Talk Morgan Forums Morgan Sports Cars Maintenance & Servicing Dead Morgan. Resuscitation ideas?

I need your help.

My poor Moggy is very poorly and I'm hoping someone will be able to help me. I apologise from the outset as this will probably be a long and boring post so try to keep up!

Firstly the car... 1997 4/4 1800 Zetec.

Fault history... After too long laid up in the garage with a flat battery I tried to start the car. It turned over, just, and I continued to try to start it until the battery completely died. I charged the battery up and it turned over with plenty of vigour but it didn't fire at all.

I checked the fuses in the fuse panel under the dash and they were all OK. There was no power in the fuses from the ignition but the ones that feed the lights etc were OK.

A Thatcham immobiliser had been fitted by the previous owner so I re-programmed the fob but to no avail.

That was 18 months ago. I knew I was going to have to sort it out myself as the labour costs for a garage to do it could get out of control. The car has been on SORN since and languishing in the garage in a sulk.

Due to withdrawal symptoms and my mate motivating me to sort it out I've made a start at finding the fault. The first thing to do was to de-install the immobiliser. I was dreading this part but as it happened it wasn't as bad as I imagined. It had been fitted professionally with soldered joints so I methodically re-joined all of the wires and removed it.

I'm having to work from a wiring diagram in a Haynes Manual for the Ford Escort/Orion, which isn't the best, but it's all I've got. I've checked for various voltages around the start circuit and tested the fuel pump (which is good.)

I've also had the ECU checked out by a specialist company and they gave it a good bill of health.

So after spending a few days working on it I've got a better idea of what's wrong with it but I'm hoping that someone will be able to help me identify some areas I've missed.

This is the fault as I see it now...

New good battery fitted.

Battery master switch on.

Ignition switch on.

Only the top warning light illuminates. (Battery symbol)

The fuel pump doesn't prime. (it should run for a second to pressurise the fuel injection)

I have power on all wires coming from the ignition switch. Battery +ve and 2 wires with an ignition feed. The 4th wire feeds the starter solenoid.

I hope you're still with me?

Now comes the question which I need answering. Where are the relays? I've found 2 under the bonnet. They're for the fuel pump and the fuel injection. They check out electrically but aren't getting any power. There should be a main power relay (called the hold relay on my diagram) A relay for the indicators and the headlights too. I've looked around the inside and under the bonnet but haven't found them. Any ideas? There may even be some fuses as well with the relays which I haven't checked, possibly in an auxiliary box somewhere. It has occurred to me whilst writing this that I should put the indicators on and follow the noise to see if I can identify a location for the relay. I'll try that tomorrow.

I feel that as soon as I can get a ignition feed to my main fuse box, one powers the ECU, which then controls everything else, I'll be on my way to enlightenment.

All answers, guesses or pokes in the dark will be gratefully received, don't be shy!

I have no idea how long this post is until I submit it but it may be my longest ever!

I'm all ears.

Doc.


Oh, and before you ask, no I'm not a novelist!!

Try looking under the dash above the steering column. That's where mine are. All five.........

Are you sure there isn't a factory fitted immobiliser?

If not, it certainly does sound like a relay problem.

You might also consider ringing Mark Baldwin at the factory for advice.

Thanks Dave, I'll have a look up there. When I looked all I could see was a heatsink with something attached to it. I don't think there is a factory fit immobiliser. Shortly after mine was built they had an immobiliser in the key I think. My ignition switch looks like it's off a Montego! It's a horrible looking thing. Unless it was on a Morgan key ring I think it would be the last one taken out of the bowl at a swingers party!

I may end up asking the factory for advice, thanks for the contact there.

Have you checked that the ignition switch is working properly.
I had a similar problem with a Citroen AX, it proved to be a burnt out ignition switch.

My 1999 4/4 Zetec 1800 has a factory fitted immobiliser.

Do you have a small red light between the four small dials?
On mine it pulses red every second or so when ign is off.

I had a problem getting a spare key to work as the metal of the key stopped the immobiliser electronic widget getting close enough to the keyhole to allow the immobiliser to switch off.

A local key co had to buy in a qty of special key blanks to enable the new key to work.They still have them and are in Aylesbury.
If you look at the Morgan key you may see it has been drilled out along the length of the plastic end and filled back in.
Thats where the widget is located.

Howard

If its any Help - a Wiring Diag Link 1990 to 1997 4/4

http://www.gomog.com/allmorgan/wiring1990on.html

If you 'back arrow' on this site you will find a whole raft of other wiring diags for 1998 > 4/4s

Frequently when a non-factory alarm/immobiliser is fitted the original has to be disabled or removed. However this is not always the case.

I'd suggest checking the plastic shroud around the ignition switch/column for a sensor. The factory imoobiliser sensor (if one is fitted) has a tendency for the glue to let go, allowing the sensor to drop back down the column shroud and too far from the key for it to be effective. I presume no switches on the key fob?

Relays, if not where Dave W suggested, try up behind the glove box on the passenger side, you'll probably have to drop the lower dash panel to gain access, then emulate Cerealsurfer and Co. in one of their Morgan poses in the race car - i.e. inverted with head/torso in the footwell.

To me, it sounds as if an immobiliser isn't passing a 'Go' signal to the ECU.

Cheers,

The ignition switch seems to be good. There are 4 wires on the back of it and there is power on all 4 wires when the switch is operated.

No, there is no LED between the clocks. When I took my ECU in to be tested they asked for the ignition key, I presume as it has the immobiliser sender in it, but it turned out that they didn't need it as it was the earlier type before they were fitted. Is your key a Ford key? Mine is a British Leyland type key as fitted to
Montego's and Metro's. There is no sender in the key.

Frank, thanks for the link. Any extra wiring info specific to the Morgan as opposed to the Escort is good.