Difficult to start

[NobbeA]

Hello.
My 407 2.0 litre 136 hp has begun to be difficult to start sometimes. The symptom is that when it is cold it starts without problems, but if i stop the engine after a while of driving and tries to start it again after a short stop (like if im in a shop) it starts and stops direct again. After being trying to start it again it will start after som hesitation. I have a codereader and it says it is the ignition coil, so i have replaced it. It worked out, but after a while the problem came back. And there is a smell of petrol wich always have been, but more now. Any thoughts about that?

Thans in advance.

[ozfrog]

Have you used the code reader again to find out if there's a repeated problem?

I know it might sound dumb, but that's what I'd at least try first. It isn't going to hurt to read the codes.

[wurlycorner]

If you only have a code reader then I think further diagnosing this problem would be hard.
I think you need something that can read live data, in order to watch for key things like rpm signal, fuel pressure requested/actual fuel pressure, engine temp, mis-fire counts etc.

My only thought here based on you saying you can smell fuel is that perhaps there is a problem with the fuel hoses/rail/injectors where they leak off slightly when warm (fuel in the rail evaporating when the car is standing while hot). Though that doesn't then explain why it would start fine when cold (the fuel would have evaporated when parked up hot and still be evaporated at cold start).

[ozfrog]

Though that doesn't then explain why it would start fine when cold

The coil was the cause of that problem, wasn't it?

This might sound really way off, but one of my previous cars was a 504 2.0 litre fuel injection model. In a very hot Australian summer, I struggled for many, many months with that car randomly deciding to not start, but I couldn't find a pattern. Some old bush mechanic suggested that I try a new coil. Nothing fancy. Just one that could be purchased at any local garage. $30, I think it cost me. It fixed the problem in an instant.

And that fuel smell is a pre-existing condition, although it is 'more now'. Maybe the coil has failed again. That is the reason I said to try the code reader again. It isn't going to do any harm, and at least it will tell him if the problem is the same one re-occurring. If the coil has failed again, then that's going to need a lot more investigation, but he has to start somewhere.

[wurlycorner]

And that fuel smell is a pre-existing condition, although it is 'more now'. Maybe the coil has failed again. That is the reason I said to try the code reader again. It isn't going to do any harm, and at least it will tell him if the problem is the same one re-occurring. If the coil has failed again, then that's going to need a lot more investigation, but he has to start somewhere.

Oh I appreciate that and wasn't poo-pooing your suggestion - for sure new electronic parts including coils (especially if an inexpensive generic pattern-part) can fail on/soon after fitment, hence why I included 'mis-fire count' in my suggestion for live data.
I was though, working on the assumption that the EW10 (which I think this engine would be?) is coil on plug and therefore there wouldn't be just one 'coil' to change, i.e. one coil being faulty would leave 3 still functioning and therefore unlikely to really cause a 'no start'.
On further checking I believe it is indeed coil on plug - but it might be that they're only available as a 'pack' rather than individually.
Hopefully someone with specific knowledge of that engine can confirm.

[NobbeA]

Hello,
thanks for the answers.

I think i have solved the problem. I was letting the car idle for a while , and after a while i notiched a rattle from the engine.
It turned out that the ignition coil was loose, so i tightened it. Never had guessed that.
So i hope everything is ok now.

The reason i didn't check the ignition coil in the first place was that i replaced it a few months ago, so i thought there was another problem.

Cheers/
Nobbe

[ozfrog]

It turned out that the ignition coil was loose, so i tightened it.

I like hearing the solutions to the problem. Thanks for getting back to us with the solution.

I especially like simple solutions to any problem!

[NobbeA]

It turned out that the ignition coil was loose, so i tightened it.

I like hearing the solutions to the problem. Thanks for getting back to us with the solution.

I especially like simple solutions to any problem!

Yes, and lesson learned, never take anything for granted