Aaargh, RRC not starting!

Right, help please!

My '94 V8 wouldn't start when I came to leave work yesterday. It's always a first time starter but now it just cranks and cranks and doesn't try to fire. It's LPG converted but I don't think that's the issue - it always fires up on petrol and then switches itself over. I've also run it around on petrol in the past week or so just to make sure everything keeps in good working order.

It was low on petrol and I've whacked in 10 litres, as the way it was cranking and cranking it sounded like it was out of juice. No luck.

There is a strong spark and all is ship shape, there's also a new battery on it.

Basically it seems that it's not getting any petrol through. The fuses under the seat are fine so it's not tripped one of those; what next?! Can you usually here the pump prime itself when you turn the ignition on? As there's currently nothing audible going on. Oh, and there are no warning lights on the dash.

Where next? Help! :doh:

Thanks in advance.

Did you put diesel in it ? Try a gas start.

Is there a way of checking fuel to the fuel rail on these and then the pressure in case there is some getting through but not enough?
Could be the fuel pump or relay? Might be worth removing and reseating them just in case.

Where abouts is the relay? I was thinking fuel pump. Am I right in thinking the pump should be in the tank? I think this has probably got a different setup as the original tank is long gone due to the gas conversion, and there's just a small 35-litre ally tank in place, which I can't imagine houses the pump. Hmmm.

As standard the fuel pump is in the tank, so yes this will have been replaced and I am guessing will be located somewhere near the new ally tank in the rear 1/4.

You should be able to hear everything priming when you turn the ignition on, before starting - if nothing is happening then, then sounds like fuel pump or relay.

First thing I'd so is check all the relevant fuses and make sure they're all intact. Then check the fuel pump relays - no idea where they are, but should be in the owners manual. If these all work then it sounds like the fuel pump itself could be dead, but a 'sound' test should confirm if it's working or not!

Last thing, which I doubt it is, could be a cracked/broken fuel line. I'm guessing some (if not all) of yours have been replaced, but you never know!

monkfish said:

Where abouts is the relay?

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It's one of the ones under the front of the driver's seat.

Here is the pic from my Haynes manual, though this only goes up to 1992 so it may not be relevant to your car

Pete

Thanks for that.

Well, I definitely can't hear it priming, so that's answered that question for me. The fuses are definitely ok, so I'll hunt down the relays and pump itself and see what's what. I suspect it's something daft, but we shall see...

That's great, thanks Pete.

Good luck!

mine is 94 RRC, from memory is behind right hand foot well panel near throttle pedal, possibly yellow. when you switch ignition to on you should feel it click on momentarily then off once it has primed.

Just a thought, could this be an immobiliser problem?

I did wonder that, but they usually would stop the spark plugs from sparking I think, and you said they were good? I could be wrong though...

Yes, definitely a strong spark. I wasn't sure what part of the ignition the immobilier would, er... immobilise.

I'm supposedly working today so can't tinker too long, but if I can't get it going tomorrow then I may have to resort to plan b. Now, where did I put that gallon of petrol...

monkfish said:

Now, where did I put that gallon of petrol...

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You could have had some of mine if my RRC hadn't ruptured its fuel line and ****ed £40 worth up the road!

Pete

some imobilisers can shut off the fuel instead of the spark

Any other suggestions? I'm really at a loss.

is the spark orange or blue? I would say the amp as it happned to me , or its flooded

Blue spark, and I've whipped one of the plugs out and it's bone dry so obviously not getting any fuel through.

did you find the petrol pump? is it running?

Yes, there's one on a chassis rail at the rear, although it's been too wet too roll around on the drive for long. It's definitely not running, though.