Ok, I wonder what the wealth of knowledge on here might be able to suggest. I'll relay the story from the beginning and see what you reckon.
My son's V4 StI has had a full bottom end rebuild and the heads done but it wasn't running quite right. Stuttering on take off almost like a misfire or fuel cut but was running ok once it got going - and then was boost cutting under heavier acceleration.
Diagnosis was bad plugs and a leaking boost actuator - both changed on Friday last and running much better as a result but not perfect. The ECU was also suspect as it had got wet 6 months ago and we wondered if it was causing minor running problems as a result (although it has been functioning ok since being dried out).
Anyway, the same Friday evening - it refuses to start, not even turning over - I tell my son to check the ECU connections because I know the mechanic only plugged it in (leaving it only finger tight on the bolts, planning to return to it next week)he pushes the plugs home again, bolts it down and hey presto the car starts.
He drives it home fine but once home and stopped, it won't restart - you can just hear the starter solenoid clicking but that's it.
I stupidly suspect the same ECU problem and when we remove it you could smell that electrical 'burnt' smell. Take the top off and there is a visible small component that looks like it has been too hot and the insulating material is cracking off it. This must be the problem?
So, I get hold of Johno's 1s ECU, plug that in - the same, just clicking.
Now the penny drops - maybe just not enough juice in the battery! Jump leads and sure enough it turns over but won't start. Try a remap? Turns over but won't start?
Back to the original 75 ECU? Turns over, won't start? Remap? Turns over, won't start?
Now in that awkward place - pretty sure the battery is not what it should be but would like to get it running first to isolate whether it is the battery or alternator that's causing the low charge. Now have 2 ECU's, the original which definitely has something at fault but we don't know if it is causing the non-running plus the 1s ECU and we don't know if for some reason it simply won't run the car?
Right now I'm stumped so any suggestions or tips would be welcomed! Cheers, Colin.