THICK BLACK SMOKE....from the air filter !

[Fergus]

The CAS WAS on 180 degress the wrong way
It's now on the correct way.





Plus there was two grounding wires back there left hanging in the air, they seem to run from the same harness that the CAS plug comes from, dunno what they are for but I've earthed them now.

[Fergus]

I've tried everything and it's still dead.
I've noticed that the oil pressure gauge is going to MAX when it's trying to fire up, does that indicate anything ?
There's still black smoke coming from the air filter when it's trying to start. Me thinks this one has gone to Mx5 Heaven

[sidewaysreilly]

highn oil pressure is good.........really needs a compression check and also cam timing checked.

[Fergus]

Both of which I am unable to do

[Steve]

Those grounds are for the ECU.
Think it might be faster/easier to throw in a used engine (s'what I'd do anywhoo).

[Fergus]

Yes that's what we're thinking
I've asked Robert in Dublin about one and he's going to let me know tomorrow.

[franksm]

30 minutes would see you strip down the cam and timing covers, and do a compression check. It would be mad not to do some basic checks before condeming it :-O

[Fergus]

Yes but the black smoke coming from the air filter when trying to start it smells like a burnt clutch
And if it's been driven for a year with the timing way off and no fan working on the radiator...... ???
Plus I don't have the equipment or know how to run those tests and the owner doesn't have the time.
Sure if somebody could call in during the week and test it then that would be fantastic, but just from what I see right now - there is something majorly wrong with this engine.

[franksm]

Is it a stolen-recovered ? Sounds like the engine might have been ragged with max revs and no regard to coolant or oil. Might be knocking from the crank too, which is what's causing oil to go into the wrong places and not where it should.

You can tell a lot about an engine from the colour of its plugs and the smell of its oil.

(and the taste of its gearbox oil... yummm... eggy)

[Fergus]

As of Sunday - it's finally ALIVE

[Steve]

class, nice one!

[sidewaysreilly]

ah jees fergus, tell us what was wrong.......

[Steve]

How did the CAS go in 180 degrees off? I thought it wasn't possible as the dogs are offset??

[Fergus]

It was 'forced' in
The timing belt was wrong as well, I put the lower crank notch to TDC and both cams are WAY WAY OFF
I'll take a picture of them and upload it later this evening.
The belt is very slack going across the cams to.

[sidewaysreilly]

sounds like a bag of spanners but no smoke which is good. A good tune up and maybe a few tappets and she should be fine.