Aerodeck issues on start up

farlow · Post by **farlow** » Fri Jan 30, 2015 3:49 pm

This seems to have deteriorated quickly. Last night whilst at work I decided to try unplugging the coolant temp sensor in case it was stuck on, presuming that when it was unplugged it would revert back to being off, it didn't and the fault was still there. Anyway I deduced that this must mean that if this is the fault the sensor must be stuck off so I would have to replace it to see any results.

Today I removed the spare sensor from the other deck and lifted the bonnet on the the faulty one, now that it is light I noticed that the clip that holds the intake pipe to the throttle body is loose. I decided that it best to tighten this up before proceeding and out of daftness tried the ignition to see if it would start. Nothing. No starter motor, no click of the ignition, nothing, totally dead and a handful of lights showing on the dash.

I immediately thought battery, so tested it and it's showing 12V as expected. Surely tightening a jubilee clip on the intake pipe can't kill your engine ? I liked it better when I wouldn't idle properly, at least I could get it running.

Any more ideas would be most appreciated.

Post by **NafemanNathan** » Fri Jan 30, 2015 3:53 pm

Checked your fuses?

farlow · Post by **farlow** » Fri Jan 30, 2015 4:04 pm

Right, well, in the time it took me to write that last post the car seems to have fixed itself. I went back outside tried to start it and it worked. It turned over and started without any gas and managed to maintain idle, although a little lumpy, for 5 minutes or so until I turned it back off.

Trouble is I now need to go shopping and daren't in case I get stranded in morrisons car park until claire finishes work

Post by **NafemanNathan** » Fri Jan 30, 2015 4:05 pm

Strange

So have you swapped the thermo sensor? Was startup improved?

Do an ECU reset.

farlow · Post by **farlow** » Fri Jan 30, 2015 4:11 pm

Haven't touched the sensor, I thought it better to test it after tightening the intake pipe first and it didn't start so didn't bother with the sensor.

I would say that considering how cold it is outside and the fact that it started up and maintained idle that tightening that clip has improved the fault. I wouldn't say it was perfect as it still struggled a little but then it is quite cold.

Also I've had this issue for a couple of months now and have ignored it so I'm not certain how it would normally idle at this temp

Post by **NafemanNathan** » Fri Jan 30, 2015 4:16 pm

Plus it would have adjusted its map to best suit, so an ECU reset would be wise anyway.

farlow · Post by **farlow** » Fri Jan 30, 2015 4:27 pm

Yeah, I'll do an ecu reset to allow for any indescrepancies caused by a potential leak on the intake but as for the "not starting at all" fault I'm at a total loss. It certainly seemed like an electrical fault when it happened but with the battery being ok and nothing else touched it's very random.

Post by **NafemanNathan** » Fri Jan 30, 2015 4:31 pm

My 3rd gen with a B20a7 was very particular in that it had to have a pretty much fully charged battery in order to start, and when I first got it it had a lot of similar issues to what you're having. Turned out to be the thermo sensor. It was throwing the fueling out completely and just wasn't providing enough when the engine was cold, and was then hunting/surging when warm.

farlow · Post by **farlow** » Fri Jan 30, 2015 4:45 pm

Removed fuses for ecu reset, left for 10 minutes, fuses back in bonnet closed, went to start up, nothing. Various lights showing on dash even when key is removed and lights seem to be flickering and dimming on and off.

farlow · Post by **farlow** » Fri Jan 30, 2015 5:10 pm

Lights still hadn't gone out after 25mins and it's now dark so have disconnected the battery and left until tomorrow. I removed the temp sensor plug again incase it had shorted out and checked around the area for any other loose plugs damaged wires etc and all seems fine. The dash lights still remained with the sensor plug removed so I'm guessing my elec fault is elsewhere.