Talk Morgan Forums Morgan Sports Cars Morgan Aero 8, 2012< Plus 8, SuperSports, Coupe & Aeromax Need some help, car won't start

My 2005 Aero 8 S2 won't start after it's been driven. I could use some help from you gentlemen, as we don't have Morgan specialists in the US.

The engine refuses to fire after I've driven it for more than 10 minutes. The starter motor cranks, I can hear the fuel pump running, but the engine never "catches" and it fails to fire to life.

This has only happened twice, both times after driving the car turning it off and letting it sit, then attempting to fire it up again. The car WILL restart if I let the car sit for ~4 hours.

Any ideas? I pulled the OBDII code "C0200" but I cannot find any corresponding information.

I would appreciate any information, any guess, anything that I can do to trouble shoot the problem. Thank you very much!

Mateo sorry to hear of your troubles, I suspect it will be a failing MAF sensor, this senses the air flow and is done by a wire with current running through it measuring the air flow as its current fluctuates as more air being drawn cools it. They are known to be problematic on this engine. Or it could possibly be one of the exhaust sensors, but unlikely to stop it starting.

Look at this site it's a mine of info on these BMW V8 Engines

When this occurs again remove air intake piping or air filter a whilst turning over spray some quick start in the air intake if it starts then fuel is the issue

Absolutely do not do this on an Aero S1, as the MAF sensor wire is very sensitive and any form of oil or liquid substance will damage it. There have been posts re this issue where people have replace the air filter with a K&N one which has oil in it and the vapour fume umm up the MAF sensor wire and it then fails.

I know you have posted a link to this site before Adrian but I just had another, more detailed look at and it is fascinating

Just been reading how the owner managed to solve the LED / Canbus warning issues on his Beemer without using 'ugly' resistors.
I have bookmarked for future reading....

James

The MAF sensor must be really susceptible to failure then Adrian? as unburnt fuel will be passed back through the airways in the engines normal running.

Starting fluid is mainly heptane - ie petrol or gasoline.

Think about what you clean these sensors with?

You can use a squirty bottle of petrol if you are really worried!

I should have noted earlier that after 5-7 seconds of cranking the exhaust smells strongly of gasoline.

Thanks for the link to Timm's site. The M60 "overfuel" condition seems to be very similar to what I'm experiencing.

I started researching overfueling and noted that it can be linked to a coolant link sensor. Not surprisingly I had a coolant sensor fault earlier in the week but haven't addressed it yet.

Hopefully replacing the coolant sensor and/or the MAF does the trick.

I personally wouldn't be squirting that stuff down the engine, if it won't start when hot it is a heat soak issue - could be a wire, or even battery affecting the draw so the starter does not have enough umph to fire the engine.

Could even be a faulty starter relay, or maybe a fuel relay not pumping fuel in correctly if its to hot, although if it runs fine up until turning it off and attempting to restart then I would suspect its a starter wiring/starter issue.

The car would crank but not start yesterday. After waiting ~12 hours it fired up with no complaint. I drove it about 10 minutes, shut it off for 2 minutes, then attempted to restart. Again, it cranked but never started. The battery is fully charged.

It's curious to say the least.

Sounds like a heat soak issue, if it starts from cold everytime.
Pain to diagnose though, perhaps a dealer visit is in order unless there is something obvious.. like some dislodged wiring near a manifold perhaps.