Thrasher

I bought a new car and I knew it overheated, and the guy could never get it started again. Well I brought it home and charged up the battery, filled the radiator up and made sure all hoses were connected. She turns over and blows small amounts of smoke out the exhaust but it will not start up. I thought maybe it was flooded so I did the unflood trick and it still wouldn't start. But I did notice a liitle wire running from the engine block to the firewall (ground) was smoking and very hot!

I havn't checked compression yet but Iam thinking about buying a compresion checker... is 50 bucks for one a good price? Also how do I check to see if the spark plugs are getting spark?

could I possibly bring this engine back to life without a rebuild (I plan on rebuilding it sooner or later but it would be nice to be able to start her up now) BTW it did not overheat for long, only about 30 sec.

What else could I do to try and get it to start?

thx guys

blu_gxl

thry atf trick, might get the thing moving. wait it turns over and runs for a sec then dies? if this is the case can you keep it runing if you give it more gas? if so small intake leak, if not porb. large intake leak. check with some carb cleaner spraying around vacume lines.

james

Aaron Cake

iTrader: (1)

If it has been overheated, then most likely it is dead already. So trying ATF to start it up won't hurt it anymore than it already is...

Other than that, try standard troubleshooting:
-compression?
-spark?
-fuel?

Thrasher

no it woln't start at all, it just turns over with the starter. I plan on doing the aft trick soon..

Thrasher

how do I check if its getting spark? and fuel?

PraxRX7

Make sure the belts are all turning and such...

Turn on the ignition and get someone (with a rope or somthing) to pull the car, put her in 2nd or 3rd gear and let the clutch out (WITH THE IGNITION ON!) and just let them pull you till she sputters and starts...

Before you do that though make sure there is definitly power getting to the spark plugs, also check for burnt out fuses in the fuse box.

PraxRX7

you will hear it "fire" if there is spark and also you will get sputtering and small amounts of exhaust out the back.

Thrasher

ok, it sputters and it there is small amounts of smoke out the back, so if I let a friend with a truck tow me and I put it in 2nd it will start up eventualy? interesting :-D

PraxRX7

yea I have to start my bug like that when she floods...

but don't go too too long...if it doesnt start in about 1 minute of towing you probably have another problem.

Also make sure that if it is a PISTON engine that the timing is still in sync...

It might start, but if it runs like serious ***, shut it off and tow it back because the timing is probably off (especially if it has a timing chain).

PraxRX7

Also if the ground was hot, try running a wire from somewhere on the engine to the chassis just in case the electronics aren't grounded properly.


When it comes to electronics, you can't have to many grounds!

PraxRX7

also if you get it running check the EGT's (check the exhaust gas, if it is coming out REALLY hot (warmer than normal) than you are probably not getting enough fuel and leaning out (hence only sputters at startup)

for that it could be dirty injectors (run through some fuel system cleaner) or a clogged fuel filter....could also be moisture in the lines that needs to work its way out.

There are so many things it could be.

Ev7

Do you have water in your oil, oil cap? you may have a busted side housing seal. It happens when a rotary overheats. Also check your spark plugs, turn the engine over whith no plugs. Do you got water spurting out or just fuel misting out(Do not smoke and keep sparks away). Good luck. Ev7

Silkworm

Wait wait wait.

The ground wire is hot and smoking?

You've got a short buddy... Start looking for something shorting to the engine block. It's probably in the rats nest under the intake, but don't forget the drivers side of the engine where the alternator line is.

That might not be it, but you've definitely got a short.

PauLC


PaulC

Thrasher

Ok well I was at a friends house that had a battery charger so I could crank the engine, I need to go buy one. In the meantime I will check everywhere for a short (the wire was very hot and smoking) Iam also going to take off that wire and replace it with a 8 guage wire

BTW PraxRX7 its a 90 GXL not a boinger engine But I will still try all your suggestions.

Iam going to also change the oil here in a few days so I can see if its got any water in it.

Whislr

I think Ev7 is right, I had the same thing happen to me. If you are putting coolant in the rad, then it is going somewhere. Your plugs are probably fouled from all the water leaking past the side seals. I have a nice sculpture of a rotor and housing from my old first gen as a result of overheating. Pull the plugs and crank it over, see what comes out. Good Luck

tighe

What happened?
Ive got the exact same problem????