matts86fc3s

i ran out of gas. put gas back in it and tried to start it. it puffed and wanted to start but didnt. so i disconnect the fuel pump and crank it. finally started and then of course ran out of gas in the line. plugged fuel pump back in and now it will only crank and run for about 2 seconds and then shut back off. i disconnected the battery and fuel pump several times to see if that helped. the EGI fuse is bolted down with a 10mm bolt wich i didnt have at the time so i couldnt do that. its 1 am in the morning and i had to bum a ride home and car is sitting on side of the road 15 mintues away... help please. car ran excellent before i ran out of gas...

fuel pump is brand new, rebuilt engine, new plugs, wires, and fuel injectors. 86 base model n/a

Node

iTrader: (1)

fuel pumps will burn out if you run out of gas too many times, on some pumps it only takes one time. not saying that it is, but maybe.
clogged fuel pump?
keep unflooding your car. if it still wont pump, put it in neutral, you and a friend or 2 push the car to a jog/run, jump in the car, push in the clutch and put it in 2nd gear and pop the clutch hard, don't let it bog and die if it starts, but dont push the clutch in too soon before it fires.

your plugs may be fouled from flooding, try a new set of plugs, or at least pull them out and let them dry off if they are noticeably wet.

how olds the rebuild? new rebuilds have a bad tendency of flooding a ton during breakin

bring a friend or two out with you. i would say your best chance is to unflood it a few times (pull the top two efi fuses or whatever) and crank for 15 seconds at a time, and give it a break so you don't burn out your starter, have a friend check for small white puffs of smoke out the exhaust. maybe try that 3-4 times, or until no more puffs of raw unburnt fuel.

your plugs may still be fouled or wet from all of the fuel and try push starting it in 2nd gear like i described earlier. that is a good way to get a blown/flooded motor running. rotaries are very strong running motors and will push start when many things fail

Good luck,
Ben Martin

matts86fc3s

yeah... it was 1 oclock in the morning and i had to get up for work at 6 in the morning so i said screw it, and left it in someones yard. ill pull the plugs back out and see what they look like. ive already tried pulling the egi fuses and disconnecting the battery. the car will start but die after like 1 or 2 seconds... but it shoulnt even be flooded becuase i ran out of gas... maybe it did mess up the fuel pupm when i ran out... but its brand spankin new, good thing i got a lifetime warranty

1980's 7

Did you repressurize the fuel system before trying to start the motor? Turn the ignition to on let the fuel pump run. Turn it off and repeat 4 or 5 times, then try to start it up?

Peyman

iTrader: (2)

#1--->x2. There might not be a consistant flow of fuel since you ran out, so you should turn your key switch on the on position (where all your idot lights are showing) a few times.

#2 If that doesnt work, have a friend turn the key to the on position while you are under the gas tank, try to listen and see if the fuel pump is working.

#3 If it is working, i would try unflooding it as Node said.

#4 If that doesn't work, pull your spark plugs, dry them with a paper towel that doesnt lint, and clean them off with a wire brush to get them shiny again.

#5 If #4 doesnt work, try push-starting it like Node said.

Hope that helps....Good luck!

matts86fc3s

alright i put new plugs in and i got my lifetime warranty new fuel pump for free again so im about to go put that in... had to run home and get some tools. oh and its an s4 so if you turn the key to the on position the fuel pump doesnt run. becuase of that safety bullshit in the AFM. the fuel pump only kicks on in an s4 when you crank the car over. at least thats hows its always been in my car. the s4's have a safety thing where if you stall out or the car shuts off but the key is still on the fuel pump is cut off.... thats why it wont run with the key on. and push starting (popping the clutch) wont work becuase im either not getting enough fuel or spark and its not going to work weather i do that or not. man i really hope the fuel pump pooped out or something even tho it is brand new. only thing that was changed before the car did this was i had a buddy weld a silencer on the exhuast system the night before. we disconnected the negative battery cable while he tack welded it up so it wouldnt fry the computer, and when we got done we connected the battery back up. i did notice a burning smell but i think it was the sticker thats on the muffler we welded up, i dont think its the computer as the smoke would be pouring from the unit as i have no carpet or the metal sheild on the computer at the moment. so im about to go put that fuel pump in... cross your fingers. any tips would be appreciated if lets say the new fuel pump doesnt work

matts86fc3s

scratch that... fuel pump didnt help out. it ran for like 5 seconds this time instead of 2 but keeps starting up then shutting off. wtf? my gas guage was on E but the low feul light didnt come on. the car just shut off so i figured it was out of gas and put gas in it. it cranked but shut off. put new plugs in it. same thing. put a brand new fuel pump in it, same thing. what in the hell. and huge amounts of white smoke came out the pipe. i hav eno cats eaither so its not that.

Node

iTrader: (1)

did you try unflooding the motor......
it might still be flooding. you have any intake leaks, like a vented BOV, or ghetto rigged intake?
unflood it until no smoke out of exhaust
push start it.

what could be causing it not to start.............
are you giving it too much gas killing it when you start????
starting a s4 is an artform lol

matts86fc3s

i have no airfilter and throttle body mod thats my only intake mods. its an n/a car. and by unflooding the motor how do you mean. i just unplugged the fuel pump and let it start and die. then crank it alittle bit with the pump disconnected. then hook the pump back up and try it again. it tried to run a little bit longer with the new spark plugs and fuel pump in it. but does the same thing. starts for like 3 seconds then dies, sometimes barely trying to hold idle after it revs up, then dies, white smoke everywhere. **** all i did was run out of gas, put gas in it, and there you have it. it does this crap

matts86fc3s

anyone?i just had to get it towed to my house, before getting it towed i let it sit overnight again, got back to the car, cranked it up and it would run for like 3 seconds then die, keep doing that, then i just quit starting at all. it cranks but no start, pulled the plugs out and there soaked. why the **** am i flooding it? it ran out of gas... then put gas back in it and it does this? HELP PLEASE, ide really like to keep the car

Peyman

iTrader: (2)

you keep flooding it because you keep cranking it. Do you have any spark? Does it sound like you have compression?

Try removing the lower 2 spark plugs, and squirt a little bit of atf in there, it will mix with the gas and hopefully it will start. Have you checked your fuses?

Make sure all your fuses are good, especially the fuel pump fuse, and other fuses as well.

matts86fc3s

yeah i know i keep flooding it from cranking it. auto trans fluid in lower plug holes? hmmm... i got nothing to loose i guess ill try it. im missing the cover to both fuse boxes... wich one is the fuel pump fuse? and im about to go check compression right now, i believe i have spark becuase it does crank. i think i just keep flooding it becuase when i pull the plugs out there soaked...

matts86fc3s

how about ive only been pulling my trailing plugs out to look at them and the trailing plugs are wet and kind of grimey. but i just pulled the leading plugs... there clean as a whistle and not even wet. like they havent been firing, no burn marks like theyve been firing. but for the few seconds it does actually fire up it sounds ok. hmm, ive got some s5 ignitors... will those work on an s4... ill go see... any idea why the leadings would be clean as hell (all 4 are brand new and were bought last night but have been cranking it up) and the trailings are wet and a little bit grimey?

Peyman

iTrader: (2)

well that tells us something....the leading plugs are not firing. Evidentally, the trailing plugs are, and your car is actually flooded.

Defenately check your leading ignitor, i dont know if an s5 one will work, just look up the specs, and if they are the same for an s4 and s5, you'll be fine.

I don't think your leading wires are bad though, because what are the chances that both of them go out at the same time? So look into the ignitor and hopefully you'll be up and running soon...