Non starter / chain changed diagnostics help please

focusrite

I'm going to try and troubleshoot my issues step by step starting with this earth strap

Originally it was attached to the cam cover behind the bracket at the red arrow but the small e-torx bolt would not tighten back up so I relocated the earth strap through the engine lifting eye and onto the top right cam cover bolt.

Any comments on this would be appreciated.

evocarlos

i think its the earth strap that mounts to the coil pack maybe a problem for running

vocky

your earth strap is fitted wrong, it must go to the cam cover - yours goes back to the cylinder head and is isolated from the cam cover (n)

move the strap to the inlet side of the engine, use the other threaded hole in the cam cover and use the egr pipe bolt for the other end of the cable (y)

focusrite

Thanks for that Vocky (y)

Right so car still not starting and check list so far:

1: All four spark plugs emitting a spark
2: Spark plug tips are getting fuel
3: Hand cranked the engine with the plugs out to make sure no issues with timing chain - same as before cranks nice n easy with standard a 1/2" ratchet

Eml light does not go out after a couple of seconds like it does on our Clio

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=FJqowaJNKQY

I'm thinking of swapping the battery from the Clio over to make sure there's no issue there.

Any other suggestions welcome 🙂

focusrite

Battery swap has yielded no improvement (n)

focusrite

I had cleaned the throttle body (off the car) as part of the chain change.
Just checked that the butterfly is opening and closing on the ignition switch and that's an affirmitive

IDI_AMIN

Timing could be out. Possibly set camshafts wrong

focusrite

Surely the crank wouldn't turn by hand?

IDI_AMIN

Im just saying possibly but i think it will still turn as long as its not too far out another guy had his camshafts 180 degrees out and it would not start.How confident are you that everything was positioned correctly

focusrite

[INDENT=1]Checked it at least 15 times and I was using a locking tool. I Hand cranked the engine about 20 times before even attempting to start the engine for the first time and the chain was as tight as a nun's.[/INDENT]

IDI_AMIN

You got plenty fuel in tank

focusrite

Yeah, enough to start the engine lol. Should the eml go out after a couple of seconds on these? Or stay on till car starts and then go out?

IDI_AMIN

Should go off once started but will stay on if there is a fault mine is on constantly just now but does not affect starting.Did you remove fuel relay and have you tried turning long enough to start

focusrite

Thanks for the EML info (y) I've got fuel at the spark plug tips and the car tries to fire but there's still nothing even after 20 seconds.

IDI_AMIN

Is your alternator good the vid sounds like its going to start and then falls away another possibility . Im out of ideas now plenty power in battery also

focusrite

Tomorrow will whip the cam cover off and put the timing tool back on just to be 110% sure.

IDI_AMIN

Good luck

focusrite

Alternator won't affect starting but thanks for taking the time sir 🙂

IDI_AMIN

Can see the lights dimming on the dash when turning key it was just another thought thats why i suggested battery or alternator

focusrite

I see, I tried to eliminate battery issues by swapping batteries with our Clio 2.0 which has the exact same battery and it's only 6 months old.