MGF Not turning over, stalling at startup

Hello, 

Have had my MGF for almost a month now and one of the things I have been aware of is that it sometimes has rev issues when starting. When all is working normally car will rev on startup and quickly drop to ~1000 and settle around there too. The issues has been when I start the car and the revs are below this, as if it starts at 500 and has to rev itself up to idle. Sometimes I have used the throttle just to give it the extra help.

Today however, I was out in the car and did two ~20-mile trips with no issues. Upon leaving it and returning around 2 hours later, the car started with low revs and stalled a couple of seconds later. It is now not turning over. I can get the engine to almost run and you can feel the car shake accordingly but it feels like it is missing that extra kick.

Everything I have read points towards fuel issues, IACV, dirty throttle body or even poor cats causing back pressure. The fuel appears to prime as you can hear it in II key position.
Its also worth mentioning I do have a rattle from the exhaust, mostly prominent at idle and low revs that I believe is due to degrading cats anyway, additionally I sometimes have rev fluctuations when idling - I'm not sure how much is normal but it usually drops to ~800 before revving up to 1000-1100.

Any help much appreciated, thanks in advance.

Just throwing this out there but check your engine earth strap. Loosen the nuts, spin the lead and reconnect.
Things like Cat etc don't stop it turning over.

What engine you have? Is it VVC engine? Do you have any other issues like with radiator or engine fan?

No other issues that I'm aware of. standard 1.8L engine. How would I know if I had engine fan issues?

Where could I look for the engine earth point. Can it been done from the inspection cover?

matty13 wrote:

No other issues that I'm aware of. standard 1.8L engine. How would I know if I had engine fan issues?

Foe example if fan is always on as soon as you start the engine.

Just a quick clarification question first, because your original post is a little contradictory. You said it isn't turning over now, but also said you can almost get it to run. Do you mean that when you turn the key to try to start the engine, the starter motor is not turning the engine at all? or is it actually turning over fine, but the engine won't fire up?

Assuming the latter, I would try a TPS reset first:

1. Turn the key to position 2 (where the instrument cluster warning lights illuminates.
2. Slowly depress the throttle pedal as far as it will go, then slowly release it again.
3. Repeat step 2 until you have pressed and released the pedal 5 times (this needs to be completed within 30 seconds).
4. Wait a few seconds and turn off the ignition
5. Wait 30 seconds, then turn the ignition back on and try to start the car (don't press the throttle down whilst trying to start it)

It's worth trying this process a few times if it doesn't work after the first attempt.

Let us know how you get on and we can continue to try and diagnose the issue if this doesn't help.
 

Morning,
Was definitely the latter. I went out this morning and before doing anythign tried starting. It started like any car should, 0 issues.
How can i prevent this from happening again, it was good this time as I was at home, not in the middle of nowhere.
I will do a TPS resset anyway, and look into cleaning the throttle body and IACV, any other suggestions?

Engine ground is a strap from one of the bolts that attaches the gearbox and engine together to the firewall that separates the engine compartment from the boot.

A bad engine ground can cause all kinds of starting and running issues. I thought our 95 F had fuel pump or immobiliser issues relating to not starting, whereas it was actually a bad ground on the body side of the engine ground strap. I cleaned where the strap attaches to the body and the bolt and the starting and running issues disappeared.

I'll definitely have a look at this tomorrow. One thing I will add is that it sounds like when engine starts below idle it is miss firing, then after couple second of keeping it revved with throttle it is okay and can maintain idle with a bit of fluctuation.

Hello Matty, where are you? Can you get a pscan on to report errors?