Rover K series

[lotus4ever]

Rover K series starting problems;
I have a rover 214sei 1.4, I use this car on a daily basis but sometimes it does not start from anything from 1st time to 10th time, but eventually it does start.
I have changed; plugs,rotor arm,dizzy cap,fuel filter,coil all to no avail.
It has been on various diagnostic machines but nothing shows up, but they did suggest that I changed the ECU,which I have done, still the same.
Any ideas out there?

[kevinday]

Is the head gasket OK?

[Munter]

Flog it and buy something like this.
How much is it worth playing with something thats not worth very much. Just replace it.


1989 FORD Escort 1.4 GL,
full years MoT, one previous owner, good condition, runs and drives well, cheap tax and insurance costs, radio/cass, sunroof, Croydon. £295.

[apache]

The K series has a habit of throwing its head gasket out of the pram, bin it and buy something less fragile

[lotus4ever]

Yes, head gasket is fine, replaced it before Christmas.quote=kevinday]Is the head gasket OK?[/quote]

[rustybin]

Before giving up on it, maybe a compression test would help?

[annodomini2]

If you get chance, change it for the 216 honda engined version, indestructable.

I know from experience of that engine, having spent over £2500 in hgf repairs on them.

[Pigeon]

HT leads???

[bor]

Check/replace the crank sensor. Should be cheap and easy to try. Can be a bit fragile and has a big influence on engine running.

[lotus4ever]

rustybin said:

Before giving up on it, maybe a compression test would help?

Compressions between 165 & 175 psi (all 4).

[lotus4ever]

bor said:

Check/replace the crank sensor. Should be cheap and easy to try. Can be a bit fragile and has a big influence on engine running.

Changed crank sensor as well, no different!

[Annodomini2]

is it using water?

[bor]

OK, if it runs normally once you get it started, could it be a failure of the coolant temp sensor ? No cold start enrichment ?

[Annodomini2]

If it was the coolant temp sensor, I would have thought that the check engine lamp would be lit and the temperature guage wouldn't move (usually the same sensor).

If its using water slowly, could be the head gasket, had that problem on a 114 i had for a short while, eventually it failed. Also had cold starting issues.

Edit: Any white smoke on starting?

>> Edited by Annodomini2 on Thursday 19th May 18:51

[lotus4ever]

bor said:

OK, if it runs normally once you get it started, could it be a failure of the coolant temp sensor ? No cold start enrichment ?

Same problem hot or cold starting.

[lotus4ever]

Annodomini2 said:

If it was the coolant temp sensor, I would have thought that the check engine lamp would be lit and the temperature guage wouldn't move (usually the same sensor). If its using water slowly, could be the head gasket, had that problem on a 114 i had for a short while, eventually it failed. Also had cold starting issues. Edit: Any white smoke on starting? >> Edited by Annodomini2 on Thursday 19th May 18:51

Not using any water at all, and no smoke at all on start up.

[thesilverfox]

Dont keep guessing and wasting money,
suck the lemon and get the fault codes read and see what comes up.

[MR2Mike]

Checked the voltage on the ignition coil when cranking? Only takes a slightly bad engine ground to really pull the voltage down during cranking.

[Annodomini2]

Take the plugs out, what colour are they?

[chris1roll]

If you disconnect the battery for 10 minutes, should this not reset the ECU and fault codes, allowing you to start with a clean slate for your new plug leads, dizzy etc?
Or are they stored in another manner?

Sister had a 214Sli....nothing but bloody trouble, with crappy running, hard starting etc, and rover won't release the fault codes to independent garages...then the cambelt slipped, good excuse to get shot of it.