Non-start. Car driven home one evening all OK. Next morning refused to start. On a couple of earlier occassions car would start, idle and cut out , but eventually restart without problem.

Launch Code scan DME MS43 M54 code 227 & 228 Fuel trim bank 1 & 2 permissable range exceeded; 47 Torque limitation , safety concept level 1 ,8 signal air mass flow sensor.

Codes cleared , no codes during testing.


There was no sign of starting even with prolonged cranking and easy start on inlet.One or two slight coffs but generally cranking with no sign of life. Removed MAF connector, no difference.

Good crank sensor and cam sensors x2 on pico during cranking. All injectors 15 ohms approx each , Ignition pulses present with 9ms + on times. Good shape to ignition pulses.Ignition pulses suggests lack of fuel. Checked flow and pressure (50PSI, 2.5 litres KOEO) at pump and also on fuel rail, pressure same on rail and free flow fuel through coda pushing more than 3 litres/min.

Customer later on replaced combined fuel filter with regulator unit . Made no difference.

Good Spark present on all coils but still need to measure strength.Some signs that coil packs are cooked , but no faults logged by ECU to indicate misfires.

Only after removing/drying/cleaning wet plugs and putting back did I manage to get engine to start and 'run' weakly but only whilst cranking, but after a few goes it did not run at all again, suspect plugs wet again.

Smoke test revealed tiny hole in rubber banjo on inlet hose to inlet manifold and leaking blank off pipe rubber. Repair did not fix problem. No other smoke leaks visible to suggest cracked inlet manifold or breather pipe faults.

Compression tests need to be repeated may be affected by bore wash , some were around 150PSI , others 125 PSI and only one was low at aroung 50 PSI. One cylinder down out of 6 would surely not prevent it at least starting?

Immobiliser on rear view mirror signals correctly with lock/unlock of vehicle and since we get sparks and injection this must rule out the immob.

I have good sparks, fuel pressure/flow, injector pulses, cam and crank signals , and no manifold air leaks , also reasonable compressions, why is this engine not starting or even giving an indication it wants to start? What have I missed?

Sorry for the ramble but I have spent as you may have guessed a fair bit of time on this one and it could be my first no result of 2010.

George