SPI cold sttart device

[woodypup59]

I know its not Mk 1 but .............

A customer has a '95 SPi which wont start from cold.

A little dribble of petrol down the inlet, or puff of easy start gets it going. Once started its runs well.

We assume the cold start device isn't working - but where is it ?

Is it controlled by a relay and / or temp sensor ? If so where are they ?

Thanks

[Peter Laidler]

Sadly, I haven't got your answer Woody, but I do have the complete workshop manual for my year 2000, RCSport. Alas, the electronics between mine and your problem car differ to a great extent. To the point that mt friends won't even start due to the alarm system (?). I suggested that he totally eliminate the alarm system and...... anyway, it's all interconnected.

Anyway..... He called an electronics man-with-a-van who did diisengage the alarm system and it's now running, albeit alarmless!!!!!

Might I suggest the same man-with-a-van answer woody?

[woodypup59]

Thanks Peter,

Hopefully we've narrowed it down to the water temp sensor in the manifold which tells the ECU to "choke" (or not).

[MGC1968]

There's a PTC heater on the underside of the inlet manifold which assists cold starting. These are very fragile units and do break. Without them cold starting is problematic and will lead to rough running or non-starting. I don't think it's the water temperature sensor in isolation. If the inlet manifold hasn't been removed for some time there will be coolant sludge interfering with the sensor reading. Advisable to flush the inlet manifold at the same time as replacing the temp sensor (and PTC?) I'd get a code reader plugged in to check that there are no other sensor faults - my experience is that there's usually a combination of factors causing poor running on an spi.

[Automark]

x2 on MGC1968,
I've just recently found this on an SPi. The bottom Positive Temperature Coefficient / sensor will require a larger snap ring pliers to remove as it is approx 50 mm in diameter and so is the related sensor. I don't know if it can be removed in situ, so consider his discussion about removing the inlet manifold and go through several of the "While you're at it" things.
Sometimes, the wire just needs a good cleaning and reattachment to the blade type Male connector which faces down.
Once you've removed the sensor DO CLEAN the sludge as mentioned and shake the "Disc" in a quiet room. It the ceramic innards are broken, you'll hear them rattle. THey are a bit expensive, especially here in the U.S.
Also see a Utube video by DB Mini DIY that focuses specifically on these issues.
Best of luck,
Mark

[MGC1968]

If you do decide to remove the throttle body and the inlet manifold let me know. Happy to advise on the 'while you're at it' jobs. Advisable now that the spi's are 30 years old.
Another problem you may encounter is serious corrosion at the ends of the inlet manifolds. These can be repaired.
Good luck
Simon

[woodypup59]

Thanks all.
The PTC was OK - no rattles.
A new sender (like the std temp sender) bought at Beaulieu has fixed it.
It starts instantly now .