Lotus Esprit not starting

[rongoldsmith]

No spark from electronic ignition 

[Barrykearley]

We definitely need more information on the car. Model and year would be a good start

[jonwat]

25 minutes ago, Barrykearley said:

Model and year would be a good start

It's in his signature, maybe he's just added it. 

[Barrykearley]

Ahh 1990 SE

First thing I’d look is if there’s any codes on Freescan. 

Is the fuel pump running? The crank position sensor would be my next look.

[rongoldsmith]

Hi sorry newbie error 1990 SE turbo electronic coil pack thanks for your help regardsRon

[rongoldsmith]

Hi Barry no spark fuel pump ok plugs checked still no spark next l will check crank sensor also not been very good starter had new fuel injectors fitted regards Ron

[Barrykearley]

You need to get freescan chap. It’ll tell you a whole lot.

unless it sees where the crank is it won’t spark.

[rongoldsmith]

I have the free scan program on my laptop but sadly no lead do you know where I can get a replacement one from

[Barrykearley]

@internets used to be the go to man for these iirc.

[Escape]

Did this problem occur all of a sudden, or was work done on the car, stuff replaced etc? It's easy to miss a ground and cause a starting issue.
How have you checked for spark? With a plug, grounded by a separate cable?

[rongoldsmith]

hi filip, thankyou for your help no work has been done it suddenly wont start no spark also i have engine managment light on but i no lead for my laptop spoken to barry he sent me link regarding purchasing one thanks RON

[rongoldsmith]

checked with free scan no fault found still no spark any ideas guys no imobliser fitted ,thank you

[Escape]

Do you see the rpm rise on freescan when you try to start? If not, the likely suspect is the crank position sensor or its wiring.

[steamdriven]

Excuse me jumping-in on this thread but this similar problem has just arisen on my '98 GT3 and so I found your advice above really useful.

Genius advice guys- thanks to you I hooked-up Freescan and there is no RPM reading on cranking, so I am guessing crank sensor/wiring as suggested by @Escape

I think I must have disturbed something when I had a 'tidy-up' of the wiring when I removed the air intake hose that crosses the flywheel housing right next to the crank sensor (don't fix anything unless its broken, right !).

So how do I now test whether I need a new sensor or whether I've 'simply' disturbed the wiring somehow ?  (I've already tried disconnect/connect at the sensor and everything is visually clean and sound)

 

[steamdriven]

Update on my post above:- I've taken crank sensor to the bench and tested with multimeter (it gives me small a/c current and internal ohms resistance is intact) Also I've tested wiring back to coil assembly and that is ok too (got good earth on the ground wire and the +ve wire is intact and there is no short to earth.).   So what the hell ?  Why is FreeScan not reading revs when cranking.  Also I forgot to say - I have no fault codes showing on FreeScan.

 

[Sparky]

Did you disconnect/reconnect anything during the tidy up?

[steamdriven]

Thanks for the question @Sparky - answer is that I did notice that the red insulation boot on the starter motor +ve connection post was falling apart so I disconnected and fitted a nice new silicone one, also the spade connection on the starter motor for the red/white wire that triggers starter to engage was very loose and I had been suffering intermittent failure of the starter to engage, so I disconnected and crimped that up for a better connection.  That is about it.  I was pleased that the starter was firing up but not so pleased that the engine stopped firing. !

[Sparky]

OK.  I only asked as from memory there are 2 identical plugs hanging around there (one is the crank sensor) so could get mixed up.  Appears this is not the case!

[steamdriven]

I am going to start a new thread, as it looks like - in my case - the ECU is not picking up the crank sensor output