Talk Morgan Forums Morgan Sports Cars Classic Morgans (pre-CX) Non-starting Plus4

I'm having trouble getting my 2018 Plus 4 with the 2lt Duratec motor started.

When the ignition key is inserted and turned “on” in the ignition barrel, wait until fuel pump pressurises the fuel system, turn key to start position– nothing happens - engine does turn over.
The engine will turn over freely (but not fire up) if I bypass the ignition system with a direct contact from the battery lead to the starter/solenoid. The ignition is in the “on” position during this process.

Items I've checked/tested:
Immobliser relay and fuse are good
Battery (12.9v), starter, solenoid and connections throughout are all good.
Fuel supply is good.
I've removed all the cowlings on the steering column and everything (key proximity barrel cable) etc all seem to be in order.

I notice that the immobliser dash light keeps flashing even when the ignition key is put in the barrel and during the initial starting process. From memory this used to extinguish when the key was initially put in the ignition barrel.

Even if it’s something I can’t fix myself it would be good to be able to give an Auto Electrician a bit if of a heads up as to what to test/look for.

Any ideas would be appreciated.

Cheers Dougal
Nelson NZ

Still sounds like an immobiliser issue to me, also unless the engine has been changed you have a GDI engine under the bonnet not a Duratec. Still feel it maybe the proximity thing in the barrel-Dave W wrote a good item about that here a little while back.
I bet it was nippy down there this morning!

In my quest to find the a solution to my issue I Googled "Morgan Plus 4 Starting Issues" and it took me to a post on this website where back in 2018 DaveW gave some ideas/solutions re the problem, so off out to the garage I went rubbed the black plastic end part of the key across the key hole barrel by the immobliser sensor "ring" and hey presto the dash immobliser light went out, popped the key in the barrel, turned it and she fired up first time. Tried it several times and any time it didn't start a quick rub got the immobliser light out and away she went.
Now to find a permanent fix. Many thanks Google, Talk Morgan and in particular DaveW.
Cheers Dougal

Hi waikiore, yes it's a GDI motor and yes it was bit nippy this morning, as you'll read above I found the DaveW post and his advice worked a treat.
Cheers Dougal

+1

As others have said it seems to be the immobiliser ring on the lock. Dave W's article has a fix

The man's a legend

Link below to the very useful Dave W article.

Until I read this I thought every one had to touch the plastic key handle on the ignition barrel before putting the key in the slot! My cars always been like that, now I know different I suppose I best fix it.


http://www.talkmorgan.com/ubbthreads.php/topics/538505/all/Workshop_Note:_Immobiliser_C.2