New ECU on 97 cordy sx

[daveyboy]

Hi, was wondering if i could get some info on my 97 cordoba.
I have just bought it off a mate cos he cant be bothered to get it fixed and it has been sat on his drive for over 6 months.

The problem started when it all of a sudden cut out going up a hill and wouldnt start again.( fuel lines are not blocked )
He had the A.A out to it, they said it was the ignition coil. that was changed immedietly
Still not working,
got an auto electrician to check it out, he said the E.C.U needed replacing, which has been done.
im not entirely sure who replaced the E.C.U but i know it wasnt where he bought replacement from.

My problem is it still wont start, the central locking still works as does ignition when starting up.the fuel pump can be heard and the engine will turn over but it wont idle.

Im assuming this problem has something to do with replacing the E.C.U

This is the newest car i have ever owned and dont know a great deal about E.C.U's, any advice would be gratefully accepted

 

[m0rk]

sounds more like an immobilser fault....

 

[daveyboy]

Can i just get an auto- elctrician out to fix this problem or would i need to take it into local seat garage for the 4 digit key code( wont give it me over the phone )

 

[m0rk]

You might not need them to. Normally a fault code scan will find a fault and at least advise you of the immobilser code.

I can't remember if the new ECU needs coding to the immo, depends on how clever the auto elec was (and I suggest not very if the car didn't start..)

SEAT will want to see the car (for the VIN) and the V5 I expect

 

[daveyboy]

Auto elec come out and programed E.C.U. to the immobilser and all was well it tried to start but battery was dead but when he tried the vag.com programe to see if there was any other faults the programe would'nt run proper it said that there was to many communication errors but the auto elec guy was new to the programe and did'nt know the problem.
The car is trying to start, it actualy rev's for a bit now but just can't seem to keep going, but it has been stud for about 3-4 months with out being started can you advise me please.

 

[m0rk]

Sounds like you shouldn't pay him!

My SX stood for about the same time period, stuck in some fuel & off it started.

Sounds like if it starts, but won't keep going that you might just have some problem with the spark (clean all the connections)

 

[daveyboy]

Cheers mate will try that now

 

[daveyboy]

Do you know the firing order so i can check that aswell, i don't trust the lad that had it befor me know sweet fa about motors.

 

[m0rk]

1-3-4-2

 

[daveyboy]

tried that everything ok, just tried to start it again and its just turning over sounds like it wants to fire but wont, at one piont it fired and did rev for a couple of seconds but then cut out any more ideas. Thanks.

 

[m0rk]

can you see if fuel is getting out of the injector/s?

 

[daveyboy]

I already diconected the hose's that feeds the injectors, juice was coming through when turned ignion on from the pump. How do you check wether its getting to the injectors them selves.

 

[m0rk]

can you remove them on teh AFT?

 

[daveyboy]

not to sure what you mean. A couple of guys round here are saying that it sounds like its starvation of fuel when they have heard it trying to start but it's got me baffaled. Thank for all this info sorry to have to keep asking you.

 

[FR-RUSH]

Things that went on my old cordy.

breathing hoses
Leads (make sure connections in one piece, mine broke regularly.)
Coil
Distributer cap (make sure the connections in the cap are not broken.)
Give all the coil and leads/cap a good spray with wd40, mine used to arch when damp.
Give the air box a clean out and new filter if needed (£8 halfords)

My AFT engine, which is the engine code for the sx, used to eat Spark leads so id check them first make sure none of the sping clips have snapped. They are a bitch to buy as most people dont stock the ones for the AFT engine, after market ones do not fit into the engine block.

 

[daveyboy]

Its had a brand new coil put on and everything is sparking right, just wont keep running for longer than a few seconds.
Its starting to add a few more gray hairs to the collection and i'm sure i've felt a bald patch coming on.

 

[FR-RUSH]

When my leads and cap were damaged it would fire up but often splutter and die, epsecially when blipping the throttle.

Id pull off each lead from the cap in turn carefully and check inside and make sure the little pin inside has not snapped off inside the cap, you will see what they should look like as the lead should have the spring clip inside.

I had to work through everything on my cordy and often enough it was the leads to the cap or the lead to the coil. If they have replaced the coil, did they replace the lead? there is only one coil lead on the cordy so if its knackered then it wont carry the current.

Id make very sure of all this before starting with the more expensive stuff, the leads do have to come from germany if its the AFT engine.

 

[daveyboy]

Another auto elec has just been out and there where no elec faults found atal.
He said that it can only be 1 of 2 thing now.
1. It could just need a good tug up the road to see if it free's everything with it being stud for a while or
2. A blockage in the exhurst eather the cat or ferther back.
So i've got my dad to come and give me a pull up the road later so i'll let you know. Thank for all the advise.

 

[Icecavern]

Just out of interest what engine is in your cordy? 1.6 or 2.0?

 

[daveyboy]

Its a 1.6 1997 R reg in kiwi yellow full kit with 17's. Iwould of liked it to have been a 2.0 but insurence would be to much i got a DR10 on my licence but it will do for now. Found out that the timing is well out so its not had a cam belt changed for a while so i'll book it in to garage today get it all done at the same time hopefully then everything will be sound for the weekend.