When I select CTRL +E or try the usual manual
steps I get a continuous cranking of the engine but it never fires or runs smoothly - sounds like the same issue. Weirdly, if I hold down the right mouse button the engine runs smoothly but splutters again when I release.
I’ve checked the assignments to the button and it’s all views related. I have no throttle control though, so although it seems to run normally it is non-responsive to keyboard or throttle inputs.
Ok here’s the fix! I’m using the TCA throttle quadrant and had the fuel control switches rigged to control the fuel valves. At some point the updates either changed my assignments or the Spit had an updated way of interpreting the inputs.
Check if you have any assigned key/switch for TOGGLE ENGINE 1 FUEL VALVE as well as SET ENGINE 1 FUEL VALVE.
Delete the assignments for TOGGLE but keep the SET fuel valve position.
I suspect my TCA throttles were sending a continuous TOGGLE instruction which was causing the spluttering. My set up worked fine before, so someone changed something somewhere!!
Hope this helps 
Sorry it took me so long to get back to you. I finally installed the latest update (1.0.3 hot fix 2) last night and got a chance to play with it today.
It took me a while to figure out where the primer was as it’s not marked in the manual (at least not as far as i could tell). Once I figured that out (and didn’t turn on the fuel tank pressure), I was able to start it from cold and dark with my mouse. I don’t have any of those fancy Alpha or Bravo controllers, I just started it by mouse. I did follow the starting instructions step-by-step, essentially. You don’t necessarily have to do them in order per se. But, it probably helps.
If you haven’t figured out the primer yet, it’s the unlabeled brass knob to the left of the fuel tank pressure knob (22). You have to unlock it by rolling it back with the mouse wheel, then you can press it and it will activate (sometimes. It didn’t always work for me). Before you start, make sure the red light to the right of the fuel pressure gauge is not red. If it is, pump it with the wobble pump knob till it turns off (after, of course, turning on the power by pushing the throttle forward and then pulling it back). All the rest of the items in the check list in the manual are marked in the pictures (spread across the three pcitures). I didn’t try the in-sim checklist.
I am on XBox Series X and have the same issue. I’ve posted in this thread here
I was having the “I can’t start the engine from a cold start” problem. I have some basic controllers (throttle and joystick) so most of the procedure is done using the mouse.
What was key for me was getting the Primer primed. I eventually noticed that it did display its status in brackets.
For me I use the mouse-wheel to un-lock the primer and then the right mouse button to operate it. It can take a few priming cycles for the status to change from (UNPRIMED) to (PRIMED).
I have the throttle open 1/2" but I also find it useful to nudge it forward while I am cranking.
After any failure to start double check the low pressure fuel light is out and the priming pump status is (PRIMED)
Thanks to those who contributed to this thread as with its encouragment I don’t thingk I would have solved the failure to start prolem I was having.