Engine cranks but doesn't start

[CitroJim]

I can't view the video but if the spark is strong and fuel is present then a good suspect has to be incorrect timing for some reason...

Else that, the fuel that's squirting from the injectors is too little (too weak a mixture to run) or too much (too rich) to allow the engine to fire. Can you detect a very strong smell of unburned petrol whilst the engine is cranking?

Another possibility is a total blockage of the air inlet tract meaning no air is reaching the inlet manifold... Possibly a blocked/collapsed air filter or asquashed/collapsed air pipe between the air filter and inlet manifold to to the air filter housing from the outside...

[MattBLancs]

Two-year old petrol should be OK to at least start it... The petrol in my AX was at least that old when we found the reason she wouldn't initially start and she fired right up...

I also know of a car sitting for four years that started with no difficulty and ran fine...

Can beat both those durations! My 406 Coupe was off the road and didn't run for 7 years: jump leads, turned the key= Brum! Started and idled like it has run the day before! So 7year old fuel ok to run a similar engine to this VTS (though is EW10J4S versus my less highly tuned EW10J4)

Was a hesitation when put foot on the accelerator that was cured with fresh fuel though. So yes agree, should not be degraded enough to prevent it running albeit not well.

My understanding is the new E10 petrol doesn't keep well, question is what is likely to be in the tank if the car is in Greece? (Is E10 Europe wide standard?)

Matt

[CitroJim]

7 years! That'll take some beating Matt!

I don't know about current Greek petrol but if it's anything like the stuff we had in Cyprus back in the early 80s it'll possibly not be the best... Cypriot diesel back in those days was even worse... 90% soot

Greek E10 may have 10% Retsina added to it... Or Ouzo...

I've heard that E10 does not keep so well. I try to avoid it and use E5 in my cars wherever possible...

[c4akias]

After hours of trying I managed to start the engine. The problem is on the throttle body where the air filter is, which is black on the inside from residues. So I used a spay for cleaning throttle bodies. The problem now is that the car starts but stops after a while. And also now I see the Depollution system faulty. I hope its the petrol. Do you think I should get the throttle body out and clean it thoroughly. Thanks in advance.

[Doo]

Hello guys I just added some new petrol today and I removed spark plugs and also removed the fuel injectors. I took a video in order to see if there is any problem. What I saw was that there is fuel coming out of the injectors and also spark. But I need your opinion as well. Thank you guys once more for your valuable help.
https://www.youtube.com/shorts/rDFk3Jk1xWc

Spark looks a little slow. Check the Crank Sensor.

[falling-out-with-my-car]

The plug was bouncing a lot making the spark intermittent, maybe you could clamp or wire the plug to ground and try again? when the plug does ground sufficiently the spark looks pretty good.

[MattBLancs]

...Do you think I should get the throttle body out and clean it thoroughly...

Yes, will do no harm to do that. Throttle body is 4 fixings to the manifold so should be pretty easy to remove. Note there is a gasket at this connection, so might be worth seeking out a new one.

I don't have the resources Marc has to hand, but do know the part number for that gasket:

1635T8

[c4akias]

thank you guys once more for your valuable help. I'll take it out tommorow morning and Ill update you as soon as I have results. In order to help someone else who might have the same problem like me.

[c4akias]

I cleaned the throtle body but still the same car doesnt start. I need to check the crank sensor. Cn you tell me where exactly is this sensor in oredr to clean it and try again. Thanks alot

[Doo]

I cleaned the throtle body but still the same car doesnt start. I need to check the crank sensor. Cn you tell me where exactly is this sensor in oredr to clean it and try again. Thanks alot

Marc's your man for pinning down the whereabouts of the CS on this model, but cleaning them doesn't work. If it is faulty, a new one is almost always the only cure.

[MattBLancs]

I think it is on top of the gearbox bellhousing, close to the coolant manifold.

Agree unlikely to come back to life with a clean (unless cleaning of it's electrical terminals is resolving an issue - but I'd expect this to have a relatively easy life compared to some other sensors - snuggled up in high centre of the engine bay, far from chance of being pelted by driving rain etc)

[liquidhandwash]

If it starts and then dies it's unlikely to be the crank or cam sensor. It is possibly the fuel pump in the tank, just because you are getting fuel or the pump is running doesn't mean it can supply the correct pressure or the flow required. remove the MAF spray some fuel down the intake refit the MAF and see if it fires. there is a product in a can that you can use "easy start" "start you bastard" "Areo start" If you get some life you will need to check the fuel pressure.
low pressure replaces the filter and then checks again. still low replace the pump. still low replace the pressure regulator (some have the regulator on the pump so check)

[Doo]

If it starts and then dies it's unlikely to be the crank or cam sensor. It is possibly the fuel pump in the tank, just because you are getting fuel or the pump is running doesn't mean it can supply the correct pressure or the flow required. remove the MAF spray some fuel down the intake refit the MAF and see if it fires. there is a product in a can that you can use "easy start" "start you bastard" "Areo start" If you get some life you will need to check the fuel pressure.
low pressure replaces the filter and then checks again. still low replace the pump. still low replace the pressure regulator (some have the regulator on the pump so check)

Crank Sensors are a bit of a hocus pocus. I've had cars start, run then conk out. Others run til they're hot, then die. My personal favourite is my 2000 Range Rove V8 where it would start, run, drive, get hot and then a slight misfire. As if it was running on 7 cylinders... It never failed completely, just strange ways of running

Witchcraft I tell you