Charles' early 92 827 manual coupe

[Charles827si]

When you start the car Charles, if you turn the key to position 2 (igniton and other warning lights, no starter action yet), you should see the "PGM-Fi" warning light illuminate for a few seconds and hear the fuel pump hum at the same time.

Do you wait for the PGM-Fi light to go out before turning to position 3 (Start) or do you just turn the key straight to position 3 as soon as you get in?

Have you added any ATF to the engine oil at any time?

Also, when did you last check the HT leads, dizzy cap and rotor arm?

I always wait for the PGMFI light to extinguish before turning the key to position 3.
I added some mineral ATF to the engine but I'm aware that fully synthetic would be more suitable.
HT Leads are checked all ok. Rotor Arm, dizzy and coil pack have all been replaced in the last 3/4 months.

Was watching a Youtube vid of a Honda with a blown gasket and the starting issues were pretty much what I've had.

[scoobyh123]

It should fire more or less instantly if you let the PGM-Fi light go out then turn to the start position.

Something else you could try before getting the compression tester out :

https://www.toolstation.com/methylated-spirit/p99550

Add that to 1/4 tank or less of petrol - don't add any petrol just the meths as long as it's 1/4 tank or less. If the yellow "Feed Me" light is on, you could add a couple of gallons (9L in new money) but otherwise no more than a couple of litres just to flush it into the tank. Easiest way is with a fuel can, half full and add the meths to the can then add the entire contents of the can to the tank.

What i'm thinking is condensation in the tank, settles overnight at the bottom of the tank so it's pulling water through, makes cold starting tricky and gives an uneven idle.

I usually put a 2L bottle of meths through once a year on mine to keep the condensation at bay. It's better if i use it more regularly but if i don't, it tends to biuld up condensation more.

Something else i've found, 50ml (that's a pub double or about an egg cup full) of ATF in a full tank of petrol, preferably synthetic ATF, is amazing at cleaning injectors. I've tried it in my Volvo then because i was impressed with the results, tried it in the Sterling - even more impressive! Mentioned it to a few other people online, they tried it as well, one in a 760 Volvo similar to mine, the other in a J plate 820Si - all very good results.

For heavy duty injector cleaning, 50ml in half a tank works nicely! Do the meths first though, in case it is condensation.

If nonne of the above helps any then it's time to buy yourself a compression tester. I have one that you'd be welcome to borrow but with the cost of sending it to you then sending it back again, it would be almost as cheap for you to buy one then you'd have your own. I can explain how to do it, it's not just a case of remove a plug and screw it in, especially on the 827, there's a couple of other things to do as well. Needs to be done on a hot engine as well which is fun!

[Charles827si]

Except it hasn't fired up instantly for about 2 weeks now, and as I say Dave I always wait for the PGMFI light to extinguish to make sure the fuel pump is primed.
So what I've suggested is; there are other problems.
And I already know the cylinder is bad because I did the compression test last year, and Ive had the test done since.

And like Ive said recently, I've used injector cleaner..recently.

[scoobyh123]

Hmmm, had forgotten you mentioned injector cleaner recently. Give the meths a try but can you remember what the compression figures were and did you disable the fuel pump before doing the compression test/ Also was it the last cylinder you tested?

[Charles827si]

Hmmm, had forgotten you mentioned injector cleaner recently. Give the meths a try but can you remember what the compression figures were and did you disable the fuel pump before doing the compression test/ Also was it the last cylinder you tested?

Sorry Dave, I'll have to be off tonight. I'll let you know the details in a pm tomorrow.

[scoobyh123]

No worries Charles, getting a bit sleepy myself too!

[Charles827si]

Having pondered what to do about the coupe yesterday (and not done anything work wise on it yesterday evening) I thought I would see if it starts this morning.

The battery was fully charged when I took the charger off yesterday.

The car started first turn of the key (as it used to do regularly)

I've left it running for about 10 mins. Still got the same steam symptoms on start up. So I'm not going to be starting the car again until I flush the coolant and replace it with water.

I still need to see about the alternator belt and do a new compression test.
It's more likely to be the weekend when I get around to those jobs.

[scoobyh123]

Hi Charles,

have you ever added any meths to the fuel tank? I'm sure i mentioned this before and you said you would but did you?

All fuel has a water content and this often shows as steam from the exhaust on a cold engine. Any condensation in the tank will add to this and cause rough running.

Meths will get rid of any condensation in the tank by forming an emulsion with the water which is soluble in petrol and can then be burned off during combustion.

Worth adding some ATF to the engine oil, it will help clean the engine internally, revive oil seals (helping to prevent leaks), clean the hydraulic lifters (which could be another cause of poor compression) and generally improve things inside.
Also worth adding a small amount (egg-cupful to a full tank for normal cleaning) of ATF to the petrol tank as well, once the meths has done its stuff. I know Carlube ATF-U works well for all of this, i haven't tried others as i don't need to buy them, it covers both cars for the gearboxes and PAS fluid and several other things too.

Confused about the alternator belt though?

[Charles827si]

Funnily enough Dave I just bought some fuel system cleaner with meths yesterday.
I understand that you have to add it before topping up the fuel tank? Might be wrong.

I know you mentioned this and adding ATF before. I looked for synthetic ATF on Monday. I could only see mineral on the shop shelves (which I have already)
Synthetic ATF is supposed to be better right?
Today actually there was not as much condensation on start up and the car ran very smooth which was a good thing.
I let it run until the rad fan came on. So at least i know ive got that part of the rad job right.

Regarding the alternator; I feel it's most likley the belt that needs re tensioning.

Since the car started up no problem today, the starter motor can be ruled out with more certainty.

[scoobyh123]

A fuel system cleaner with meths? Odd! Through experimentation, it's been proved the most effective ratio of fuel to meths is 10:1 so if you have 18L (4 gallons or 1/4 tank) then you'll need 2L of meths :

https://www.toolstation.com/methylated-spirit/p99550

The mark-up on proprietorially available stuff is horrendous.

Many shops don't stock the sort of ATF that works best for these things because they're not high profit for them - plenty on fleabay though :

https://www.ebay.co.uk/sch/i.html?_from ... u&_sacat=0

Why do you think the alternator belt needs retensioning? It might be loose but that isn't why it's not charging the calcium battery. Maximum output is 14.4V on a cold regulator from the original alternator, a calcium battery needs 14.7V just to start charging. That's why i developed the diode mod to alter the output voltage.

[Charles827si]

Apologies for confusion. I've bought fuel injector cleaner (or system cleaner) and meths seperately.

Used to get squealing sounds from the engine, until only recently.
Made me wonder if the belt is lose?

[Charles827si]

Hello all.
Hope everybody is well. Nice to see the online 800 forum still alive and well, in 2024.

Just thought I would add a nice story. (which I always meant to include on this Coupe thread, but didn't until now)
.....
I remember once when I was driving the old Rover Coupé. I had my road bike strapped to the boot, with an extra rear number plate on the back. Whilst driving from my parents house to Keighley, W Yorks, the extra license plate fell off somewhere along the 70mph by-pass road.
I saw it happen; the glint in the rear view mirror, as the yellow acrylic fell away rapidly, at a reasonable 56mph.
So, I pulled into the shopping place, just past the big roundabout. (Hard-Ings Road)
There was a police van waiting there. I parked the Rover, got out, and went to the police driver behind the wheel of the van.
He wound down his window. I said to him "excuse me if you see/find a rear yellow licence plate 'K***ADU' can you keep it for me" He replied "Sure".
I'm not sure if the license plate was ever found, and I knew the policeman would never report it to the DVLA (Driver Vehicle Licensing Agency)
I ended up having to get an additional rear number plate made for the bike, and drilled extra holes in it, to strap it onto the bike more firmly.
The moral of the story is: Hobbies are a great way to waste time and money.
And the pigs do (mostly) F all good.

[scoobyh123]

Good to see you're also alive and well in 2024 Charles! Scary that it's been 5 years since you updated this thread!

How are things going with your Coupe?

[Charles827si]

Good to see you're also alive and well in 2024 Charles! Scary that it's been 5 years since you updated this thread!

How are things going with your Coupe?

Hi Dave!
Glad to see you are still alive and well also! And also still keeping the forum alive.
I'm doing well. Alot has happened in life since 2019.
Unfortunately I effectively ran out of funds in 2019, as I needed money for the house move.

And because of the so called 'pandemic', my housemove got delayed.
But, I did finally move from Yorkshire to the North East. (Killingworth)

Also last July, I had a pretty serious DVT in my left leg.
I'm still going to the warfarin clinic at Newcastle Freeman hospital, once per week for blood checks. 🩸

I still have the Coupé, along with mothers original Atlantic blue garaged in Yorkshire - as well as the E reg spare part saloon car.
Still projects to do in life, and I'm still relatively 'youngish'.
I have plans to return the coupé and mothers car to the road - just not sure when yet.
Do you still have your MK2 Dave?

Great to hear from you.

[scoobyh123]

Good to see you're also alive and well in 2024 Charles! Scary that it's been 5 years since you updated this thread!

How are things going with your Coupe?

Hi Dave!
Glad to see you are still alive and well also! And also still keeping the forum alive.
I'm doing well. Alot has happened in life since 2019.
Unfortunately I effectively ran out of funds in 2019, as I needed money for the house move.

And because of the so called 'pandemic', my housemove got delayed.
But, I did finally move from Yorkshire to the North East. (Killingworth)

Also last July, I had a pretty serious DVT in my left leg.
I'm still going to the warfarin clinic at Newcastle Freeman hospital, once per week for blood checks. 🩸

I still have the Coupé, along with mothers original Atlantic blue garaged in Yorkshire - as well as the E reg spare part saloon car.
Still projects to do in life, and I'm still relatively 'youngish'.
I have plans to return the coupé and mothers car to the road - just not sure when yet.
Do you still have your MK2 Dave?

Great to hear from you.

Hi Charles,

it sounds like you have similar views to me on the scamdemic and in a roundabout way, that killed my Sterling. I had it MoT'd before the scamdemic and it needed some welding, it wasn't a good job at all. It came back to me with the balance of a years MoT after about 5 months, obviously past the point where a repair could be deemed poor by VoSA. Thanks to the scamdemic, the next test was ~18 months after the last one and it went on the ramps and the tester threw it off. He showed my why, the welding to the sill/inner floorpan waas incomplete - should never have had an MoT in the first place! The extended 18 months between the tests had allowed the incomplete weldign to rot inside and outside and it would have been a huge job for me to fix, especially having to fix other poor work at the same time.

Long story short, i lost all heart and eventually sold it about a year ago as part of a deal to get my CR-V but by then, i'd also bought a Jag S Type that, lo and behold, needed some welding last year for the MoT! I did that myself, on the retest the tester got it on the ramp, looked at it and said "That'll do - nice job!".

I've now passed on almost all of my Rover bits, still got a couple of bits that i didn't find when the other stuff was collected including a Mk1 bronze sunroof panel that i had intended fitting to the Sterling to replace the "spotty" one.

Sorry to hear of your DVT, i hope that's all sorted now? Had you been on a long flight or was there another cause?