BLK87S4

Need help my 1987 S4 will crank but not start. The car was my daily driver up till 2011 when I parked it for 4 years while I was overseas. When I returned to TX, I decided to take some time and pull the engine.

I replaced:
- all gaskets (oil pan, valve cover, etc...)
- replaced the TB, WP, rebuilt the tensioner
- replaced the timing chain tensioner pads
- rear main seal
- new clutch & pressure plate
- New motor mounts
- Injectors removed and cleaned
- Pulled the CEB, cleaned electrical connections, swapped out relays (why not) with new ones
- Replaced the fuel pump and filter
- Replaced the fuel filler neck (was corroded)
- Replaced the speed sensor & the crank position sensor

Put everything back together and she cranked but wouldn't start. So I started diagnosing. First I tested the EZF unit. Pulled a plug on each bank and cranked the engine, had good spark on each bank. I discovered the fuel pump was not energizing so I assumed the LH was bad. I asked for someone in SA or Austin to help me test my unit but no joy. I went ahead and had it sent off for a rebuild.

I reinstalled the LH unit and still the fuel pump will not energize. I swapped the relay (several times) with a new one, no joy. I tested the EZF input (pin 1) to the LH and it's energized when cranking. I energized the LH pin 18 and it activates the fuel pump relay so I know the CEB contacts are all good. I have tested the speed sensor circuit and the CPS circuit, they are both good. I have noticed the tach doesn't bump when I crank it, but the speed sensor is sending a signal.

I'm pretty much grasping at straws now and would appreciate any suggestions.

kmascotto

is your car a manual or auto?

kmascotto

...sorry, i see its a manual.

make sure you didn't accidentally put a relay in the "auto kick down" spot.

BLK87S4

5 speed

BLK87S4

It has a factory alarm which I can arm/disarm from the hatch without an issue. Thus I am assuming (dangerous I know) that it is okay. Also forgot to mention the battery is new. I also spent time cleaning the ground points along the car (my interior lights work now for the first time in years).

kmascotto

look at slot XV, there is a little arrow on the CEP next to the relay number that points/indicates the relay slot...make sure you see which direction its pointing...ask me how I know.
https://www.928gt.com/t-8788fuse.aspx

kmascotto

if there is a relay in that spot...remove it!

gazfish

Is F25 on your CE panel measuring battery voltage when you're cranking, if not its your alarm/imobilisor

FredR

The way your post reads says to me that your fuel pump to date has not run and if it is not running then you are going no where quick.

I take it you have checked that you do have voltage arriving at the fuel pump and this is a known fact thus if there is voltage and still no go on the pump then it must have seized for some reason. Given all you have done and clearly understand, this sounds way too obvious so please advise what if anything I am missing or may have misinderstood here.

Rgds

Fred

BLK87S4

Well I feel like a total door ****. There was a relay in XV and when I pulled it the fuel pump relay energized. I have been chasing this dang thing for several weeks. I've been reading threads, running diagnostics on circuits, etc... I must have put the relay in the wrong slot after I cleaned the CEB. The headlight washer (XIX) was empty....

kmascotto

excellent

FredR

Look on the bright side- you did not toast the central electrics!

The whole point of posting is to help you find out what you or someone else did that was DF stupid and not quite so obvious if all else fails. For sure you have no monopoly on stupid!

Personally I get quite giggle when I read of things like this so nothing to be embarassed about- you are in good company. A few weeks ago I changed out my lower front control arm and fitted the wrong one- on the positive side I realised what stupidity I had done more or less as soon as I took the car off the axle stands [the 928 does not look quite right with a positive camber.

The golden rule here is "review what you did last" if something is not quite as it seems.

Rgds

Fred

Shawn Stanford

There's a thread here where I spent three days troubleshooting being out of gas.

FredR

I once ran out of fuel on our oil fields over here- fortunately it was just outside the main camp. I had picked up a company Land Rover at the central base about 60km away. Left the thing on the side of the road and walked into the local camp. Reported the breakdown- no one paid any attention for 5 days and when they did they found that the vehicle has been handed over to me with the fuel switch set on the reserve tank- grrrh!

Rgds

Fred

BLK87S4

I wouldn't say I am too bright either....my daily driver is an 89 Merkur XR4Ti with 226k miles on it. Talk about electrical gremlins....