Well, it was too good to be true.
First time I've been let down by the Rangie, and it's a doozy.
Almost a month ago I drove up
A tow from Brandon, just north of Ayr to the Tablelands ($2Ktow on a sunday
)
It's an Electrical gremlin of some kind. AND Random.
Possibly a failure due to thermal cycling or moisture related.
firstly: When the issue occurs-
engine cranks no prob. fuel pump primes, rail pressure is bled off (can hear the regulator) but-
1. No spark.
2. It's intermittent - will crank, fire up and run one day, then simply won't go the next.
3. New: Coil, module, Dizzy, rotor(s) cap(s). multiple replacements only because all my tools are still in a container somewhere and should have been here 3 weeks ago.
Definitely have power to the ignition coil.
Dizzy gives output from the reluctor. Module tests oK (both do).
Caps and rotors made zero difference (was first cab off the rank replaced after the tow home)
Got a Disco dizzy from a nice bloke in Cairns to test the failed reluctor theory - but after purchasing a cheapo jaycar multimeter (local hardware happens to be a jaycar agent - yay) it tested OK for pulse generation and the dizzy modules also tested OK.
I have 2 known good caps/rotors plus the one on the car is proving to be reliable and no combination or replacement of either cap or rotor or both proves to make any difference to the outcome.
Relays have been checked (under drivers seat) as have fuses inertia switch operation etc.
Don't have a schematic or ETM available to me at the moment to commence fault trace, and I suspect that there is a sensor failure or possibly the MAF - but would need test values to determine if it is OK.
Worst of all this is totally random - and the car will literally just fire up without any intervention, but it will also fail to start after driving the previous day.
Fuel's fine - and pressure is there. Pump was replaced back in 2015 and it's never given any grief (and you can hear it prime and delivers pressure to the rail
Weather makes no difference (car is undercover)
Need to take a step back and look into the ecu operational requirements and if there is something preventing it from starting and what that component failure mode is.
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