Wont start....need help!

tonysea

Right so, my car (00 1.8 alfa 156ts) has been lyin up outside for months now. There was nothin wrong it, I just stopped driving it. Went to start it with jump leads about three weeks ago. She ran for about 10 secs then cut out because there was'nt a drop of juice in it. (Im a divel for driving around with the petrol light on). So I went back to it today and put a 5 litre can into it and tried to start her...no joy. I then checked all other levels. The coolant was very low, so topped that up and checked oil, that was grand but still would'nt start. It's doin my head in at this stage because it was only serviced and starting on the button before I stopped using it. Please help!!!

andyseadog

is it turning over now?

shamwari

Is there a "key" light on the dash that is flashing?

tonysea

andyseadog wrote: »

is it turning over now?

Its turnin over and running for about 4-5 secs

tonysea

shamwari wrote: »

Is there a "key" light on the dash that is flashing?

No "key" light, just battery and oil but I think there always on when the key is in the pre-start position if you know what I mean.

shamwari

When it runs, is it clean or spluttery / lumpy?

tonysea

I would say spluttery...

shamwari

Does it stink of petrol after all the cranking?

jimmyw

Fuel filter might be blocked.

tonysea

shamwari wrote: »

Does it stink of petrol after all the cranking?

No not at all.

tonysea

jimmyw wrote: »

Fuel filter might be blocked.

I was thinking it could be that and I really hope it is'nt because I think on this make of car the filter is located in the tank:eek:

shamwari

Jimmyw might be right. And if I am right, there is an integral filter fitted within pump itself. Can you hear if the fuel pump is running when the engine cuts out?

If you have a fuel pressure gauge, you can connect it to the shraeder valve on the fuel rail and check the pressure. It should be 3bar +/- 0.2bar

If you've no pressure gauge, the only thing you can split the feed off the rail and check the pressure into a bottle (by eye)

tonysea

shamwari wrote: »

Jimmyw might be right. And if I am right, there is an integral filter fitted within pump itself. Can you hear if the fuel pump is running when the engine cuts out?

If you have a fuel pressure gauge, you can connect it to the shraeder valve on the fuel rail and check the pressure. It should be 3bar +/- 0.2bar

If you've no pressure gauge, the only thing you can split the feed off the rail and check the pressure into a bottle (by eye)

I far from an expert so bear with me here. The fuel rail, is this the thing that runs horizontal across the top/back of the cyliner head, it has four branches and at the end of it if you unscrew the little cap you can see a valve (looks just like the valve on a tyre) would this be the shraeder valve?

shamwari

tonysea wrote: »

I far from an expert so bear with me here. The fuel rail, is this the thing that runs horizontal across the top/back of the cyliner head, it has four branches and at the end of it if you unscrew the little cap you can see a valve (looks just like the valve on a tyre) would this be the shraeder valve?

Yep that sounds like it. The four fuel injectors are fed from it. I don't know how easy it is to disconnect the feed to it though. If it's like the one on the Fiats, its like a bayonet connector which twists out

Also, if you are unsure about what you are doing, you might be better off getting someone to look at it, because fuel systems are not to be messed with by the untrained

benagain

did ya put petrol in a diesil

tonysea

shamwari wrote: »

Yep that sounds like it. The four fuel injectors are fed from it. I don't know how easy it is to disconnect the feed to it though. If it's like the one on the Fiats, its like a bayonet connector which twists out

Also, if you are unsure about what you are doing, you might be better off getting someone to look at it, because fuel systems are not to be messed with by the untrained

cheers, thanks for the help. Mate of mine having a look 2moro, he's a mechanic.

tonysea

benagain wrote: »

did ya put petrol in a diesil

Come on....:rolleyes:

shamwari

Grand! Let us know how ya get on with it!

tonysea

shamwari wrote: »

Grand! Let us know how ya get on with it!

Will do, nice one;)

tonysea

I put another 5 litres in today and she roared back to life:D:D:D!
Blessed with that one, I thought I was fooked. I wont be lettin her that low anymore.

thanks for all the help!:)

jimmyw

Thats just the car getting back at you for starving her:D

tonysea

jimmyw wrote: »

Thats just the car getting back at you for starving her:D

Ha, nothing but TLC in future so.

shamwari

Good result! Just watch how it runs over the next while as by right it should have started on the 5L you originally put in. At least you got away without having to spend the price of a week in Spain to fix it!!