Discussion and technical advice the SW20 MR2. 3S-GTE, 3S-GE, 3S-FE etc
Anything and everything to do with maintenance, modifications and electrical is in here for the Mk2.
Draven wrote:Yes it could be an ECU problem. The big issue with bulging capacitors is that they slowly get worse so one day you'll wake up and the car won't start first time or maybe you'll get pops and bangs when you shouldn't eventually the car just won't start at all when they've leaked all over the board.
Well first things first.. open it up check the board you're looking at the capacitors see if any are bulged or even leaking. If you're good with electronics you can replace capacitors your self.
I got mine from someone on here who fixes them and sells them on. If it is indeed the ECU stick a wanted add up and then check the breaker section PM some of the guys on there.
I paid £70 and my old ECU as part ex. So expect to pay £100+ for one.
Ahhh crap! What if I open it up and its all fine in there? :') it's just a haunted car!' :')
Draven wrote:The final time before mine wouldn't start I was driving down the road and it was coughing and spluttering shooting 3ft flames out the exhaust with lots of black smoke.
I thought that was game over.
Once I figured it out it was actually one of the more simpler issues i've had.
Mine doesn't cough or splatter, it's fine once it's all started, like she drives perfectly fine as if nothing happened :/
If you open it up and it is all fine in there that is one thing to cross off your list.
It only takes a few minutes it is like 4 screws to take the lid off.
You say you've got white smoke out the back? do you have any mayo under the oil filler or in the neck of the fuel tank?
Draven wrote:The final time before mine wouldn't start I was driving down the road and it was coughing and spluttering shooting 3ft flames out the exhaust with lots of black smoke.
I thought that was game over.
Once I figured it out it was actually one of the more simpler issues i've had.
Mine doesn't cough or splatter, it's fine once it's all started, like she drives perfectly fine as if nothing happened :/
Yes mine also did this at the very start of the issue. As i've said it gets progressively worse it depends on which caps are failing. If it is the ECU. It will get increasingly harder to start.. eventually it just won't at all.
Draven wrote:The final time before mine wouldn't start I was driving down the road and it was coughing and spluttering shooting 3ft flames out the exhaust with lots of black smoke.
I thought that was game over.
Once I figured it out it was actually one of the more simpler issues i've had.
Mine doesn't cough or splatter, it's fine once it's all started, like she drives perfectly fine as if nothing happened :/
Yes mine also did this at the very start of the issue. As i've said it gets progressively worse it depends on which caps are failing. If it is the ECU. It will get increasingly harder to start.. eventually it just won't at all.
Ok so I should just take the lid off the ecu you and peep in just to make sure it's all good? This in behind the carpet in the boot right? And yeah it chucks our loads of white smoke then once she's been running she clears up a little and just had a full service carried out and no comments of Mayo in the oil cap said it was all good
Draven wrote:How does it behave on a warm start..?? if you let the engine get up to temp then turn it off and on again? Is it still hard to start?
Sometimes she's fine and starts straight away and sometime likes yesterday I went to change the battery in halfords turned her off tested my current battery tried to start her and was a massive No :') then changed the battery give her a good few cranks and a couple of prayers and she got going again
Yes peel the carpet back and undo the lid of the ecu (make sure you disconnect the battery) Have a good gander at the board checking all the caps just see if any of them are bulging or indeed leaking.
Ok the white smoke is most probably just condensation in the the exhaust when it is cold mine does this.
Draven wrote:Yes peel the carpet back and undo the lid of the ecu (make sure you disconnect the battery) Have a good gander at the board checking all the caps just see if any of them are bulging or indeed leaking.
Ok the white smoke is most probably just condensation in the the exhaust when it is cold mine does this.
Ok I shall do this tonight, are the caps on the board of around it? And yeah but I mean it literally pours out non stop for a good few minutes
Draven wrote:Yes peel the carpet back and undo the lid of the ecu (make sure you disconnect the battery) Have a good gander at the board checking all the caps just see if any of them are bulging or indeed leaking.
Ok the white smoke is most probably just condensation in the the exhaust when it is cold mine does this.
Ok I shall do this tonight, are the caps on the board of around it? And yeah but I mean it literally pours out non stop for a good few minutes
I would check your oil filler cap yourself just so you know. White smoke is an indicator of coolant mixing in the combustion chamber normally a sign of head gasket failure. Yours is a rev2 so will still have the fiber head gasket which are fragile and more likely to go than the rev3+ metal head gasket.
Oil cap is coming up clean... I know I need a new rocker gasket because there was some oil in the spark plugs but only a bit and had it tightened but I'll stick the metro gasket in when it's done but that wouldn't affect it starting first time because it's really nothing major yet so I'm hoping there is a simple but not costly fix I'll let you know about the ecu when I get home with it thanks for you help man
All clear on the ecu side of things.... No leaks or anything put the battery back on almost lost her to the endless cranking but managed to save her with a bit of throttle.... Any ideas?
Hmm. I'm unsure there is whole host of possible issues. I would check your main ground points make sure that all the earth straps have a good connection. Possibly buy some new ones.. use a little bit of sandpaper to clean up any rust around them
Draven wrote:Hmm. I'm unsure there is whole host of possible issues. I would check your main ground points make sure that all the earth straps have a good connection. Possibly buy some new ones.. use a little bit of sandpaper to clean up any rust around them
How many earths are there? And where can they all be located? Just to make it easier to find them
if you have iridium tippec plugs they are ruined now, swap them out for some copper core items from spark plugs . co .uk and try the car again iridium plugs do not like getting flooded one bit. sorry if you have already tried tnis -i cant fead your full post at the moment
slipping clutch wrote:if you have iridium tippec plugs they are ruined now, swap them out for some copper core items from spark plugs . co .uk and try the car again iridium plugs do not like getting flooded one bit. sorry if you have already tried tnis -i cant fead your full post at the moment
Ok I shall try this thank you man put if it's still starting that does mean the spark plugs are fine right?
and just had a full service carried out and no comments of Mayo in the oil cap said it was all good 
