waiting on an adapter before we can perform a compression test...

[Minishonk]

i would look at 5967 and think hard about it people who work on cars offen have always had that time there they check everything on a car and realise its got no fuel in haha good luck

[pumapilot]

Old fuel does not combust very well either, if my old petrol lawnmower was anything to go by.

[Aramil]

Got an adaptor now to do a compression test on the cretin, and we'll go from there!

Rob.

[m_kitty]

low battery will stop the engine firing, the spark may be too weak to ignite the mixture even when it's visible.