Help wanted on automotive electrics.

Well we still can't get the mi-16 engine to run. There's no spark and the no fuel in the pots and I'm now at a loss as to why.

I'm pretty certain that the wiring is sorted enough for the engine to run (the wires to the dash are not connected yet) but we're going nowhere fast. K is pretty much finished bar getting the engine to run.

Does anyone feel confident to come and have a go at getting it to start?

We're more than happy to feed and water anyone you fancys taking up the challenge.

Normally this would be right up my street (though unfortunately, your location isn't), but on a modern system, if for some reason the ECU isn't playing ball then you need specialist gear in order to interrogate it.

It's just possible that it needs some of the stuff to be connected - like dashboard wiring - that you'd think was unimportant, although automotive control systems usually have a "limp home" mode that they can switch to if necessary - the industrial stuff I'm more familiar with certainly wouldn't let you start unless it could yell help should it need to.

Hi James

Doesnt that bloke down the road (Reg) have an M16 in his?

The alternatives are find someone with a 405
or buy a Haynes manual

Sorry, but i have enough trouble with a Mini lectrics

I'm 100% sure it's not the ECU, I have the Haynes manuals for both 405 & 205 (they're not exactly accurate) and the 205 bit of the loom on Reg's differs from mine as it's an earlier model.

I had a brain wave last night that it might be a TDC sensor fault as this came with the gearbox of unknown origin as this would account for a lack of spark & fuel. Though equally it may be another red herring!

I also need to find out why the fuel pump seams to be continuously running under load compared to in the old 8v engine. This may point to a buggered pressure release valve.

The mind boggles!

Maybe i could trailer it to Stoneleigh as a static exhibit?

haynes diagrams are very poor, I have a set from a dealer but they are 1.9 gti only I think. Might be able to take a look sometime. I would first try connecting everything you can, and check the loom isn't damaged.

Haynes manuals can be variable. I found them invaluable when I first got involved in car bashing (didn't we all?) and they've always been my first point of reference when starting an unfamiliar job. Others, more recent, have still been helpful but not quite as much.

The TDC sensor is definitely a possibility. I once had a Fix It Again Tomorrow with a sneaky intermittent fault in this area - checking the continuity with a test meter was enough to cure it temporarily...

Sorry I meant (haynes) peugeot diagrams are not quite correct. They are great books, though the new ones say refer to dealer when more than one spanner is required!

Pug wiring has numbers on each end and few colours. I know of an MI16 205 hitting a tree and splitting the front loom under the rad in two. Lots of same coloured wires and a big headache.

First of all check the supply voltage at the injectors (should be 12 volts),the earth is triggered by the ecu.If you don't have a 12 volt feed check your injection relay,if you have got 12 volts then check your crank position sensor (should read around 1000 ohms - maybe a little more).Oh,and one other thing,is it fitted with an immobiliser around the key barrel,sometimes the aerial signal goes down around the barrel.
Give us another shout if these things don't measure up and I will try and find a wiring diagram.

Thanks Chris,

I've spoken to both AB Motorsport and Spoox Motorsport in the last few days and they've said that it should run on two wires from the main loom so it's a case of making sure they're both connected correctly, which i'm not sure they are!

It should be mechanically complete tonight and back on four wheels ready for Leanne's birthday tomorrow.

That leaves me the weekend to sort the wiring.

Hi Leanne, not another one

Just when you want a quite one Big Mouth lets the out of the bag
Congrats for tomorrow

TRR Motorsport wrote:I've spoken to both AB Motorsport and Spoox Motorsport in the last few days and they've said that it should run on two wires from the main loom so it's a case of making sure they're both connected correctly, which i'm not sure they are!

I did keep saying that I had to take the dash out to wire my 205 (it may be 8yrs ago, but I clearly remember helping John do it), nobody would listen though. Then again I'm merely a girl

Elaine 1, Reg Nil.

Woo-Hoo!

It only boomin' works!!!!!

A big thank you to Reg for guiding me along the path to a duff TDC sensor.

I'd had a thought that it may be the TDC sensor last week but dismissed it. I broke a golden rule, always take notice of a gut feeling!

We also had two sticking injectors which were quickly sorted and aside from a rattleing top end (the hydrolic lifters need to fill up & then it'll quiten down) it's all up & running.

Wiring wise I had got it right in the first place with a combination of Reg's wisdom, the Haynes joke books and a bit of luck. and we never needed the conector behind the dash anyway.

Oh, and it's still flippin' loud!

Well done James! Glad its all sorted - now you have time to help Tony and Colin fix Woodstock and Taz! Both have exactly the same problem - damn stones in the Peak district!

Well done James......

Well done James,you might like to know that the TDC sensor is probably the most renewed management item we change,especially if it's got a dual mass flywheel (they create alot of swarf which sticks to it and buggers up it's magnetic field).

wezgit daan saaf wrote:(they create alot of swarf which sticks to it and buggers up it's magnetic field).

This one looked like it had been clobbered by the flywheel.........


James, my parts and labour invoice is in the post.

Sensor this and sensor that - what happened to painting a bit of white paint on the flywheel and a bulb and a bit of wire to get TDC and working from there? bloody computers - that Babbage bloke has a lot to answer for! ECU I thought that was an out of date currency - maybe James has forgotten that he has a french engine and it needs to be romanced and taken out for a meal once in a while otherwise your wasting your time - now that it is running I expect he will thrash it to within an inch of its life and take on Type R's at every opportunity - well done James perhaps Leanne will get some attention now (probably not) - take care of K at least you can start on Pea now

Thanks Martin.

Once the K is finished (is a Scamp ever finished?) I'm going to takesome time off from car projects and enjoy the summer months with Leanne & Harriet.

I was going to rebuild Pea this coming winter but maybe it'll have to wait a year until the piggybank is refilled a little as i have some big plans for her.

Regsmonster wrote:

James, my parts and labour invoice is in the post.

No problem Reg. I guess the beers are on me.