I did the transmission fluid trick in the cylinders of my car about a year ago and I burnt out the starter trying to start it.
It has been sitting there since and I am wondering if a year is too long and did I wreck anything by doing this.
I plan on trying again over the next few weeks to get it runing but dont want to waste my time it it is toast!

 

1st off, the ATF "trick" is not always a good idea.

How long has it been since the car's been running? I have been restoring an 1984 Rx7 which has been sitting there for four years, and if you wanna PM me, or e-mail me (vipernicus42@hotmail.com) I can give you quite a few tips on getting a sitting car running again.

As for the ATF thing... The best way to give you a good chance to start is this.
1. Take out your spark plugs. Replace them because they probably got fouled by the ATF.
2. Before putting the new ones in, turn the engine pulley by hand, standing on the driver's side, pushing the top of it away from you. This will make the rotors turn towards you from the bottom, which will scoop up anything collecting at the bottom of the chamber and push it out your bottom spark plug holes.
3. Make sure you have some good gas in the tank. Good meaning low-octane, no additive, clean gas.
4. Turn it over with the key. Don't run it for more than 10 seconds continuously, and if you can't get it turning over by the second round, start looking for other problems, don't just sit there trying to make it turn over.

For anything else, we'll have to take it a bit at a time and see. I'll need a better history of your car, when it last ran, what was wrong with it, why you tried the ATF and how you did it, etc.... And hopefully we'll get your car working soon

And if it's any consolation, I've burnt out a starter before. It's a two-bolt installation and it can be had for like 30$ from another forum member if you ask. No biggie

Jon

 

Oh... and the FIRST thing you wanna do:

Change the fuel filter Dammit! 4$ and 5 mins, relieves alot of headaches. I'm a big believer of doing this once a year. Get yourself a Heynes manual while you're at it. The best 20$ you'll ever spend in your life.

Jon

 

Hey thanks for the fast reply!
I have had this car now for a good 10 years now.
I changed the engine about 5 years ago with an engine from a wreck yard. It has never started for me and I so want to get it going now that I have some spare coin and a little time. At the time I changed all the fluids and put in a new clutch.
Had a problem with the igniters but picked up some from a wreck yard.
Now I am ready to get back at it again.
I think I will take you up on alll your help that you can lend me.

 

Where in Canada are ya? If you're close enough, it might be worth a road trip for me

Jon

 

Me as well, if you're in the west. Post a message on the Canadian section of the board and you'll probably get someone near you who's willing to come out and help.

 

Pull it down the road if all else fails.
Make sure you get as much ATF out of the motor as possible as any remaining ATF is going to get puked out into the exhaust system, possibly damaging any catalytic converters in the system. I'd get some Amsoil "power foam" and hand crank it into the motor to try to thin down the ATF so that it's easier to get it out.
I used to have a set of Bosch platinum plugs that would start flooded/fouled motors when the normal plugs wouldn't. Wish I could remember the number, darnit! They had really good midrange performance, but lacked a bit on the top end IIRC. Sorry, I'm getting off the subject. Good luck!

 

Im located in St Thomas Ontario,its close to London.
Whereabouts are you guys anyways?

 

I'm in Ottawa. Well, actually technically I'm 10 mins out of town across the river in Quebec (yech).... lovely little town called Aylmer, but for all intents and purposes, I spend more than half my time in Ottawa anyway.

Jon