328 Cranks but Won't start now

Few tips:

To check if the fuel pump works: remove the blue connector located on the air intake.
Ignition on. Inmobilizer not active. Do not crank. You can hear the fuel pump buzzing.
If not, check the ground wire attached to it, 20 cm long, mounted on the chassis.

Check for spark: get a stroboscope. Clamp around any sparkplug lead. The stroboscoop should fire.

When the car runs for a few seconds with cold engine and shuts down, the second attempt will probably result in flooding because the coldstart injector stays active.
So disengage it to second start (remove blue connector on inlet manifold).

The inmobilizer usually cuts the starter relais. As well the fuelpump solenoid.
In my case the starter did not kick in because of a bad connection into the inmobilizer (Thick white wire to starter solenoid).
You can try to shortcut it and see what happens.

Give in routine maintenance special attention to the multi connectors located above the driverside rear wheel. Remove inner wheel arch. The left connector holds the starter solenoid wire (white). Check for corrosion and WD-40 both on a regular basis.

Disconnect battery. Check the ignition module in the boot (left, under carpet). Check ground wire, check vacuum hose.

 

Check the "All Keys" relay. It will do the same thing--crank but no start.

 

first thing, check for spark.


Ago

 

If you do not have a strobe, pull a plug wire and insert a spare spark plug and lay it on the block. Have someone crank engine. See if plug fires. You may have a spare in your tool kit but any plug will do.

 

Immobilizer not active means: You cannot test the fuel pump with your alarm still activated.
Your alarm shuts it down.

The pump solenoid is situated behind the right panel in the dash next to the gauges. Remove two plastic round nuts underneath. "Key related services" or "all keys" relay is situated there also.

The pump itself is mounted on the tubular frame next to the driverside fueltank.
Acces: from underneath or remove inner wheelarch driverside.

Ignition module sits in the trunk. Remove special opening in the carpet on the left side (standing behind the car) Remove lid (four bolts). The module is mounted against the lid.
Check for corrosion etc.
It also holds a vacuum hose used to measure throttle position or inlet manifold vacuum.

 

Dash.

 

Passenger side dash panel is removed by unscrewing 2 knobs. "All keys" relay is on the left side IIRC. The owners manual has a schematic and can point you to its exact location. It looks like a big fuse.

 

I believe on a US car this is on the RIGHT side, under the antenna. That's where mine is.