Forum:
I have recently acquired a 1991 EFI Feroza (140,000Km)which has an intermittent starting problem. It starts alright for the first crank of the day but after doing a trip (long or short) will not restart immediately after stopping, until it has sat for 10 mins or more (there may be other symptoms but I'm not sure whether they are related).It cranks OK and there is a spark on the HT lead from the coil.
Any suggestions?
Choke
Auto choke could be the problem if your returning less than approx 26 mpg.
Choke
Hi Mace, My Feroza has Electronic Fuel Injection and as I understand it, it is the ECU that provides an enriched fuel mixture at the start. It does'nt seem to matter whether the engine is hot or cold. It is getting good fuel economy on a trip.
Auto choke.
According to my service manual Feroza has an automatic choke operated from heater/hot water pipes and wax thermostat. Good luck - I hope another member can assist you.
Auto choke
I've downloaded the service manual from the service manual page, so I'll check that out too, Thanks Mace.
OK, I know this has probably
OK, I know this has probably been done to death but "a problem if your returning less than approx 26 mpg."
I'd love to get that kind of mileage. In the 6 months I've owned a sporty, I've averaged 21 mpg.
How do you check the autochoke?
http://www.dirtyswine4x4.co.uk
Dirtyswine4x4.co.uk
Water Temp Sensor
Check the Water Temperature Sensor (located below distributer) is working correctly (Check and clean the terminals first as it a pig of a job to get the sensor out!).
I had the same problem as you, and after doing the above was sorted.
Oh....I also increased the idle speed to approx 900-950rpm (adjust with screw on top edge of injection block thingy!!)
My Sporty runs like a dream now!
Water Temp Sensor
Thanks Prodge, I'll check that next. Did you have to replace the sensor or was it a bad connection in your case? Why did you increase the idle speed? The reason I ask that is I had noticed the idle dropping below 800 rpm occassionally and causing it to stall when braking for the traffic lights and then being stuck for 15 min before restarting.
Water Temp Sensor
No problem glad to help.
Anyway, I took the sensor out and checked it out (with multimeter & hot water!), nothing wrong with it! Turned out was bad connection. So cleaned the terminals and put back in. Now works fine.
I increased the idle speed mainly coz I had the same problem as you (stalling) but also to help starting. Because now we have dark mornings and nights and heavy traffic, I had noticed that the battery was not getting a good enough charge, coz when sat in traffic with lights/heater/demisters on, battery was losing power, making cold starts the next morning difficult without charging battery every night!
Intermittent starting problem resolved
Thanks Prodge, you were spot on, the problem turned out to be the Water Temperature Sensor. It was telling the ECU to give too rich a mixture and flooding the engine. It was replaced with a new one ($77 dollars Australian).
The other problem of stalling seems to be the clutch, it was replaced at the time of purchase and does not seem to release when the clutch pedal is fully depressed and therefore causes the engine to stall when coming to a stop, it maybe just an adjustment.
Thanks again to all that replied.