THE ROVER SD1 FORUM

the yorkshireman · SD1 User Joined: 07 Sep 2007 Posts: 28

I know this is all probably covered in Ramon's very detailed Efi helpsheets but this particular problem is that my Tp vitesse has an erratic idle when cold, settles down Ok but then cuts out even after engine is warm.

Any advice would be welcome.

ramon alban

the yorkshireman wrote:

I know this is all probably covered in Ramon's very detailed Efi helpsheets but this particular problem is that my Tp vitesse has an erratic idle when cold, settles down Ok but then cuts out even after engine is warm.

Any advice would be welcome.

Immediately the engine cuts out, take the king lead off the dizzy and lay it across the engine so sparks can jump to the block. Turn the engine over on the starter.

If no sparks then check all the ign bits:

Look for clean and dry leads etc, tracking on dist cap and rotor arm, broken/damaged king lead and or LT wiring.

If all OK bear in mind the amplifier has a finite life of about 100k miles and generally plays up before kagging it.

If you have ever had the amplifier off, was it replaced with the needed heat transfer goo?

Substitute coil, cap, rotor, amplifier, suppression capacitor, etc.

If there is sparks then check:

Plug condition for rich running or wet with petrol.

If rich, Loads of things to look at.

Temp sensor, throt pot, pressure reg, leaking CS injector, thermo time sw, ECU, AFM et al.

If normal or weak, loads of other things to look at.

Air leaks, Low fuel pressure, blocked fuel filter, pump pressure return valve, tank filter(s) et al

As with all the SD1 Efi components most (unfortunately, not all yet) are fully described and your choice then, is to go through the simple test program on my website or read the detailed descriptions and superior test program for each component.

And when contemplating that choice remember that the majority of all Efi system faults are due to either rogue air leaks or wiring/connector problems.

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Ramon

the yorkshireman · SD1 User Joined: 07 Sep 2007 Posts: 28

Thanks
I'll give it a try or let someone more confident than me follow your points.

ramon alban · Posted: Mon Oct 08, 2007 7:40 pm Post subject: Re: cheers

the yorkshireman wrote:

Thanks
I'll give it a try or let someone more confident than me follow your points.

Tyke, I'm not being funny but, when I took possession of my Vitesse in 1993, I had hardly ever been under the bonnet of any car let alone such an intimidating beast.

What followed was a learning experience which I now try to exploit by explaining as simply as I know how, - not knowing the competence of the listener - what might be wrong and how to resolve the problems.

In 1993 there was nothing like the resources available today on the internet, or the forums, or websites like mine or Rene Winters or many others.

SD1 Efi owners were virtually in the dark.

You need to take advantage of the current mass of material available and read it all and then read it again. You will surprise yourself just how easy it will be to learn and that it really is not rocket science.

Please keep the faith

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Ramon

tommosredone · Posted: Tue Oct 09, 2007 1:09 pm Post subject:

One hundred percent second that emotion.
Either learn by reading up and getting dirty, or consider changing cars.
I don't think running a V8 EFI is practical if you rely on garage help, as hardly anyone will want the hassle nowadays. If you can't plug in a diagnostic centre to it, the average mechanic won't know where to start.
But, with a little time, and by building up a decent cache of known good parts, you will be rewarded. I don't think any of us bought our cars with the intention of becoming EFI experts. but that is the only viable way to be able to enjoy these cars, and be able to use them daily. As Ramon has consistently pointed out, they are not overly complicated, and with the technical information Ramon has generated, easy to understand.
Please keep the faith, just accept that you will become an EFI anorak on the way!!!
PS mine cuts out randomly at critical road junctions, and has about four different idle speeds, according to what mood it may be in, and who is watching, it's called character apparently!

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I wish I could make my own petrol.

v8driver · Posted: Tue Oct 09, 2007 11:23 pm Post subject:

You got that stuff called character as well eh??I'm trying to 'breed it out' using Range Rover parts(Hotwire).If that works that will only leave Rover 'Gremlins' in my switches,windows,central locking dashboard....

I love being able to work on my SD1,where is the fun in a car if you don't make(or re-make) it your self?

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Half Poly bushed 3.5 Twin plenum VITESSE(Waiting patiently for better weather)
Baby Blue D889 MOJ Daily driver

the yorkshireman · SD1 User Joined: 07 Sep 2007 Posts: 28

Cheers to all - I have found Ramons' stuff on the web very interesting and informative.

As you all have pointed out, I too am loath to put my mighty TP into the hands of garage people who more often than not know nothing at all about the Vitesse. I am surprised Ramon was never a car mechanic as his technical knowledge is outstanding (although from the biog he has an electrical engineering background). I know this may sound dumb but I never knew how many electronic doohickeys there were to the Efi system - have recent fuel injection systems become more simpler or worse i.e. stuffed with more ECU's/lambda sensors etc? (I am thinking of BMW's Vanos system here).

I thought I'd better report that the car wouldn't start at all yesterday after the deluge of rain in the morning but it was Ok after a bit of WD40 in the distrib cap. As per Ramon's advice my Tp has done 101K and as most will know Rimmer's price for a new one is crazy money!

tommosredone · Posted: Mon Oct 15, 2007 9:30 pm Post subject:

The point I was making was that with the youngest Vitesse being 21 years old now, and with limited "experts" you would entrust your car to, self teaching, with the help of genuine enthusiasts like Ramon and the others, is the only practical option to keep one running now.
I would never recommend a Vitesse to anyone who had no knowledge of car repairs, it would end in tears.
I went into Vitesse ownership with eyes wide open, and was still amazed at how much "fettling" they need for daily running.
The key is to remember you are never alone, and at some point all of us will have been there, and will gladly share our experiences and offer help where possible.
The other essential is to build up a stock of EFI bits, as you will need them at some point, and they will not get any less rare.
There are times when I feel like thrashing it like Basil Fawlty, but then when it runs well, give it wash and a gentle pat on the slightly curly dash top.
Please keep going, they are such good cars when right!!!

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I wish I could make my own petrol.

chris_derby · Posted: Tue Oct 16, 2007 8:09 pm Post subject:

You know, all this makes the EFI system sound really really unreliable, I'm starting to wonder if I should go back to carbs.....

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Auto Vitesse, gonna be a beast!

v8driver · Posted: Tue Oct 16, 2007 10:25 pm Post subject:

Don't go backwards (carbs came before EFI) the EFI was a BIG improvement,that leaves two options:

Repair the current system.
Replace the current system.

The two main replacements to this are RangeRover parts or Megasquirt...both have their pros and cons,all the best.

Stick with EFI. How many cars these days have EFI compared to carbs?

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Half Poly bushed 3.5 Twin plenum VITESSE(Waiting patiently for better weather)
Baby Blue D889 MOJ Daily driver

Lehto · Posted: Wed Oct 17, 2007 2:37 pm Post subject:

What exactly are the cons of making your car run on aftermarket engine management system? After you get it all sorted ofcourse...

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Owner of 3 Rovers and 1 MG.

v8driver · Posted: Wed Oct 17, 2007 3:06 pm Post subject:

You hit the nail right on the head...fitting is the only drawback.From then is easy sailing.

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Half Poly bushed 3.5 Twin plenum VITESSE(Waiting patiently for better weather)
Baby Blue D889 MOJ Daily driver