Big favor needed.. ** Update **
Turbo Mini Forums

Hi all, to cut a long story short im fighting a losing battle with trying to get the engine to start.. Im doing something wrong, but unfortunately as this is my first build I don’t have the expertise to fault find and sort the problem out. So im asking for a big favor, would an experienced engine builder / fault finder be willing to come to me (Telford, Shropshire) and help me out?? I know this is a big ask, but im willing to come to some arrangement and pay for your time etc. and it would be a massive help as I need to get this on the road asap.

I just installed the megajolt so im going to go over the connections again in the next few days to make sure I have this right, but if anyone is willing to help I can get back to you and confirm a time / date etc following this last ditch check..

Cheers, Mark

Edited by MarkGTT on 17th Mar, 2007.

cant help sorry your to far. but have you checked for a spark.

no longer a series, but still 1.3 turbo.

Thanks anyway Carl, yep got spark and fuel, not 100% sure on the timing tho..

i saw the engine running in n/a mode, and i havent removed the cam, so i guess that is timed ok.

Are you trying to do the first start on the megajolt?

That might be a bit abitious, I'd throw a std dizzy in (anything will do just to fire it up) It's a lot easier as you can just swing it about to get it firing,

also if that didn't work, i'd drop the plenum pipe off, you can squirt a bit of fuel up there then see if that make it kick over.

Yeah first start, tried to start it on the dizzy and couldnt get anywhere with that either, it just popped and banged.. like it was going to fire but never did.

other than the timing what are the most common problems with a mini failing to start for the first time?

if your trying to start it on the megajolt, ill email you over a copy of my map, pm me your address

if not, ill pop up, your not far away, but unfortunately im a bit busy myself for the next couple of weeks

youve definately got spark?? and fuel? then there cant be much wrong

ht leads on the right cylinders ?

Medusa + injection = too much torque for the dyno ..https://youtu.be/qg5o0_tJxYM

its gotta be fueling, you must have some going through to smell it, but not enough to get it running

is the fuel pressure set?3.5-4.5psi on idle

needle height/idle mixture (richen up idle mixture using the screw on the carb)

Actually if you unplug the MegaJolt the Edis will run in limp home mode, about 10 deg advance everywhere ... so long as it is wired ok ... which by the sound of it is.

The most probable thing I can think of is you have somehow got the leads all mixed up. I've only seen it once but a mate managed to get the pairs of leads mixed up on his megasquirt set-up......

I am sorry if this sounds a bit insulting but ....

have you got compression? is it what you'd expect?

Are the plugs in good condition and about the right grade?

Carb ok?

Fuel pressure reg ok? (although so long as your float is filling it should still start and idle)

Valve clearances ok? cam got lobes on? (don't laugh .... seen some really knackered cams in my time!!!!!)

I appologise again for the basic questions but .....

As Nic said, if you have fuel and a spark at the right time and the engine is set-up close it should at least start.

I am assuming that all the above check out so ......

As already suggetsed try to start it in NA mode..... pull of one of the IC hoses and squirt raw fuel down the plenum with somebody cranking the engine .... does it try harder to start? If so you might just have an incredably lean mixture ...

What needle is in the carb?

Other than that I am lost without seeing the car ..... which I am afraid I am a little too busy to help with at the moment.

Every day is a school day ...........

How fast and how expensive ...... the same question...

Roger, all that sounds like stuff i should know.. and its not insulting me as i know very little!

i rebulit the carb, and evrything was as it should be, the plugs are new NGK, ones for the Metro turbo. The valve clearances have been recentley reset because i thought that might be a problem.

no idea on fuel presure or how to check, or the compression.. how can i check this out?

think its the standard needle in the carb.

no longer a series, but still 1.3 turbo.

will be extra careful with the fuel, would rather not be on fire.

crank sensor set correctley i think, for example missing tooth at 12:00 sensor at 9:00 when at TDC. (if i have TDC correct)

Edited by MarkGTT on 1st Mar, 2007.

whereabouts in telford are you mate? drop us a PM with your postcode or something if you want. might be able to nip over one of the nights in the week or something.

I'm not too hot on electrics but 2 heads are better than one and all that, might even be able to drag kean over with me aswell if there's a cup of tea in it for him, lol :)

you set the pressure with an inline gauge, i have one you could of borrowed, but i just leant it out on wed!! typical! it hadnt moved in 3 years

Just becasue the leads / coil is numbered - doesn't mean the wire is going to the right one...

Try swapping leads 1&3 for 2&4 for starters?

just read this thread

daves hit it

where is telford? and how quick do you want this running buddy?

Team Racing

have you tried wiring the edis unit to a raw 12v supply as this has lead to problems for some people , because some people wire the edis to the fuse box and when cranking the engine over the fuse box live supply will be cut off.

a long shot but has been done before.

always looking for them bigger bunches of bannanas

Have you checked crank sensor output? Using a ac voltage multimeter you should see a difference between stopped and cranking. Also have you got the crank sensor wires the right way round, it does make a difference.

But all in all the best advice is to flop a dizzy in for initial starting, you can then get the MegaJolt and edis working later on.

Cheers chaps, i have a bit more to go on now, and will try a few things within the week to hide the shame of throwing in the towel!

if im still having probs a few people have offered help so im sure it will be up and running soon! need to get it on the track this summer :) (or more importantly remove it from my Mrs parents driveway, lol)

Big thanks to everyone who has offer to come and lend a hand, i will be in touch!

Previous Engine: 1040cc Morespeed engine, 1275 turbo head T2 Turbo Mirage Manifolds Megajolt
Previous engine: STD metro turbo, megajolt
Drives: 399bananahp (flywheel) Honda Civic Vtec b18c4 T28 Turbo 1968 Mini

Megajolt maps to download: http://www.jamesfawcett.co.uk/cms/index.ph...&gid=3&Itemid=3

Would just like to say a big thanks to T2clubby and Bud666, they both popped across to help today and now i have a mini that actually starts!!

so top job lads, im well happy! Thanks loads.

Edited by MarkGTT on 17th Mar, 2007.

so what was wrong?