X14SZ, not starting, fuel issues?

[Timh]

Hi guys,

So on Christmas eve I drove home from work and on the way back the car lost power, and would have a knocking noise past 2k revs, got it home and deduced it had lost cylinder 3.

Have been trying to fix it since then. There does not seem to be any issue with spark. The plug on cylinder 3 did not seem to be getting wet and as this engine is single point injection only thing I could think of was the lifters. So I changed the lifters/cam followers to cylinder 2 and the problem switched cylinders. I replaced the lifters and cam followers but the car does not start at all. Cylinder 1 and 2 plugs are dry, 3 and 4 seem to be getting wet.
Is it possible i've just messed up the seating when refitting the head? Timing seems okay.

Any ideas on this at all?

Cheers
Tim

[johnny]

What sort of knock first off as that could be something serious,

What sort of knock? A metal meeting metal knock? Or could you post a vid of the knocking?

[Timh]

As i can't start the car any more i cannot. More of a rattling than a knock, and it was only past 2k revs. After i got it home i could start it fine but it ran on 3 cylinders, it would not make the noise on the driveway in neutral.

[johnny]

Rattling could still mean metal floating about in there

What's it doing when you turn the key, cranking fast/slow

[Timh]

I dunno, i could rev it up to 4k revs on 3 cylinders without a noise when it was on the drive in neutral, it was just unresponsive when you blip the throttle.

Seems to be cranking fine, sounds normal. Just no fuel getting to plugs 1 + 2.
Fault code 0100 Mass Air Flow (MAF) sensor n/a just came up when i tried paperclip test, but think thats cause i've been trying to start it with the airbox off as this car doesn't have an MAF

[johnny]

You havnt ran a car with out an airbox?

A simple test to establish fuel is doing what it should- turn the key to second click, don't crank it, there's a valve on the rail, press it and fuel should spray next crank the motor now press the valve again and it should spray again if does it means the pump isn't the problem and fuel is doing what it should

[Timh]

Yeah it's just an air filter, had it running on 3 cylinders without it. I don't think the fuel pump is the problem, because fuel is getting to 3rd + 4th plugs. Also fuel appears to come down into the intake like it should. But ill test it anyway when its light tomorrow. Cheers

[johnny]

Yeah it's just an air filter, had it running on 3 cylinders without it. I don't think the fuel pump is the problem, because fuel is getting to 3rd + 4th plugs. Also fuel appears to come down into the intake like it should. But ill test it anyway when its light tomorrow. Cheers

It's mainly just to eliminate things, it can be hard diagnosing problems when you have the car, well it's just insanely hard over the interweb

[Timh]

Aye it's turning into a nightmare haha. Might be a car shopping weekend if i don't get it fixed

[johnny]

I'm fairly certain it'll be an easy fix, 9/10 with a corsa it's an easy fix, it's just figuring out what needs fixing can be a cúnt

[Timh]

Where abouts is the valve? I don't think this engine has one as this is mono point injection. Cheers

[johnny]

I've no idea on that engine tbh I've never actually seen that engine

[Timh]

There is definitely fuel getting to plugs 3 and 4. No problem with fuel pump. Plugs 1 and 2 are still dry and do not get fuel. Could this be the cam?

[johnny]

There is definitely fuel getting to plugs 3 and 4. No problem with fuel pump. Plugs 1 and 2 are still dry and do not get fuel. Could this be the cam?

I don't think so, but it could be, a visual inspection will tell you if it is or isn't there would need to be a chunk out of it, the other thing is a seized valve which is highly unlikely as it only really happens if waters got in and been left lying for awhile

But saying that an engine should start on 3 out of 4 cylinders obviously it will be off but being down 1 cylinder shouldn't stop it firing, so check the spark on each cylinder

[Timh]

Its down fuel on 2 cylinders, will check spark when my brother comes back. Cheers