Start-up problems

[Jo R]

Dear Sirs and Madams

I have just installed an Alfa 164 V6 24V -93 (manual) in my Stratos replica but it will not start-up. It runs a second or so on starter gas , but it gets no fuel as the ECU do not pull the fuel pump relay. All connections have been checked very seriously including the ECU- connector (12V and grounding both in run and start position of the key). Some specific questions bother me:
* There was an original alarm equipment in the car. The ECU had one wire to the alarm ECU (a bright red box under the carpet in the luggage compartment) which is now unconnected????
* Some time back, I point-welded by mistake a bracket for the AFM while the ECU was still connected. The welding clip was only some cm away from the welding position, but who knows???

Grateful for all relevant information; for instance from someone having seen the same problems or people using the same motor without problems etc.

Regards
Jo Ravnsborg

[kens]

I once had quite a time getting a 12V Alfa engine with 23k mileage to start once. The engine had been sitting a few years. Transplant and then no-start.

.Run the fuel pump manually and verify sufficient fuel pressure 45-50 psi.
.A volt meter on the leads to an injector will regester a few volts when activated.
.A long screw driver held between an injector and the ear, one can hear clicking when activated.

Similar to your description, a few squirts of fuel in the plenum would provide a brief run/stumble. I replaced three injectors, it fired and stumbled, excellent progress. I replaced the other three injectors, it then ran perfectly. I don't know how six low mileage injectors could all lock up without a dribble. Yet, that was my experience.

Best regards,
Ken

[chris.richard]

Try running a direct +ve feed to the fuel pump and see if the engine runs.
Is the crank sensor OK?

[Jo R]

Hi
Thanks a lot to You and others spending time on an idiot like me. I didn`t observe that one of the wires out of the ignition lock looses (!!!!) the voltage when you turn the key to the start position. Now it starts without any problems.
Regards/Jo

[Jo R]

Hi
Thanks a lot to You and others who spend their time on an idiot like me. I didn`t observe that one of the wires out from the ignition lock looses the voltage when you turn the key from run to start. I didn`t make things better that my oscilloscope indicated that the injectors did not work when they did. Now it starts and runs without problem.

Regads/Jo

[Arthur]

Jo,

I did exactly the same boo-boo with mine. I'd checked the switch with a precision voltmeter - I should have used a battery and lamp.
The other one to watch is the "park" link in the ECU connector. Without a link there, the engine will crank but not fire.

Arthur.

[Patriq Backlund]

Jo,

I did exactly the same boo-boo with mine. I'd checked the switch with a precision voltmeter - I should have used a battery and lamp.
The other one to watch is the "park" link in the ECU connector. Without a link there, the engine will crank but not fire.

Arthur.

Is this an issue with the 12V ECU as well ?
(the park link) - or any other "safety" measurments for not starting/running the engine under certain circumstances ? (again the 12V ECU).

....maybe I should just use my MegaSquirt instead of the OEM ECU..... to be certain... ;) :D

[Jo R]

Hi Patriq
I installed a 12V in a car belonging to a Norwegian friend of mine a couple of years ago without problem. What kind of car do you work with?

Regards/Jo
Uppsala