CA bring very naughty, no start

[hermeticist]

Hi guys,

I am not sure if I've posted before, so apologies if I haven't introduced myself.

I have done quite a lot of searching on this but I'm still stumped.

So, I have a DET fitted to a Scimitar, it's running stage 2
With forged pistons, Audi coils, and since a rebuild (done before I purchased it) it has never felt quite right - when I got it, it needed running in so I couldn't test it thoroughly but it always felt reluctant to rev and sort of rough. When it went in for the MOT the garage owner drove it and said it felt like it needed setting up on a rolling road and wasn't making the power he expected (former DET owner).

Anyway, the other day I pulled out onto an A road and didn't thrash it but probably gave it more Welly than usual and there was a very ominous bang... My stomach dropped and the car died. I managed to restart it but it was clearly running badly and I managed to get it off the A road and rather reluctantly opened the bonnet. To my relief the main hose from the turbo had blown off and I could easily sort that by the side of the road.

Car started fine but I then had to drive through a moderate flood to get back onto the main road. Car drove fine for ten miles (I was being cautious but doing maybe 70mph on a very hilly dual carriageway) and then just as I needed to turn off I could feel the car dying... I managed to pull into a layby and as I had a can of petrol (the fuel gauge is a bit iffy because it has a race tank) I put 5l in (I do not think the fuel was actually low) and it again started fine and drove back home.

I was a bit reluctant to drive it without checking it over and it started fine a couple of times and then died... And hasn't started since!

Now, it did this once before and it turned out to be a dodgy earth and so I took all the main earths off and cleaned them. This made zero difference. I then decided (because I have very little skill) that it was clearly the CAS - I have an ET engined Scimitar and the CAS has failed several times, with very similar symptoms.

I got a replacement CAS and went to swap them and discovered the half moon had sheared off the cam (it was loose inside the shaft). But, I could see where it had sheared off and tried to fit the CAS where it should fit. Tested the CAS before I fitted it and could hear all four cylinders/injectors clicking. Checked the ECU and it's just showing 55...

But still no start! Not even close to catching... Obviously, I've checked all fuses. It has an adjustable FPR, which is showing around 30PSI and doesn't seem to drop...

It has a swirl pot and a low pressure and high pressure fuel pumps, which I can hear priming.

I'm rather stumped and I've probably missed something obvious, but... Any help would be massively appreciated.

I realise this is probably quite a long post but I wanted to be thorough and provide as much information as possible.

Any help would be massively appreciated! I don't suppose there are any travelling mechanics with a thorough knowledge of DETs in Cornwall or Plymouth, so it's probably down to me to see if I can get the old beast running?

Many thanks, again.

Dom

[hermeticist]

So, today I decided to check the CAS again, because it's missing the 'half moon' and got her to start...

Albeit, with a lot of white smoke... 🫣

The CAS was in the middle position when started but was revving at just under 2k. After a couple of minutes I adjusted the CAS to maximum anti-clockwise (retard?), I should have checked this but I think it's right.

This dropped the revs and made it sound and feel like it was running more happily, obviously, not the most scientific way, but...

So, two questions, will it run with the CAS a tooth out?
Does this situation look like I need to move it a tooth and does the shaft need turning anticlockwise to move it a tooth towards greater retardation? That might actually be three questions...

Apart from the obvious (HG), are there any other reasons for the smoke? I wouldn't say it was perfectly white, but that's probably the closest.

Obviously checked coolant and oil and I can't see anything nasty yet... 🙄

[pointz]

You need to locate the CAS in the position it's meant to be in in respect of the cam and D locating peg.

If it doesn't run well at this position either your belt is a tooth or 2 out or your cam or CAS splines are worn.

No you shouldn't run it by altering the timing the way you have, the timing needs to be set at 15 degrees with a timing gun.

[pointz]

You need to locate the CAS in the position it's meant to be in in respect of the cam and D locating peg.

If it doesn't run well at this position either your belt is a tooth or 2 out or your cam or CAS splines are worn.

No you shouldn't run it by altering the timing the way you have, the timing needs to be set at 15 degrees with a timing gun.

[hermeticist]

Hi, sorry, I lost the thread! Yep, got the CAS in the right place, I think... But now it's doing other weird stuff.

Hunting through the rev range, dropping very low in revs, particularly when slowing. Sometimes it seems to have almost no power and other times it really picks up. Changed the plugs, coils, checked for vacuum leaks... I do need to check the ECU for any codes, but I've only just refitted it after having a look at the wiring...

Anyone know a good CA18DET in Devon or Cornwall? ��