Hard to start, EPC and engine light on

[Gorbstein]

My missus's Mk3 has become a bit unwell after being left on the drive for a month.

It is often difficult to start, and while the starter is running, the yellow engine block lamp flickers. Sometimes it can take a few goes to get running.

Once started, it drives and idles perfectly. However, sometimes the EPC light stays on after starting. Usually if I switch engine off and on again the EPC light disappears.

It handled a good 6 hr drive at 60-80mph, and this helped matters for a day or two, but now it's back to struggling.

Time for a new battery? Coil packs / spark plugs?

It's a 1.4 MPi / 109k Miles.

 

[Gorbstein]

Just a bump, as this problem is getting worse, I'm hoping someone can give me a hint on where to start looking as I don't want to start throwing money at unrelated parts.

Problem came to a head today. When I turned the key to ignition the engine block light started flickering and there was a faint buzzing behind the dash that wouldn't go away.. definitely not normal behaviour. As suspected, on a full turn of the key it wouldn't start, but the starter motor was happily turning over at full speed.

Now the weird part.. while sitting in the car with the ignition on and buzzing away, I decided to read through the service history booklet, and after about 5 minutes I heard what sounded like the fuel pump priming. Then, all warning lights went out and the buzzing stopped. After this, it started the first time and all subsequent times without issue.

Could the pump be faulty?

 

[gavbey]

fuel pump or theres a good chance that the fuel injection relay is sticking?
it it was me check the relay with a 12v supply and multimeter.

 

[Gorbstein]

fuel pump or theres a good chance that the fuel injection relay is sticking?
it it was me check the relay with a 12v supply and multimeter.

Amazing, thanks for the response. Will check this later!

 

[Gorbstein]

OK, think you've got it. Yesterday I took out all the relays (there were only 4-5) and gave them a whack, and it started first time, so one of them must be on the way out. One of them (far bottom right, marked 100) is getting really hot with the ignition on.

It's not starting at all today.

I don't know which one is the fuel pump relay though, since the manual and fuse box diagram doesn't give any info on the relays, only the fuses.

Anyone have a relay layout diagram or know which one is the fuel/injection relay?

 

[Mikejfendercoop]

Had this problem too, fixed solution as gavbey said

 

[Mikejfendercoop]

Was also to do with ECU temp sensor £6 in GMF

 

[Gorbstein]

Thanks for the reply.

Changed 167 relay and took out the ECU as it was swimming in water. Dried it out, connected it all up, but still no joy. Just turning over but not running, engine block light flashing and fuel pump not priming at all.

Going to take a multimeter to it later and see where the juice is/isn't reaching.