Car wont start? :(

  1. Newbie Joined: May 2011 Posts: 5
    #1
    Hi guys, just signed up as i have a problem with the daily

    Need some help on the Citreon Saxo 1.1i (dont think its injection as i can see the carb). Firstly the Saxo has been great, i have driven it through out the year with no problems bar one (thinks it runs a bit rich on startup) but thats never really hindered anything. Lent my brother the car for less than a day and he manages to blow the car.

    He "says" that he was on the M-way driving about 60-70 and it just conked out and there was a puff of black emitting from under the bonnet! He got towed home and i had a looked at it the next day.

    First thing i did was try start it, battery was dying and i guess that was from being towed home with the ACC on so the power steering was active. Charged it up and it just cranked over, it didnt even try to start at all, just was cranking (i know the difference in noise between just cranking and cranking while trying to start :/). So it was just cranking as if you were priming the engine with fuel or spark.

    Pulled the plugs out, while in the leads and turned the car over, i could see the spark in the plugs so it was sparking. I could smell and see the fuel in the carb so that would suggest it was fueling but the problem is that it is not igniting I cleaned and dried out the spark plugs incase they were flooded with fuel from the constant turning over and still nothing.

    What i did notice was when i popped the bonnet, there was oil splatter around the bay, i pulled all the plastics apart (what sits on top of the rocker cover and goes to the air filter and carb) and i saw the it was full of oil, especially the ducting that goes to the carb, and inside the carb (by the butterfly) there was oil all over it. Would that cause it not to start?

    Dont really know Saxos so hoping some can shed some light please. Ive explained pretty much everything what happened so hope its clear.

    I think the problem may be down to the cam slipping a tooth as the cambelt is still intact but im not sure on how to time it up? On the previous car i just tippexd the notch on the crank and used a timing gun 10 btdc. I know i need piston 1 on tdc and i probably do this with a wire hanger so i know when it is at its peak but do the two pulleys have marks where they should be?

    Any help would be great!

    Cheers
  2. Newbie Joined: May 2011 Posts: 5
    #2
    ^ Surely some one has an idea?
  3. Infrequent Poster Joined: May 2011 hull Posts: 210 saxo vtr 1.6 8v
    #3
    is there a knocking noise from the bottom end ??
  4. Newbie Joined: May 2011 Posts: 5
    #4
    Thankfully no.

    It just wont ignite!
  5. Infrequent Poster Joined: May 2011 hull Posts: 210 saxo vtr 1.6 8v
    #5
    if the timing belt mabye slipped a notch maybe you've bent a valve so there isnt enough compression have you tried starting the car whilst giving it alot of throttle??
  6. Infrequent Poster Joined: May 2011 St Austell, Cornwall Posts: 179 Hyosung GT125R
    #6
    That was my first thought, you ruled out spark and fuel so your left with compression (always a fun one)
  7. Infrequent Poster Joined: May 2011 hull Posts: 210 saxo vtr 1.6 8v
    #7
    Quote:
    Originally Posted by tomw1123 View Post
    That was my first thought, you ruled out spark and fuel so your left with compression (always a fun one)
    as fun as a midget in a theme park
  8. Infrequent Poster Joined: May 2011 St Austell, Cornwall Posts: 179 Hyosung GT125R
    #8
    Quote:
    Originally Posted by j_s View Post
    as fun as a midget in a theme park
    Whaaaaayy I just totally lol'ed
  9. Established Member Joined: Aug 2009 King's lynn Posts: 2073 Turbocharged vtr
    #9
    It's a single point fuel injection car, perhaps the injector is blocked, or a ht lead is buggered and not giving a good enough spark, if it slipped a tooth, you'd still be able to start it in most cases but there would be hardly any power delivery.
  10. Infrequent Poster Joined: May 2011 hull Posts: 210 saxo vtr 1.6 8v
    #10
    maybe possible but the best way to sort it out is get ya head under ya bonnet and get some oil on those hands
  11. Infrequent Poster Joined: May 2011 hull Posts: 210 saxo vtr 1.6 8v
    #11
    Quote:
    Originally Posted by tomw1123 View Post
    Whaaaaayy I just totally lol'ed
    lol well if you ever see one in a theme park just point and say (IT SUCKS TO BE YOU!) hahaha
  12. Newbie Joined: May 2011 Posts: 5
    #12
    Cheers for the reply guys, thats great.

    Quote:
    Originally Posted by j_s View Post
    if the timing belt mabye slipped a notch maybe you've bent a valve so there isnt enough compression have you tried starting the car whilst giving it alot of throttle??
    Yes i have tried started it with loads of throttle, i have done this a numerous times and it the reason why i clean and dried out the plugs incase i flooded them with fuel (as they were wet!)

    Quote:
    Originally Posted by tomw1123 View Post
    That was my first thought, you ruled out spark and fuel so your left with compression (always a fun one)
    I have been meaning to check the compression out, i havent got a tester so need to pop to halfords but i guess that would be the next option.

    Quote:
    Originally Posted by iSlayeR View Post
    It's a single point fuel injection car, perhaps the injector is blocked, or a ht lead is buggered and not giving a good enough spark, if it slipped a tooth, you'd still be able to start it in most cases but there would be hardly any power delivery.
    But what would cause that? I mean it was on the motorway so would it just conk out from being blocked or for some other reason i.e dirty fuel etc.

    Quote:
    Originally Posted by j_s View Post
    maybe possible but the best way to sort it out is get ya head under ya bonnet and get some oil on those hands
    I have done this as thats how i have check about on a few things ;-) Just baffles me how the car dies and it seems that i cant find out why!!!
  13. Infrequent Poster Joined: May 2011 hull Posts: 210 saxo vtr 1.6 8v
    #13
    Quote:
    Originally Posted by GTnomez View Post
    Cheers for the reply guys, thats great.



    Yes i have tried started it with loads of throttle, i have done this a numerous times and it the reason why i clean and dried out the plugs incase i flooded them with fuel (as they were wet!)



    I have been meaning to check the compression out, i havent got a tester so need to pop to halfords but i guess that would be the next option.



    But what would cause that? I mean it was on the motorway so would it just conk out from being blocked or for some other reason i.e dirty fuel etc.



    I have done this as thats how i have check about on a few things ;-) Just baffles me how the car dies and it seems that i cant find out why!!!
    easy thing to check is if its slipt a notch on ya timing check ya timing on the engine and if its not right take ya head off and check ya valves
  14. Regular Poster Joined: Feb 2011 kings lynn Posts: 403 Citroen Saxo Vtr
    #14
    if its skipped a tooth on the timing it most probs wont start and yer normally there is timming marks on the cam and crank so just line them up and see how far its out, line the crank up then slip the belt of the cam and get the cam mark lined up and put belt back on, thats the best way, then see if it runs if it done then i should think it might have bent valves maybe

    hope this helps
    matt.
  15. Newbie Joined: May 2011 Posts: 5
    #15
    ^

    Cheers for that! I will do that once the weather clears up, i kinda guessed that the engine was an interference one im hoping i am lucky though and nothing has been bent.

    Cheers again