ratnacage Posted April 3, 2007 Report Share Posted April 3, 2007 I would've posted this in the technical forum, but nobody reads that, so.... I had a Cervini C500 built for a customer of mine overseas (our local speed shop did all the work). It's a beautifully running car laying down 441 to the wheels, but I digress. It was running perfectly when I loaded it on the truck, the freight forwarder had no issues loading (driving) it into it's container for the 20 day voyage overseas. Upon arrival it was noted the battery was dead (they should've disconnected the battery) so they pushed the car out and charged it. Now the car won't start. Here's what it did do: on the first attempt to start it, it huffed like it wanted to start, but ever since then it just turns over with no ignition. The fuel pump primes The starter turns the engine over (it's not weak either, it cranks the engine over robustly) you can smell fuel from the exhaust (as reported to me by my customer) ...just a complete absence of any hint at ignition. Also, the anti-theft padlock light flashes (but again, if it were an antitheft issue, the engine shouldn't even turn over, right?), but everything else seems to work (radio, AC, etc) I sent him instructions on how to retrieve the fault codes (DTC) using the SCT tuner. I'll check that out when he reports back to me with the codes, if any. I don't think I'm completely stupid, but I've never seen anything like this on distributerless ignitions. I'm really hoping it's not the ECM. Any ideas would be greatly appreciated. Summary: car runs great car gets loaded on ship battery goes dead battery is recharged car won't start ????? Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
kaylan1521 Posted April 3, 2007 Report Share Posted April 3, 2007 My guess would be the 20 day voyage over seas with the battery connected has activated the Theft system. Might be tricky getting it resolved over there but good luck. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
lambbo Posted April 3, 2007 Report Share Posted April 3, 2007 My guess would be the 20 day voyage over seas with the battery connected has activated the Theft system. Might be tricky getting it resolved over there but good luck. Have them read the codes, write them down and reflash the PCM with the correct tune. That will clear the codes but they will still have them documented in case it still won't start. But it will!!! Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
ratnacage Posted April 3, 2007 Author Report Share Posted April 3, 2007 Have them read the codes, write them down and reflash the PCM with the correct tune. That will clear the codes but they will still have them documented in case it still won't start. But it will!!! no DTC's. Not sure if i like that or not. I'm starting to think it has something to do with the security system (I hate those damn alarms) Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Son of GT Posted April 3, 2007 Report Share Posted April 3, 2007 Is it possible that the coil packs are not recieveing a signal to fire, or that they have gone bad? Or could it be that the plugs have fouled? Just a thought. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Five Oh B Posted April 3, 2007 Report Share Posted April 3, 2007 Also, the anti-theft padlock light flashes (but again, if it were an antitheft issue, the engine shouldn't even turn over, right?), but everything else seems to work (radio, AC, etc) rat - actually, when you attempt to start a PATS-equipped Ford (like all of our Mustangs) with an improperly coded key, the engine will crank over just fine, but won't fire up. I've seen this first hand a number of times over the 8 years I've worked at a Ford dealership. Have your customer try starting the car with the 2nd original key for the car. If it works, then the 1st key needs to be reprogrammed. However, I'm guessing that it won't work as the dead battery probably caused the original PATS code to be lost/erased somehow. This means that a Ford dealer will have to plug into the car to reprogram both keys to the new PATS code for the car. This is about 1.5 hours worth of time with the dealer computer plugged into the car (or about 30 minutes if only 1 key is bad). Our service department does about a dozen of these "fixes" per year. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
ratnacage Posted April 4, 2007 Author Report Share Posted April 4, 2007 B)--><div class='quotetop'>QUOTE(Five Oh B @ Apr 3 2007, 10:40 AM) 125080[/snapback]</div><div class='quotemain'><!--quotec-->rat - actually, when you attempt to start a PATS-equipped Ford (like all of our Mustangs) with an improperly coded key, the engine will crank over just fine, but won't fire up. I've seen this first hand a number of times over the 8 years I've worked at a Ford dealership. You wouldn't believe how many different answers I get on this issue in the service shop. So you are certain that the engine will turn over and the fuel pump works when the PATS system is inhibiting the startup? I have basically narrowed the problem to this or fouled plugs. It has to be something stupid I'm sure. I appreciate everyone's input on this. >>>>edit: I'm thinking now, the fuel pump primes, but I don't know for a fact that it continues to run after trying to start. I suppose the priming function is automatic and is not inhibited by the PATS system. This would explain the fuel smell but no startup - not enough fuel to fire, but enough to smell. hmnmm Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Alloy Dave Posted April 4, 2007 Report Share Posted April 4, 2007 Is it possible that the coil packs are not recieveing a signal to fire, or that they have gone bad? Or could it be that the plugs have fouled? Just a thought. I'm no expert on this type of thing...but I too would suspect fouled plugs. You can't tell by looking..but if you're smelling fuel in the exhaust...this is a definite possibility. Good luck. Dave Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Five Oh B Posted April 4, 2007 Report Share Posted April 4, 2007 You wouldn't believe how many different answers I get on this issue in the service shop. So you are certain that the engine will turn over and the fuel pump works when the PATS system is inhibiting the startup? I am absolutely positive that the engine will turn over (but the engine will not start) if the PATS code is wrong for the key in the ignition. Any time that I've tried to personally start a Ford that lost the code in the key, the engine would crank over just fine, but wouldn't start as if there was no spark. Honestly didn't look behind the car to look for raw fuel coming out of the tailpipe, but definitely a no spark condidtion. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
ratnacage Posted April 5, 2007 Author Report Share Posted April 5, 2007 Thanks for all the advice. As it turns out, the plugs were fouled. They removed the plugs, cleaned and dried them and the car fired right up. Again, I really appreciated all the suggestions. I really wasn't looking forward to sending a tow truck to England!! Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Son of GT Posted April 5, 2007 Report Share Posted April 5, 2007 Thanks for all the advice. As it turns out, the plugs were fouled. They removed the plugs, cleaned and dried them and the car fired right up. Again, I really appreciated all the suggestions. I really wasn't looking forward to sending a tow truck to England!! YesSSSSS! I knew it. Even three thousand miles away I still haven't lost my car noodles! Glad to hear it wasn't too serious. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
ratnacage Posted April 5, 2007 Author Report Share Posted April 5, 2007 YesSSSSS! I knew it. Even three thousand miles away I still haven't lost my car noodles! Glad to hear it wasn't too serious. :bowdown: :banana piano: :happy feet: :banana piano: :happy feet: :banana piano: :happy feet: Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
kraegar Posted April 5, 2007 Report Share Posted April 5, 2007 :bowdown: :banana piano: :happy feet: :banana piano: :happy feet: :banana piano: :happy feet: Glad it's running now - I can imagine the stress! - Tony Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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