Problem Starting crossflow when hot engine

[Barry Thompson]

Starts ok when cold but after run in hot weather the 1990 super sprint refuses to restart after stopping for a minute or two.  Pushing is the same , however leave for 10 minutes and starts. As if petrol not getting through , but once going drives fine.    Any ideas please ?    Son been using car as essential worker. I have had car for years and always been ok.  

[SM25T]

Fuel vapourising above hot engine parts ?

[Ian Macquarie]

I see you suspect a petrol problem - but have you managed to test for a spark when it will not start?
 

[Gun Bunny]

Barry

Had a similar problem years ago on my XFlow, it would not re start after refuelling or other short stops & it was the carbon brush inside the distributor cap had almost worn away.

Olly

[Olgawld]

I was going to suggest dizzy cap as above says. Check rotor arm and general cleanliness and condition as well as leads.

[Englishmaninwales]

Two things to consider - try replacing the HT coil, if it is old it may fail when hot. Make sure you get one with the correct voltage rating (there may be a ballast resistor) otherwise it will kill an electronic ignition unit (guess how I know!)

Hot starting can be improved with a wide open throttle. The pedal must be depressed to WOT slowly so not to activate the Weber acc pump jets and flood the engine.

Malcolm

[john g]

We've all had different experiences.......when was the last time you changed the plugs? My xflow started ok, ran ok for 20 minutes then I struggled to drive it. Left it for 20 minutes and it was fine. ''Twas the plugs.

[Barry Thompson]

Many thanks for all your help. Will work through as suggested.  

[HendrixsWhiteStratReturns]

Hi Barry

I have  a 1990 Superprint and had same issue , drove me bloody mad.. traced to carbs and also the igniter in the dizzie was faulty.

Assuming that's all checked and plugs/HTs and coil okay then could also be:

- crud in the fuel tank

-Blocked inline filter ?

One other thing to check - vapour lock in fuel tank. Next time it happens open filler cap and if you hear a whooosh of air inrush that could be the problem, solution is a small hole drilled through the cap itself

 

 

[SM25T]

I think vapour lock is when fuel heats in a hose (ie over hot engine) and the resultant bubble of vapour won't let fuel past. What you are describing is effectively a vacuum in the tank, and the pump can't pull the fuel forwards without a breather to let air in.

[HendrixsWhiteStratReturns]

Reply to #10

Sorry, wrong choice of words, yes a vacuum in the tank is what I meant. A few people suggested it when I was having similar issues with my '90 Supersprint. Turned out not to be the issue but it (the filler cap) was drilled anyway ...partly to rule it out and partly to stop any issues in the future.

Barry - any luck with finding the problem ?

[scorcher]

Coil?

[HendrixsWhiteStratReturns]

Barry - did you get it sorted ? Curious to know what it was as a fellow Xflow-er!!

[Barry Thompson]

You ask if sorted.  Been to a vg local garage with owner having trained on cars like ours .   He has ordered several things having worked through it and yet to fit. Trouble was it kept starting so he wasn't sure    Will say what's what when sorted.  I printed out for him all the above help , thanks     Passed mot no problem , done as guess in future most mots will be so busy. 

[Barry Thompson]

Fitted ignition lead set.   Distributor cap. Spark plugs.   Balanced carbs and tested and tightened earths etc etc    Seems ok now.  Thanks 

[HendrixsWhiteStratReturns]

Hi Barry - Good to hear it's sorted. Always useful to hear for fellow Xflow owners as I think a lot of us have experienced the same issue(s) at some time or another and it can be down to so many things !!