Hi Guys and Gals,
 
I just registered on here tonight as I am pretty much out of ideas and answers. I need help, and I apologize for this long post. About 4 months ago I got a pretty sweet MR2 already done up and all. It has had lot of work done on it previously. The car has a boost controller, stepping gauge...stuff like that. This past month I have had a new side mounted inter-cooler installed, replacing the existing stock one. With the inter-cooler kit, I also changed to an atmospheric blow-of valve replacing the previous plum-back valve. I also got a new t-belt, complete new water pump housing kit installed as well. (Some other changes along with the belt like a new Idler Pulley, Tensioner Pulley, Thermostat & O ring. New Crankshaft Seal Front as well.
 
The issue is, a few days later since those changes, while the car was still at the workshop, the mechanic had started having trouble turning the car on. The engine would fire up, but would then turn of straight away. (First he though it had an immobilizer on it) He said, that after playing around with the turbo timer settings, it would eventually start, which was the case when i went to pick it up last week as it took a few goes that night before it fired up. I drove it back to my place, it drove pretty good. I parked out the front of my place turned of the car for about 4-5 mins, and again the same issue. In between a couple minute intervals of waiting, it eventually started on a 4-5th ignition. I took it around the block for a little spin and then parked it into the Garage,
 
The next day though last (Sat), no luck what so ever. I have been trying to turn it on since, and all i get is the engine starting to fire, and then it turns of. The mechanic believes it has something to do with the turbo timer messing the start up. I got an RACQ guy to check it out as well, and he said it could be with the new atmospheric blow of valve, as he believes, the air meter is not registering the air flow properly and this is affecting the ECU. (But this shouldn't stop the car from starting right???) He also checked the spark plugs, and they looked good, but a bit dry. There is fuel in the car, all be it being on low. ONE IMPORTANT THING TO NOTE: The car would start every time perfectly before i took it in for this recent round of work. As you can imagine - this is frustrating as hell, and for those that might have had similar issues, i am sure you can understand. I am sorry for this massive post, but if you've read this far hopefully you might have an idea as to whats going on. Cheers Guys. Thanks in advance. :)
 

Start by removing the BOV or plumb it back in.
Ive had two turbo timers go bad and the keep the ignition on. I doubt this would be the problem but is easy to disconnect to eliminate it.
Check the ECU for error codes. Do a search on here if your unsure how.
 
The cam gears could have been misaligned while the timing belt was done. This would require the cam cover to be removed to check.

unplug the ecu and plug it back in. try it!
 
happened to me once.

do a quick ECU reset. take the EFI fuse out for a few minutes and then plug back in and see if the car runs well..
its located in the engine bay fuse box
before you do this make sure record any error codes stored in the ecu as it will delete them
then after resetting the ecu check and see if any error codes are there still (if there are any) and see if they are the same ones.
cheers

Have you tried turning the turbo timer off?
So your car wont start at all now? Have you checked if its getting fuel to the engine and also checked that the ignition is firing?
Does it stummble at all when your trying to start it or just not fire at all. If you got the wrong airfuel ratio caused by the airflow meter or any other such thing you would expect it to atleast stumble. For it not to fire at all its either not getting fuel or not getting a spark.

Hi,
Thanks for the replies so far. Really appreciate the support. I havent done the ECU reset yet, so i will do that tonight or whenever i get a chance to. I am hoping its a simple procedure as I havent done that before. As for the stumbling, it doesnt stumble. As i said the engine does fire up a bit, but then turn of straight away. My issue is, I am not mechanically or electrically gifted with cars :( so I am not sure if I know how to properly diagnose or describe the problem.

btw is this car one of the last ones that are running on AFM?? asking since they switched to MAP from 93 onwards and some early 93s  still had an AFM
if so check and see if theres any boost leaks in the new intercooler couplers that were installed.. its a common problem and one thats a bit hard to diagnose due to the locations of the intercooler pipes specially fro the aftermarket ones where it joins the cooler on the bottom.
 
cheers

Yes it does have the Air Flow Meter. I just did the ECU reset by disconnecting the battery terminals and connecting them back in after a few mins. After that didn't work, I also took out the EFI fuse for a few mins. I started the car and it just did its usual thing, the engine and turbo fire up a couple of times and then just turn off. I also tried starting it with the turbo timer off. Still to no avail. I also checked for boost leaks around the intercooler couplers and they looked fine.

Is there anyone on here from the Gold Coast/Brisbane who knows their Mr2's as well as their mods well, that could be able to come out and help me with this??

did you unplug and then replug the ecu..
 
just try it ;)

Ok will try it next. By "unplugging the ECU and then plugging it back in", you mean disconnecting the wiring connectors going into the ECU in the boot bay behind the lining and then connecting them back in??