Ghibli II 2.8 ABS enine does not fire up

[Dutch_Cerbera]

Since a couple of weeks I can't fire up the engine, I have been searching on the web but could not find a lot...

When turning the key, I hear the fuelpump switching on and ticking, as it always did, the starter motor is also doing its job, and so now and then the engine sputters a bit, but does not fire up. After trying and trying, I smell fuel from the exhaust and... strangely enough but the, I guess phone, microphone near the rear view mirror makes noise like a fan.

I guess this is an ignition issue or are there other possible issues like relays or...?

Thank you for your time

 

[Wally]

I suspect the relays. The buzzing sound near the mirror is the temp.probe for the airconditioning.

 

[Dutch_Cerbera]

I suspect the relays. The buzzing sound near the mirror is the temp.probe for the airconditioning.

Ooh so it is actually a temp sensor and it makes that sound Didn't know that that was possible.

I will have a look at the relays. I hope it is them, strange thing is that the "not firing up" issue came out of the blue.
The day before all fine and never had any firing up issue.

Thank you

 

[jluis]

Camshaft and crankshaft sensor are the usual suspects for that behaviour

 

[Wally]

also correct

 

[allandwf]

I thought a crank sensor fault killed the fuel pump circuit, and that is working.

 

[jluis]

I thought a crank sensor fault killed the fuel pump circuit, and that is working.

No, it kills the spark. Fuel still needs to flow

 

[Dutch_Cerbera]

No, it kills the spark. Fuel still needs to flow

And that is exactly what is, according to me, happening

Thank you guys

 

[chad5k1]

Usually the relays in the engine bay. Take them out, clean them up - they get exposed to lots of dirt. One may be faulty, but you can actually swap one from the fog lights I think to test it out. They should not be expensive to replace anyway, but this helps with troubleshooting.

 

[ZAM400209]

yup, jluis has it

there are very few things that prevent a Ghibli engine from actually turning over, but the crank/cam sensors are the No.1 culprit.

Remember; there's two cam sensors...

 

[Dutch_Cerbera]

Thank you all.

Officina Valenti fixed it, I will hear next week what the problem was.
But they managed it very quickly and the engine is according to them running very nice and smooth.

The only surprise was that the recently changed timing belt, was not changed correctly.
Officina Vallenti informed me that there was problem with one of the pulleys.
So the belt is (had to be) changed.

Below the photo... find the mistake.

Must be the tightener pulley on the right, that's all I know. For me all looks fine... but I have no clue

 

[Wally]

The idler is a 2 part construction. The actual bearing itself and the surface ring over which the cambelt runs. One Side of the ring has been extended to limit the cambelt sideways. In this case the extension is facing the Block instead of facing forward. So the mechanic who changed the cambelt made a mistake.

 

[Wally]

The idler is a 2 part construction. The actual bearing itself and the surface ring over which the cambelt runs. One Side of this ring has a rim to limit the cambelt sideways. In this case the rim is facing the engine instead of facing forward. So the mechanic who changed the cambelt made a mistake.

 

[Dutch_Cerbera]

Oh ok, thank you. Very clear, I will inform the mechanic who changed the belt.
So actually lucky that the engine did not fire up... could have been an expensive mistake.

Thank you very much

 

[ZAM400209]

Great news to hear that's sorted Cerbera; sounds like Valenti know what's what.

Just had the belts done on mine last week. Got the old tensioner back for a desk ornament. (Sad, I know!)

In fact, this shot shows the new pulley with extended edge, as just mentioned by Wally!

 

[Dutch_Cerbera]

Great news to hear that's sorted Cerbera; sounds like Valenti know what's what.

Just had the belts done on mine last week. Got the old tensioner back for a desk ornament. (Sad, I know!)

In fact, this shot shows the new pulley with extended edge, as just mentioned by Wally!

Yes very true, he knows his stuff very well, so it seems.

I thought it would be fine, the belt was changed recently, so I we did not even talk about it. But nevertheless he got it.
And the other the other niggle he sorted them very quick

 

[Dutch_Cerbera]

I decided to do some more digging on the timing belt issue and thought it might be of interest for some others. Well, the Ghibli was originally brought to the market with those extended edges both on the engine side. After the Ghibli GT there was an update. And in that update the extended edge on the drivers side (for LHD) is on the front side, not engine side. So if that is correct, I must say that the panic and telling me that the timing belt almost snapped is way over done... I think. So, yes it is true that the extended part was pointing in the wrong direction but was no reason to panic. And telling me that the belt almost snapped... is kind of strange. The previous belt has been on the engine for not even 1km.

To be honest, specially after seeing the bill, I am have mixed feeling... Specially seeing that picking up my car (from home) for a distance of 6 KM I was charged about E170.

Sure the car is very happy now, but the kind of panic about the belt... I dont understand it... yet