I'm absolutely baffled by this problem. I drove home from work 4 days ago and the car ran fine. Shut the car off with the fuel cut switch as usual. I went back to start it about 3-4 hours later, and it cranked and gave that flooded crank sound (more of a smooth cranking sound than usual). So I make sure that fuel is cut with the switch, and crank it for about 30 seconds. Eventually the normal crank sound returns, but the damn thing would not light off. So I changed the plugs and checked for spark...good there, but still won't start. Left it overnight, and the next morning it still won't start. Took out plugs and cranked the engine with them out and EGI fuse pulled to try to eject any extra gas. After that, I checked compression and it was fine. So I put the plugs back in, try again, and nothing. I let it sit overnight again, and the next day was the same thing. Every so often it gives a "pop" or acts like its trying to start, but never really gets close to firing off. I thought maybe I had bad gas, so I put new gas in it and bled out the fuel lines...still nothing. The car is definatly getting fuel...I tested the fuel pump and you can smell gas if I kick the fuel cut switch on. I have no idea what could cause this, and a search brought up no threads with this exact problem.
Any ideas?

-Joe

 

<I dont have an answer, I'm posting here so I can find this thread later, I am interested in the answer>

 

Check your MAF as per the FSM which you can download from TeamFC3S.org Its not uncommon for them to puke out, especially the S4's. If its puked and sending the wrong signal to the ECU, it'll flood the car out as soon as you try to crank it.

Thats just one place to start.. It could be the ECU took a crap, or one of the sensors

 

Thanks bro...I'll check that out. BTW what sensors are actually used during startup? Just the AFM?

-Joe

 

During your unflooding procedures, did you ever inject oil or ATF into the lower spark plug holes? If you didn't, I'd say the car is still flooded plain and simple.

If the car was running when you turned it off and nothing changed while it was parked, then it's flooded. Electrical components don't just **** themselves like that.

I could believe that you had an electrical gremlin if the car died on you, but not if it was running when you shut it off.

As for sensors needed at startup? Crank angle sensor is about it. You can start a car without the AFM plugged in.

 

Hey wozzoom,

just my thought, could be wrong but it sounds logical too me, and also when i used to experience flooding problems.

If you've got ur fuel cut on (no fuel) and your cranking the engine over, then surely you're burning of the excess fuel in there? so why would it still be flooded?

 

I had the same problem with my car, it was the ecu. If you need one I got one you can have, its been sitting in a box for awhile. I dont think youd want to drive to nc for it tho, haha. Hope you get it fixed.

 

Dont crank it for 30 seconds. That's a really long time and it'll wear out and overheat your starter. I dont think the AFM affects starting EXCEPT triggering the fuel pump. If you unplug your AFM you can still start your car but it will just rev to 3k and then stall.

Pull the codes to see if any sensors are malfunctioning?

 

just to add to above post, ur battery will die super quick, so have another car there and use jumper leads for optimum voltage

 

OverDriven: I noticed you are in VA. If you are neer me, I have a heap of spare S4 parts if you want to try swapping stuff out. I can bring a compression testor/timing light too if you need.

Odd thing about hard-to-start-RX-7s that I have noticed is that if you drag them around with a truck and in gear, they tend to start :O