suddenly my 914 can't start anymore

[MARCANNEKE]

Hi there,

I recently had the impression that my 914 had a problem when starting on a hot engine.
It crancks, but no sigar!
Now its refuses to start cold or hot. The starter motor crancks happely but without any result. Ignition is OK, i have a spark when testing one of te park cables on the engine.
I have installed a fuel pressure gauge, and its stayes below 2.0 bar before trying to start it up. when I turn the fuel pressure regulator in or out to adjust, there is no reaction on the meter. I get 1.6 bar even when turning the ignition key several times to be certain that the fuel circuit is filled up and ready.
The fuel pump is a refurbished one, 5 years old. The previous one gave up after 47 Years.
What could be my problem? When I turn the distributor 1/4 left or right, the motor gives a bang like a rifle, but still no luck.
Thanks in advance for Your answer,

Marc
Zele
Belgium

[tonythetarga]

Hi Marc,
Well fuel and spark are two of three elements. Air, being the third. The ‘bang’ tells me too much air or a lean mixture. Could be vacuum leak, so lots to check with all the fuel injection vacuum lines. Also check throttle body gasket.
Pull the plugs and check the color. If they are very light to white, that means lean and confirms an air leak.
Good luck!
Tony

[Dave at Pelican Parts]

It's OK if the fuel pressure doesn't get up to 2 bar before you start cranking the starter. As long as it gets there during starting.

Unplugged or leaking vacuum lines will not make a D-jet car (1.7 or 2.0) run leaner. They will on a 1.8, which used L-jet.

Since you have verified you have spark, look at a spark plug to see the color, and if it's wet or smells like fuel then you know fuel is getting injected. (Or if you can smell fuel at the exhaust pipe after trying to start for a while.) The "bang" noise makes me think that it is, since that usually would not happen if there was no fuel.

You can double-check that fuel is going in by removing the injectors from the manifold and sticking them in some jars. If there's fuel in the jars after you crank the starter, then the injectors are actually opening and closing.

I suggest looking for unplugged or loose wires. There are a number of wires which will keep the injectors from opening if they are not plugged in or have a very bad connection. There are others that will change the fuel mixture if they are unplugged. (Like the head temp sensor wire. Don't ask how I know about that one.)

Does the starter crank over evenly? If the sounds it makes are uneven, you may have lost compression in one or more cylinders.

--DD

[MARCANNEKE]

Hi Dave,

I think the same way as You do. I have been changing all of the instrument lights before this thing happened.
Can it be that the problem starts in this area? I didn't touched the motor compartiment. One day she started perfectly, the next no luck in starting my engine.
Could it have to do with the wires that go from the instrument panel to the relay board in the motor compartiment? I see on the wire diagram that at least 2 wires go from the dash to this board.
Thanx for Your reply.

Marc
Zele
Belgium.

[Jim O.]

You might want to try giving it a shot of starting fluid (ether). If it fires and runs for a bit, then you know it’s something related to the fuel system. If nothing at all happens, then you know it’s ignition related…. You can also try cranking for a bit, then pull the spark plugs and see if they have any fuel on them. Also, you can use a bit of hose as a straw, and see if you can smell fuel in each cylinder. Another quick and easy test is to listen to each injector with a mechanic’s stethoscope (or you can use a long screwdriver) while someone cranks over the car - you should be able to hear each injector open and close…

Also, 1.6 bar of fuel pressure seems a bit low, but I haven’t worked on one of these in a long time…

[Dave at Pelican Parts]

The only wire that I can think of from the instruments that would affect the engine starting is the tach signal wire--black with a purple stripe. If that is shorted to ground, the coil will never generate a spark.

--DD