Talk Morgan Forums Morgan Sports Cars Maintenance & Servicing Workshop Note - GDI Oil Breather

To conclude this operation, an interesting episode arose on trying to start up the engine.

Being very confident that everything had been put back exactly as found, no issue was expected. Jiggle the key around the immobiliser ring until the dash light extinguishes and off we go. The engine cranks at a good rate of knots for five or six seconds or so. Nothing doing – not even a burp or a fart. Give it a few moments to rest and try again. Same result. That sinking feeling starts to develop as two more attempts are unsuccessful.

All sorts of possibilities suddenly start to spin round. Did I inadvertently disconnect a wire? There is a spur wire from the harness that was not connected to anything. Has something untoward happened when I reconnected the battery? Has a relay failed? Has the fuel pump failed? Heaven forbid – have I damaged the valves?

Connect up the battery conditioner and sleep on it in order to hatch a plan.

This morning a plug is removed – totally dry. Connect it to its coil pack and connect up. Summon SWMBO to look for a spark while the engine is cranked. An intermittent spark confirmed. SWMBO then talks very persuasively to the engine to fire up as the spark plug is replaced. Next crank and there is just a whiff of a burp. Another better one on the following crank. The next crank and the engine gradually comes to life and with it a ten ton weight is lifted.

A full can of SeaFoam was squirted into the inlet as SWMBO held the engine at 2000rpm. Clouds of smoke gush from the exhaust, but once cleared the engine does feel very crisp at high revs. Roads are too damp and muddy for a full road test – that will follow later.

Moral of this story? Get SWMBO to have a stern word with the engine if it ever plays up!