SFA with EFI mod - struggles to start

[Ryperd]

I am a very happy EFI customer (Dicktator) and have been for many years. The only thing that’s frustrating is that it hates starting on a cold morning. It’s with friends doing a trip through Kruger at the moment and they are struggling to get it started for early drives. It just keeps turning the starter motor without kicking in. I thought it was maybe low voltage in the battery but it’s at 12.85V which should be plenty. It does start okay with a jump start though. I’m not sure if it’s the engine management configuration or something else (maybe starter motor?). The battery is fairly new. There is a second battery but that’s unplugged when they start the car. Should I just take it to an auto electrician or is there something else I should check?

[Family_Dog]

Maybe they should just try switching ignition on and off about three times without actually starting it, in order to ensure the fuel pump is fully primed? I do that with mine - admittedly it is not used that often but it starts easily enough after this. Also running a Diktator on a 4Y.

-F_D

[Ryperd]

Thanks F_D. I do that too and have shown them the priming steps. On a cold day sometimes that's not enough.

A few weeks ago I looked at the engine management software and saw that the water temperature compensation was set to 0 at -20, and figured that might be the issue so I set it to the sample in the Dicktator Software Guide (set a bit higher based on what the 0 and up values were set to in my system). I think it did make it slightly better but still not starting properly. My battery voltage compensations are also very different from the ones in the manual but I'm hesitant to play with those since I guess they were set during engine tuning.

I'm also not sure whether the Dicktator setup is a red herring and whether the problem is more likely to be elsewhere.

[Mud Dog]

I'm not a fundi with EFI but I assume from your map that you're not making use of a cold start valve. In such a case cold start fuel enrichment is done through the injectors. Those values could be either too low or even too high. What one could maybe try is manual priming by pouring a small cap full of fuel into the intake at any convenient place .... the crank case breather tube might be such a place on your set up. Pull the end off at the tappet cover, lift it high and pour the fuel into it giving it a few seconds to run down into the manifold, reconnect the tube and try start immediately. If this works the fuel enrichment compensation is too low.

[Family_Dog]

Thank you for that Software Link Rudi, I never even knew there was one!

My 4Y starts easily enough once I have primed the fuel pump but I do need to modify the 'cold running' as well, it tends to cut out unless I keep the revs up at idle. Perhaps my idle revs are too low.

I hope you get sorted with your problem.


-F_D

[Ryperd]

Thanks for the advice and encouragement Andy, F_D. We took it to someone who knows the Dicktator system and I think he's increased the water temperature compensation, and apparently it started easily this morning. He also picked up that it has the wrong spark plugs. He noticed some electrical interference which was affecting how it idled. It needs to be the 'R' model plugs. I knew this already but was lazy and took it to a garage to service last time. That's what happens when you don't do things yourself ! We'll get it back later today and see if it's running any better.

[Mud Dog]

Good to hear that Rudi. Hope that the problem is solved now.

[Family_Dog]

Rudi, I took Bulldog for a service a few months ago and they changed the spark plugs and fitted standard ones. I only noticed this now, and I cannot remember the correct plugs number. Please let me have the plug data if you can, will be much appreciated.


-F_D

[The Legend]

Eric,the correct spark plug for the 4Y EFI is NGK BPR5e.That is the one Louis Zanolie uses on all his 4Y EFI conversions.

[Family_Dog]

Thanks Dawie, I will get a set and swap them out!

-F_D