Hotwire ???

[TMRnoV]

I'll start by saying that I'm not up to anything illegal but I (think I) need to "hotwire my S2.

She's nose into the garage and I want to start her up and turn her around so that I can work on the front of the bonnet, the problem is that I have removed all of the dash and gauges, switches and column stalks etc: and now she won't start.

Cranks over ok, fuel ok but no sparks, when I was removing the steering column cowl the wire fell off the red LED to the immobiliser system, would this affect it?

I have checked all of the fuses I can find and no problem there, so does the ignition system rely on something behind the dash that I would have disconnected? I suppose the worst scenario is that the ECU is more intelligent than I had supposed and is looking for a response from one of the gauges or switches which would be a pain as I would have to refit the dash and all of the associated gubbins.

So just to get her running for 5 minutes can I just run a live from the battery to the coil ??

Tim

[Griffinr]

Why dont you just rope in a few mates and push it, could do more harm than good tinkering around with half disconnected wiring.
Rob.

[greymrj]

Check your wiring diagram. On mine the revcounter is an integral part of the ignition wiring, you will have to make a temporary connection between the revcounter input and output wires. But I would also be concerned about the number of opportunities for electrical problems if you make everything 'live' to move it.

[sighck]

Check your immobiliser. Do you know what it breaks when it's active? Fuel pump or ??

The ECU is not smart, it only needs +12V, +12V from the ignition switch and the signals from/to the distributor to work. It might also need the crank signal, I can check if you want.

[TMRnoV]

Thanks for the help guys, it would appear that the ECU does indeed look for a response from the rev counter (thank you tvrgit and greymrj) as far as I know the immobiliser does indeed cut power to the fuel pump so good spot there as well.

I would try to turn her by hand but my drive is as steep as a steep cliff and I've got no mates (only just moved to Devon so all old mates about 300 miles away) so I'll connect up the rev counter tomorrow and give it a whirl (after isolating and insulating all other wiring)

Would joke about blowing up garage and myself but it actually happened to some poor sod a few hundred yards away from us a couple of weeks ago.

Thanks again.

Tim

[Le TVR]

greymrj said:

Check your wiring diagram. On mine the revcounter is an integral part of the ignition wiring, you will have to make a temporary connection between the revcounter input and output wires. But I would also be concerned about the number of opportunities for electrical problems if you make everything 'live' to move it.

This.
The power supply for the ignition comes via the tacho.

[TMRnoV]

Well she's turned around and nothing blew up thanks for the suggestions and help but those who pointed towards the rev counter win a coconut.

Cheers

Tim

[Gerald-TVR]

Tim I have both wiring diagrams available as pdf's if you send me your email address via a PM

Norman

[TMRnoV]

Thanks Norman, are they the same as in the bible 2nd edition ? if so I actually have that, I just should have studied it a bit closer, and you already have my e-mail address, you sent me your drawing of the door pins/hinges which was very useful, enabled me to get my head around how they actually worked.

Thanks again

Tim

[Gerald-TVR]

TMRnoV said:

Thanks Norman, are they the same as in the bible 2nd edition ?

The bible was the starting point, but i did them A3 and cleaned up for clarity

Quite right about the email address I forgot, will email. Staples will print out quite cheaply