Oh no, my 7 wont start... It ran fine this morning, but when I went back out to start it in the afternoon, it sounded funny.

I turn the key and it sounds like it is just spinning freely, no ignition sounds, no sound out of the tail pipes at all...


All help is greatly appreciated... Please e-mail dan@outlandz.com if you have any sage advice...

Is this the end of my 7?

Details:

1986 NA Base...
172K miles

 

hey Dan,

Obviously, I can't be 100% sure, but I'm willing to bet that your car has the same problem one of my first 7s did. You're saying that all you hear is this anemic whirrrrrrrrr sound when you turn the key, right? My guess is that you have either:

A) leaking injectors, or

B) low compression

If it's the injectors, then what happens is that you have fuel still coming into the combustion chamber when the engine is off. This excess fuel washes the oil from the housings (which I THINK helps build compression during startup). With no oil, you hvae little to no compression. Try one of these first. . .

A) 1) Pop the hood and pull your EGI INJ fuse

 

hey Dan,

Obviously, I can't be 100% sure, but I'm willing to bet that your car has the same problem one of my first 7s did. You're saying that all you hear is this anemic whirrrrrrrrr sound when you turn the key, right? My guess is that you have either:

A) leaking injectors, or

B) low compression

If it's the injectors, then what happens is that you have fuel still coming into the combustion chamber when the engine is off. This excess fuel washes the oil from the housings (which I THINK helps build compression during startup). With no oil, you hvae little to no compression. Try one of these first. . .

A) 1) Pop the hood and pull your EGI INJ fuse
2) Get back in the car and with the pedal to the floor, try starting it a few times. It may take a few times.
3) Once you hear the engine start to catch, STOP.
4) Replace the fuse, get in, and start it up.

B) Same as above, but instead of getting out of the car to pull the fuse, reach under the steerig column and unplug the yellow gang plug. This serves the same purpose as pulling the underhood fuse. It also helps you avoid getting soaked if this happens in the rain.

If neither of these work, try the ATF trick. I'd go into detail, but I'm on my way out the door. Just do a search in the 2nd gen forum on how to do it.

All may not be lost! With luck, it's just the injectors which can be pulled out, and sent off to be cleaned and blueprinted for MUCH less than an engine rebuild!!

 

Probably's just flooded. If it's an 86-88, pull the fuel pump fuse, crank 8 times, put the fuse back in, crank again.

If it's an 89-92, push the accelerator to the floor to enable the fuel cut and crank.

 

When the motor is REALLY flooded it can sound like that; but a motor that floods out that badly usually has low compression.

 

IF the fuse/connector tricks dont work, go to autozone and buy a) a hand pump for oil/lubricant(not grease pump)
b) some transmission fluid

insert pump in fluid. Raise your hood. Leave the fuses alone.

Look on top where it says 13b injection. In the middle, on the front, are 3 vacuum hoses. Remove the largest one on top.

Pump 3-5 times down into this hose slowly, then replace it on the manifold.

Wait about 2 minutes. Start the car, and move out of the way(it will smoke like a biyatch.

Might wanna keep the ATF pump handy in the car in case youre out somewhere and it floods. If it becomes a problem do a search under my username for posts about flooding and I explain how to cure the problem for under $5.

 

yeah it sounds flooded, not blown do what hypntyz7 said

 

IT WORKED!!!!

Thanks guys for helping me continue with my 7... It seems that pulling the fuse and cranking it until compression came back solved it...

Now the fun begins, I have moved and now have a garage where I can dissassemble my 7 for a rebuild if necessary!

 

HOORAY!!!

 

Glad to hear your problem was solved. I had the same thing happen with my TII before...I just shut the fuel pump off and cranked it for about 90 seconds until it fired up. Probably not good for the motor.