tiger18

iTrader: (1)

Hi guys car has been good for last few years no problems. Well anyway ive had it parked up last 2 weeks come to start it yesterday and nothing,, cranks over nice and fast but doesnt fire at all. I know these cars flood out and can be funny but ive done a really good unflooding like 4 times and still nothing. (dried and cleaned plugs, pump out all the fuel,,,added oil to the bottom spark plug holes ect). It just keeps cranking and i very very rarely get an odd pop out of it, normally in the past when flooded it will kick over once in a while to let me know im on the right track, but this time nothing just constant cranking.

Things ive checked so far,, had spark plugs out, they are all sparking nice, theres plenty of fuel because once ive been cranking for a while the plugs are covered. The only thing worth a mention is that with the plugs out and cranking the engine over, the pulses of air out of the spark plug holes doesnt sound rythmic, i cant explain but they sound like -- cha, cha cha cha (sort of like a 1 then a gap then 3/4/5). Im starting to lean towards a sticking seal, but surely the car would still kick over a little???

I might have to try brand new plugs and ignition wires,, check fuel rail pressure make sure i dont have an injector stuck open,,, maybe apexi power fc has taken a crap on me,,,could try standard ECU,,
Any help guys a few pointers please??

theorie

iTrader: (31)

what does "stood" mean?

Socamoto

not used...

pito13b

iTrader: (3)

Definitely start off with the new plugs. I always carry a spare set. I was fouling out brand new plugs like crazy on my new engine. Trying to clean them out was no good, and it would just turn over with no firing noises.

tiger18

iTrader: (1)

Right pito ive purchased new plugs should be here in a couple of days,, i tell you the strange thing is it doesnt fire at all,,, in the past there was alwas a few pops,,, im not getting anything?

unreal-icarus

iTrader: (1)

i had the same problem, clean the spark plugs or better exchange them. is your battery low?

FDWarrior

iTrader: (6)

If it's cold where you store your car, the apex seals can recess back into the rotors creating a low compression like situation. If you put about 2 t-spoons of break fluid into the vacuum line going into the intake manifold used for the break booster, it will create artificial compression. Once your car starts and warms up it will be fine. The break fluid will make your car smoke like crazy for a minute or so.

tiger18

iTrader: (1)

Fd warrior,, the spark plugs will be new tomorow when they arrive,,, ive normally injected engine oil through the bottom 2 spark plug holes,,,im not having any luck with this (but in the past this has worked ok) ive never tried brake fluid i thought is was automatic trasmission fluid that im supposed to use. Ill give the brake fluid a go through the brake booster pipe.

To add the car has been stood on drive in the freezing cold (snowed here and i didnt want to drive in snow), was fine when parked up. Battery is been charged all the time will im working on car and im also using a battery booster when attempting to start car.

anymore guys keep it comming,, what about possible injector stuck open,,,?

FDWarrior

iTrader: (6)

Yep sounds like the apex seals recessed back into the rotors. When that happens the engine acts like it has low compression. There is nothing wrong with your engine this just happens to us cold weather FD owners. My car had the same issue and I used the brake fluid method, she started right up. I also have a half bridge and stand alone so winter starts are some times tough. I will tell you that your car will smoke allot on start up with the brake fluid.

tiger18

iTrader: (1)

Thanks again FDwarrior, when i get up out of bed today ill unflood and try that brake fluid method,,, ill let you know how i get on.

tiger18

iTrader: (1)

update,, need some professional help.

I just tried experimenting with the car by pulling just the rear spark plugs out and turning over the engine with the EGI fuse removed so i could listen to the puffs then repeated the same with the rear rotor.. Front rotor has 3 even puffs,,,, rear rotor has 2 puffs then a quiet whisp,,
This to me means the car has been stood and aquired a jammed side seal correct. Now i need to know how to fix. If i can get the car to start up maybe the heat will fix? or any other methods please guys.

tiger18

iTrader: (1)

Update, after doing the brake fluid method and working the crank by hand with a spanner the compression in the rear rotar returned to normal, ive been unflooding and drying plugs for 2 days then today after several near starts the engine spluttered into life,, holy cow all i can say is ill start the car every few days when stood from now on,,, 5 days to get this monster started holy cow!!!

Speeder165

iTrader: (7)

Before I put my rebuilt engine in the car last year, I had a time trying to get mine to start in cold weather if it sat outside for several days without being started. I remember once, I tried to start it & all it did was ZZZZZZZZzzzzzzzzzzeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeee eeeeeeeeeee! Absolutely NOOOOO compression at ALL! Eek! That was a sick feeling! Did the trans fluid in the spark plug holes, unflooded it several times & once it did start, looked like my car was on fire & burning from the tailpipe. I told myself after that, I would start the car every couple days. Sometimes I did. Sometimes I didn`t. Was easier to start when I did. LOL!

Enervation

Good to hear it worked!

This is obviously a fairly well known issue, but it also appears to be sparodic. I've left my car for weeks without starting, and its fired back up first time with no troubles at all.
I assume it has a bit to do with the apex seal wear, size, and probably type/material? Is there anything we can do to avoid this (apart from starting the car every week or so).

tiger18

iTrader: (1)

I was positive something was broke but really i just dont think the engine liked been sat around in the cold. Id checked everything in the end, fuel pressure,compression, checked to see if i had spark, even removed the upper manifold and took the coils and leads in the house and put on heater to dry out thinking they might be damp. I had less trouble starting this engine when it was rebuilt 12 months ago???
Might be a different story if the car was left through the summer i wont make the same mistake next winter,, 5 days of removing spark plugs,drying ,unflooding and trying to start the dam thing my fingers are raw with unscrewing those dam spark plugs.

FDWarrior

iTrader: (6)

Glad to see the brake fluid trick worked for you.