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MG MGF Technical - Engine turns but won't fire up

I have a 1996 F 1.8i Engine turns but will not start.
No spark on plugs and no spark on King lead Am I correct in thinking that it must be the coil pack that needs to be replaced? (All connections have been checked on dist and coil) When the ign. is switched on one of the two thin wires going into the coil gives 12 volts. Could the problem be further back in the electronics system such as the ECU or something else as am not sure if the ECU sends a message to the coil?

Regards Richard N159 TBD
Richard Hyde

Yep, could be the crank position sensor.

unplug the plastic clip from the coil and put a bulb across the terminals, crank the engine the blub should flash - if not then the problem is upwind of the coils.
Will Munns

Thanks Will I originally thought it may have been the crank position sensor so I replaced that item but it made no differance. However my thought is now that as there is no spark when I crank the engine with the king lead disconected and holding it nearly to earth that it must be the coil. I thought that the crank sensor gave the message to the appropiate plug to spark maybe I have got that part wrong in my thinking!!

Regards Richard
Richard Hyde

Could also be the ECU, everything goes thru the ECU.

If the alarm is immobalized (fault with the alarm wire?) then the engine will not fire.
Will Munns

Richard, is the coil pack being powered? I'd probably investigate the coil before the MEMS simply because the latter is more difficult and expensive to replace.
Rob Bell

Actually first things first - Have you checked all the fuses? (both fuse boxes)
Will Munns

"I have a 1996 F 1.8i Engine turns but will not start." I had the same problem once. I am sorry to tell you that finally had to replace the MEMS -Victoria and the MGF Centre provided the replacement-. Hope your case is not as bad as mine. JM
JM Vega-P.

One other thought, given the recent wet weather, and what folks have reported in the past: damp in the ECU contacts.


Disconnect the ECU, spray with contact cleaner and reassemble - hopefully will do the trick :o)
Rob Bell

Thanks for all your input. I took the F down to the garage and they have confirmed that it was the ECU they put another one in and she fired up ok. They are getting a replacement from Rover hope to have it back today ---cost will be arond £180 +vat for the unit + the labour!!!!
Regards
Richard N159 TBD
Richard Hyde

Did they clean the connectors and try your old one?

Be careful - you don't want to pay out for a new ECU if the only problem is dirty connectors!
Will Munns

>Did they clean the connectors and try your old one?

Would ask for aswell.
And if confirmed broken, then get and keep the broken one for later repair at a company which has the capability.

However, your's is the third with same failure I heard of. (Reading this BBS since 1998).
An archives search for _Luc_ and _ECU_ will lead you back to app 1999 when I sold a second hand ECU to this owner.

Dieter K.

This thread was discussed between 03/10/2004 and 05/10/2004

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