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spi problems ....

Posted: Thu Apr 22, 2010 10:55 pm
by madjackjr
Sorry to steal some of the attention Paul but it has to be done
Right thought I had the engine problems solved but .....no
Again it’s about the starting..... well the getting going. it starts fine maybe one or two turns and it goes its when you try to rev her that’s the problem its very stuttery and when you are moving its like you have no power for a few seconds and then it revs again. I have found 2 things that seem to work 1 let it run for a bit until the choke goes in and the revs drop a little at that point it will rev a drive fine but this will take a few minutes or 2 put the foot down and rev her hard until she's over 4500 rpm and black smoke comes out the back don't like doing this with neighbours
I’m a bit puzzled is it oil seals, electronic, the automatic choke??????
Any thoughts would be great
John

Re: spi problems ....

Posted: Fri Apr 23, 2010 10:45 am
by keith
first thing to check with the SPi are the three plastic vacuum pipes and their elbows. the elbows get hard with age/heat and crack.
the pipes go from ECU to fuel trap on bulkhead, from fuel trap to intake manifold and from intake manifold to air-box.
the ECU uses the vacuum to determine engine load.

take a close look at these, give them a good poke and a push. sometimes the crack wont show until you take them off.
tbh, i think rover recomended changing these completely at 2 year intervals.

if they haven't been changed for a while, get a set and change them!

id advise against revving hard on a cold engine. equally letting it idle when cold isn't the best! :roll:

Re: spi problems ....

Posted: Fri Apr 23, 2010 6:22 pm
by madjackjr
i may as well replace them as the ones that are in it are probably the orignal ones. i should point out that i have an induction kit in it which means the top pipe isn't conected to anything. what has me confused is when it is up to temp ect. it runs fine and restarts first shot of the key???? but i'll have a root at the pipes this evening. is there any eles i should look at while i'm at it.

Re: spi problems ....

Posted: Fri Apr 23, 2010 10:09 pm
by keith
if the top pipe isn't connected to anything, you should block it.
when its warm the ECU probably compensates more easily for bad vacuum

the SPi still uses a coil and distro for HT. check its giving a good spark ?

Re: spi problems ....

Posted: Fri Apr 23, 2010 10:46 pm
by madjackjr
i never blocked off mine i'll do that and see what it dose
pluss i replased most of the leads dizy ect only a month ago

Re: spi problems ....

Posted: Sat Apr 24, 2010 8:24 am
by keith
once you check all the pipes and hoses the only thing left is the electrics.....ECU & sensors... you can get a fair bit checked with just a multimeter, *but* its a lot faster to find the problem with the rover code reader!
*edit* i wish i had the Rover code reader! - or any code reader!

Re: spi problems ....

Posted: Sat Apr 24, 2010 6:18 pm
by madjackjr
wouldn't mind having one of thoes i'll let you know how i get on

Posted: Sat Apr 24, 2010 11:00 pm
by MiniMe
Hi John

Remember the fun we had McGyvering fixes on my Vacuum pipes? I ended up replacing the fuel trap and all pipes, haven't looked back since. I have spares at home if you want to give them a try.

Enda

Posted with TouchBB on my iPhone

Re: spi problems ....

Posted: Sun Apr 25, 2010 12:45 pm
by madjackjr
thanks enda will give you a buzz later