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X14SZ, not starting, fuel issues?

Posted: Thu Jan 16, 2014 7:04 pm
by 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

Re: X14SZ, not starting, fuel issues?

Posted: Thu Jan 16, 2014 7:15 pm
by 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?

Re: X14SZ, not starting, fuel issues?

Posted: Thu Jan 16, 2014 7:29 pm
by 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.

Re: X14SZ, not starting, fuel issues?

Posted: Thu Jan 16, 2014 7:46 pm
by johnny
Rattling could still mean metal floating about in there

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

Re: X14SZ, not starting, fuel issues?

Posted: Thu Jan 16, 2014 7:57 pm
by 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

Re: X14SZ, not starting, fuel issues?

Posted: Fri Jan 17, 2014 12:39 am
by 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

Re: X14SZ, not starting, fuel issues?

Posted: Fri Jan 17, 2014 12:44 am
by 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

Re: X14SZ, not starting, fuel issues?

Posted: Fri Jan 17, 2014 12:54 am
by johnny
Timh wrote: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

Re: X14SZ, not starting, fuel issues?

Posted: Fri Jan 17, 2014 1:03 am
by Timh
Aye it's turning into a nightmare haha. Might be a car shopping weekend if i don't get it fixed :meh:

Re: X14SZ, not starting, fuel issues?

Posted: Fri Jan 17, 2014 1:13 am
by 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 cĂșnt

Re: X14SZ, not starting, fuel issues?

Posted: Fri Jan 17, 2014 3:28 pm
by Timh
Where abouts is the valve? I don't think this engine has one as this is mono point injection. Cheers

Re: X14SZ, not starting, fuel issues?

Posted: Fri Jan 17, 2014 11:51 pm
by johnny
I've no idea on that engine tbh I've never actually seen that engine

Re: X14SZ, not starting, fuel issues?

Posted: Sat Jan 18, 2014 3:27 pm
by 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?

Re: X14SZ, not starting, fuel issues?

Posted: Sat Jan 18, 2014 3:40 pm
by johnny
Timh wrote: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

Re: X14SZ, not starting, fuel issues?

Posted: Sat Jan 18, 2014 3:52 pm
by Timh
Its down fuel on 2 cylinders, will check spark when my brother comes back. Cheers