Car wouldn't start yesterday, now it's fine (Fuel Filter?)

AtomicBanana

AtomicBanana

AtomicBanana

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First little issue with the mx5 that I haven't caused by crashing it into something ;)

I hadn't moved the car in about a week, and it had very little fuel in it (was just under the E mark). As I'm heading back to cambs next week, thought I'd best brim it for the trip ahead.

Got in, started first time as always, no problems. I drive to the petrol station like a granny which is about 2 miles away. Just as I'm only final stretch I get that horrible feeling when you apply some throttle and nothing happens, as if I've ran out of fuel. Thankfully, it catches, I pull into the station and put in about 40l.

I drive it home, 0 issues.

About 10 mins later, I need to drive it somewhere else. Get in turn they key, it starts a little rough and then dies about 5 seconds afterwards. When I try to start it, it just turns over and never catches. I try this in batches for a few mins, and give up and take the motorbike instead.

This morning I figure I'll give it one more go. It starts on the first turn, a little rough, but then settles into it's normal idle. I leave it a few mins idle on the drive, fine. I take it for a short drive, get it up to temp, red line it, ease it back down, drive slowly and put it back on the drive. No problems.

My only guess would be something to do with the fuel supply/filter? I'm certainly going to change it soon, but this may have just sped it up somewhat . . .
 
bledd. said:
Is there actually any sediment in a fuel tank? I thought that was a myth from the 80's
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Where's that diagram someone on this very fourm made to explain that one? A real MS paint master piece! ;)

I only suggest fuel filter because I don't know what else would just fix itself in this manner.

Any other suggestions?
 
Fuel pump could be shagged as it ran dry. Very small chance of this though.

The inside of the tank will be spotless. Most fuel pumps will recirculate the entire contents of the tank twice through a fuel filter twice in a minute. There is no dirt.
 
AtomicBanana said:
Yeah, I was thinking this as well, will have to try and work through those. I was intending to replace a lot of this + fuel filter, because I've no idea when they were last done . . .
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Lots of people around Cambridge and MK on the Nutz forum, see if they can lend you a coil and leads to narrow down the problem.
 
Ok, I *had* to drive it to work this morning. Was about 60 miles. 95% of this was fine, however I got that horrible loss of power once, and it stalled another time and took a lot of cranking over to restart. It's being MOT'd tomorrow ffs :(

It's so intermittent if I was lent the leads I'm not sure I could figure it out in a sensible amount of time. Though saying that, my dad has a similar age one, so I could try that (don't know why I didn't think of that first).

I'm just annoyed it hadn't done this a week or so earlier, when I would've had all the time in the world to fix it!
 
I had a similar problem on my 5 last year, turned out it was a faulty HT leads, some nice blue Magnecor Electrosport HT leads sorted it :)
 
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I'd have a look at the leads first - 5's are known for being sensitive to them, apparently. First off, try re-seating them, worked for me when I had starting/running problems.
 
-westy- said:
I'd have a look at the leads first - 5's are known for being sensitive to them, apparently. First off, try re-seating them, worked for me when I had starting/running problems.
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I'll try this before I go home tonight, couldn't make it much worse! I'm gonna put it in for MOT tomorrow anyway, and then sit it on the drive until the weekend and fix this stuff.
 
Changed the plugs and leads today. Plugs certainly needed it, and can't have been helping matters. However, plug for #1 cylinder had loads of oil on it, so it's getting in there. I'm hoping it's oil leaking from the CAS that's not far behind it, which would tie up my problems neatly. Will investigate this tomorrow . . .
 
I assume so. I've not been willing to take it very far as a car that randomly stalls and won't start isn't fun. It's so intermittent that I've done long journeys with no issues and short trips where It's happened loads :( still, oily plug is not good and gives me other stuff to look at.
 
Right, I thought I'd fixed this, because it hasn't done it for about a month. But now, IT'S BACK.

So far I've changed:

Spark plugs,
Leads,
Cas sensor O ring,
cam cover gasket,

I took it for MOT about a month ago, it was fine. Done a few 100 miles in it, no issues at all. Now at least twice it's just died without warning. To start it again I just have to hold the throttle all the way open while turning it over. Eventually it restarts and I rag it for a few seconds (where it sounds awful) and then it continues on like nothing has happened. I'll try the fuel filter next but I'm not really convinced :(
 
Does it run a dizzy cap or wasted spark setup? If dizzy cap, I'd be tempted to replace the rotor arm and cap, if wasted spark, how old is the coil pack? Connections ok?

I had issues on one of my old cars where the coolant temp sensor was giving incorrect readings and flooding the engine. There would be no problem until I turned it off when it was warm, come back to it about an hour later and it wouldn't start, just kept turning over with no signs of life.

Like you, turning it over with the throttle held open got it going eventually. It ran rough for a few seconds (still with foot the floor) while I imagine the excess fuel was used up.
 
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