I apologize beforehand. This post is kinda long, but i think it's all important info.

I picked my TII up from the shop about two weeks ago. I had the motor rebuilt. When my mechanic cranked it was hard to start. He said it was because of the rebuild plus my big-*** streetport. Anyway, after a couple of minutes he gets it started.

After it was running there was a really weird sound and he said that my starter is stuck so as long as the motor was running it would make that sound until i replaced the starter.

I drove it home and it was fine. I let it run for about 20 minutes while i cleaned some of the stuff out of the interior that was left in there. I shut it off after i was done. I tried to start it again later and it wouldn't start so i push-started it.

I drove it to where i needed to go and back. I shut it off and it hasn't started since.

We tried push-starting it about 10 times (me, my brother, and my friend pushed the car down-hill) and it didn't work.

I figured the starter was completely gone. I bought one from someone on the forum and put it in tonight. I checked everything about 8 or 9 times and everything is connected but something is still wrong. When i hold the key over it will crank for a split second, then stop for about 15 or 20 seconds then it'll start cranking again with no problem but it never starts.

I thought it might be flooded from all of the times we tried push-starting it so we pulled the EGI fuse and cranked some more.... same results. We took out the spark plugs, they were fine, so i cranked some more....and it still won't start.

 

Did you try push starting it with the new starter (shouldnt make a difference though)?

 

No, i didn't try to push-start it with the new starter. I didn't think it would make a difference. I was just really tired of jacking the car up and down all night. I stopped trying to figure it out at about 11:30. I'll try it tomorrow though. Anyone else have any ideas?

Thanks, Craig

 

If you got spark (I would change the plugs .. they get fugged up real easy from too much fuel, even though they look fine) all you need is less fuel I recomend a fuel cut off switch on ANY new rebuild .. and with High Performance items and a street port its a MUST. You pop new plugs in .. double check all you plug wires & the basic ****, a cut off switch and your good to go .. I'm sure. I will be very hard to start warm on a new rebuild without a cut off switch .. and almost as hard cold untill its broke in a bit.. if all else fails ATF it, and check the compression to make sure all the inards are okay.

 

bump

 

Does anyone know why when i turn the key all the way to crank it and hold it, it cranks for a sec then stops for 15-20 and starts cranking again? Is that because of flooding or is there another problem?
Thanks,
Craig

 

bad ignition switch or starter

 

i agree with icemark, i think its the starter (didnt your mechanic say that too?) and keep in mind that it is going to be hard to start your car for atleast 1000 miles, and that streetport doesnt help.
i'd say get a new started and install a fuel cutoff switch.
oh, and i'd put all 4 of the hot plugs in. (not two leading and two trailing, put 4 leadings in there)

 

Yes, my mechanic said that there was a problem with the starter being stuck. When it was running you could hear a grinding kind of noise from the starter until I turned the car off.
I ALREADY replaced the starter last night. That is why I posted my question. I put a new starter in and it does the weird crank for a sec, very long pause, and then it starts cranking again.

 

then check the ignition switch.

 

Alright, I'm gonna try everything that you guys suggested tonight, and i'll post again to let you guys know how it went. Thanks for the help.
Craig

 

The pause indicates insufficent voltage is getting through to crank.

So the other end I would be looking at would be the connection between the battery and the underhood fuse box, and of course the grounds (your mechanic may have forgot to install one).

But the pause in cranking indicates a wiring issue (such as a bad ign switch, bad start kill relay, bad battery connections, bad starter)... Not related to the street port or anything else.

 

Here's a little update:
I found a ground that wasn't connected; I connected it.
I realized that the pause when i tried to crank it only happened when i turned the key as far as it can possibly go, it cranks normal as long as you dont turn it ALL the way. I checked the coils, they were good. I checked the spark plugs again, I lit a lighter to them like i heard from another post when i searched.
I found that my plug wires were bad so i borrowed my friend's. I tried to crank it a couple more times but it's pretty late and my neighbors will get pissed.
My plan for tomorrow is to crank the living **** out of it, maybe fix the fuel cut switch, and read my haynes manual about the ignition switch.
Craig