Talk Morgan Forums Morgan Sports Cars Classic Morgans (pre-CX) non starting GDI

My 2014 Plus 4 GDI (3,000 miles) refusing to start after running perfectly. I suspect faulty ECU. Anyone else had this issue?

Immobiliser thingy not fallen out of key I take it?

Hi Mark,
No, tried all the keys. Engine coughs but won't run. Smell of unburnt fuel. Someone from Perranwell coming to have a look this afternoon. I'll keep you informed.
cheers

Peter
Sorry to hear you are having problems.
My car refused to start on the river ferry in Cornwall last October, but after a panic taking the key out and trying again it started. The official dealer answer is that after 30 seconds the immobiliser kicks in so you have to take the key out and try again, absolute rubbish as it doesn't always happen. I also frequently have the engine not turnover at all but turning the ignition off and on again has sorted that so far.
Other than those minor hiccups I had exactly the same problem. Moved the car out of the garage ran perfectly, stopped it and went back to it after about two hours after my chores. Wouldn't start but did cough and splutter a bit. Left it another couple of hours, it is a Morgan after all, but whilst turning over ok and a big of a stutter nothing. Called out the breakdown service who asked me to turn the engine over and it started first time!
No issues since but no idea what the problem was.

It's something else to worry about with a new car. There's been 'another' GDI ECU fail on TM, but I can't remember who it was.

The big issue with the GDI is the high fuel pressure delivery system. I'm more concerned about this with petrol than I am with diesel, which is obviously a lot safer if it leaks.

A non-start could therefore be linked to fuel pressure variance, which could either be the pump or the ECU, because these days I believe that the pump receives a variable current?

It really does make me twitchy about ordering a new car, especially when other issues like headlamp cowls are still happening, and the handbrake cable design, which could so easily be sorted.

Morgan (the factory) is like a rebellious teenage child. As a parent, you love it unconditionally, but when it behaves in a way you don't agree with, it drives you mad.

The same logic applies to each car to be honest.

Having said I have not had problems with mine all dashboard dials suddenly stop working for no apparent reason and then start working again BHM have diagnosed it's the electrical box thingy (I'm no mechanic! ) and are replacing it. Andrew I have also had the key not turning the engine and have had to take it our and try again like you , but I also experienced this on the 4/4 and then it starts. All this at 3,000 miles so far! The car however drives like a dream!

Have had the same problem regarding not starting up, but again switching the ignition off & on again works with mine as well

Not just confined to Morgans, but all modern ECU controlled petrol engines - do not just run for a few seconds or a couple of minutes. If you want to move the car out of the garage, drive it around the block or for a couple of miles.
If you stop very soon after starting the engine is stopped while still in cold start mode. Attempting a restart can mean flooded engines / excess fuel in exhaust (lambda errors) etc. and may lead to non starting...
Forget where I heard that one.

Yup, same with mine now and again.

I have a 2015 plus 4 GDI and had similar problems a few weeks after purchase.

Turn the key- nothing happens, return the key to the off position and try again and it fires up no problem. Also there have been times when you start it up, it coughs and splutters, so rapidly pump the accelerator pedal for about 5 seconds to get it going and it just struggles to run. Turn it off, start it up again and it runs fine.

This only ever happens when the engine is hot and it has been stood for a few minutes. At the 1000 mile service the dealer could find no fault, but it has not done it for a few months now- Newness!!!

First post and loving the car- been following the forum for some time now; interesting with some real enthusiasts and a vast amount of knowledge out there. I usully log on and read articles for my daily fix...