RS Motorsport :: Classic Speed Restored

I bought an XR5 Turbo recently that was a stat write-off due to water damage. In QLD anything over sill height is a stat and this thing looks like it just made it over as only the carpets have been wet.

I'm trying to get it started but it won't even turn over, and I'm hoping there might be a Ford tech out there who can give me some ideas. Things I've done to date are:

1. Checked inlet - clean & no evidence of water.
2. Taken plugs out, turned motor over by hand, all good
3. No water in any of the oils
4. All electrics work in the rest of the car.

For XR5's they have a start button, so you press it once which is like turning on the ignition. You then get a message in the dash display to "Press clutch to start" which when you do and then hit the Start button again you can hear the fuel pump start but the motor doesn't turn over at all.

I've got an OBD2 scanner so on hooking that up there are no DTC's shown.

The PATS (passive anti-theft system) is not showing any fault code on the dash display.

I'm not sure what to try next. I know there is the Ford IDS software (which I have a copy) but I don't have the VCM connector so can't delve any further into that at the moment. If there's any Ford techs or electronics specialists out there I'd appreciate any advice you have.

Is the starter above the high tide line ?

What happens when you bridge across the solenoid ?

Thanks John.

I might be over-thinking this so am going to go back to basics as you suggest and just see what power is at the starter motor.

Also talking to a friend last night who has bought a few water damaged suggested that sometimes they disconnect a few sensors to ensure the car won't start to minimise any potential damage. Will check it over again today.

Nev,

If basic step 1 succeeds, try unpluging the solenoid coil wire that comes from the start switch, then put 12v onto the solenoid coil terminal directly.

hey nev
what about an old rally trick
give the ign some power with a jury rig fuel pump then push or tow start
forget all the comuter crap

Time for an update on the XR5.

After some quick basic tests, turned out the starter motor was stuffed. Must have got some water in it and basically shorted and welded itself together internally. So $150 for a replacement starter and at least now it turned over. Seemed pretty free turning over so figured it hadn't hydraulic'd. Took plugs out and they were wet, so off with the inlet plenum and it was moist inside there, so it must have drawn water all the way through. Dropped the pipe from the turbo to the intercooler which runs under the car and about 500mls of water came out. Proceeded then to remove all inlet piping, intercooler and inlet and clean/dry the lot. A couple of hours later and it was all back together. Now for the moment of truth

Hit the start button and it started straight away and within a couple of minutes settled down to a nice idle. It was perfect.

In amongst the paperwork in the car there was a contact number for the girl who owned it, so have chatted to her and know the exact details of how it got wet. It certainly wasn't serious and should never have been written off, but that's another story. But the best bit was finding out what's in it.

Engine wise, it has a Dreamscience inlet pod filter and piping, Aitech Gen3 intercooler, AutoSpecialist plenum, Hitech Track turbo back 3" exhaust and a Dreamscience Mod X program. The end result is 1 bar boost (up from 0.65) and about 280hp (up from 225). Add to that a full set of Pedders Extreme coilovers, Whiteline rear bar and adjustable rear control arms and it's not hard to figure out this thing had some serious $$$ thrown at it. All in a 2010 model with only 25000km.

So now the dilema is what to do with it. I bought it thinking the motor would be toast but it would give me all panels and an airbag kit to fix something else, but now I have a complete, immaculate, fast XR5 that cannot be registered. It's an awesome car to drive and the sound from that Volvo 5cyl engine on boost is something else.

I might just think about this one for a while

Here's a few pics.

Ebay export

Yatala Park Raceway!!!!!