Talk Morgan Forums Morgan Sports Cars Maintenance & Servicing Trying to help a French 4/4 owner

Hi

This is my first post here and as a Caterham owner I hope you’ll be kind …
I am trying to help a French friend (I live in France), with a couple of problems with his 4/4
1.8 Zetec 1990 model.
The first concerns his immobiliser system. The symptoms are as follows:
Ignition off – Slow flashing red light, centre of dash
Ignition on – – rapid flashing red light and car won’t start (starter won’t engage as I understand it).
This is an intermittent problem (it will start when he gets a solid red light) and he is of the opinion that there is some electronics in the actual key fob that needs resetting …
Any thoughts ?

Secondly, he is complaining of a soft clutch pedal which firms up after the first push. I have looked for a bleed nipple but can’t find one which leads me to the conclusion that Ford must have a specialist (vacuum ?) tool for this. Can he self bleed the system ?

Thanks in anticipation

Don't worry about us being kind. Most of us are slightly mad, same as you lot. Sorry I can't help with your problems, though the key fob idea might well be correct.

Hi ECR

There's a sensor in the key which interacts with the immobiliser, but certainly later ones have no reset or adjustment. The receiver will probably be a collar around the ignition switch, visible if you remove the column shroud, but might also be a wire ariel, so check that this is located close to the ignition switch.

There should be a bleed nipple somewhere - it might be on the bellhousing if the slave cylinder is internal. The soft first push sounds a bit like a failing master cylinder.

Has my vote too. Air in the system on a clutch is usually a pretty consistent problem.

1.8 Zetec 1990 is not possible, should be another production year. Maybe that can be an additional help resolving the problem.
Sorry, I cannot be of any help further, my 1990 4/4 lacks al these electronic bits!

1993 was first year of Zetec - I suspect it's a typo Ruut.
No immobiliser on my '93.
Dave's advice re: aerial close to the ignition key socket is good though.
Don't know whether it is a passive or active key, if active, has the battery been replaced?

They might have put beaujolais instead of hydrolic fluid.

Dear all:
I have the same problem with the inmobiliser. I am the owner of a 1998 plus 4, with a Rover motor, but I have no answer, so any help could be great.
To starts the engine i have to turn off the battery and then turn on, and quickly turn the key to start before inmobiliser actives.
Thanks from Spain for your help
P

Aftermarket immobilser - auto electrician sould be able to remove it entirely.
Factory fit immobilser - integrated into the ecu, if it has failed then your best bet would be a new ecu, ' Emerald ' or similar can be configured for most Ford engines

Thanks for the ideas on the immobiliser, I'll have a look under the column shroud. Some Caterhams seem to have the same system and require the key to be close to the aerial

WRT the clutch bleed nipple, I've traced the fluid line to the bellhousing and by removing the rubber grommet can see it entering the concentric slave cylinder but still can't see a nipple. I'll put new batteries in the torch and look again.

I'll check the year/model but I'm pretty sure that's what he told me ....