FDNewbie

iTrader: (10)

Can someone *please* help me out here, cuz I'm tired, my back's sore, and I'm pretty pissed right about now, given that I've been tryin everything I can w/ this car for the past cpl hours...

Here's the deal:
- I had started the car in the garage, and backed it out into the driveway to clean it. As I was doing so, I heard a little pop, but I didn't give it much thought. I parked the car, turned off the engine, then washed the car.

A couple hours after I washed it, I came to start the car, and it cranked, but wouldn't start. It'll crank all day, but just won't start.

It can't be the main fuse, cuz I have power to all my accessories, lights work, etc. I can hear the fuel pump come on, and I just spent a long *** time changing all 4 spark plugs myself (my first time). Still, same old. It cranks, but won't turn over.

Any suggesstions? Cuz I'm tryin to get her up and running ASAP so I can take her to Rotorfest on Saturday, and I'm trying my best to see if I can have it fixed w/o takin it to PFS...

Mahjik

iTrader: (1)

You might have flooded it. You can try holding the gas pedal on the floor and cranking the car, or:

FDNewbie

iTrader: (10)

Do both methods work effectively? Because I tried holding the pedal all the way down and cranking...a bunch of times...to the point it's takin a toll on my battery lol. I did get some blue smoke coming out from my exhaust, but not a lot (I did it while the gargage door was closed so I could see it)

If pulling the leading plugs is more effective, I guess I'll try it...but I just REALLY don't feel like takin everything apart again, you know? Is it worth the shot, or is holding the pedal down just as good?

c00lduke

Take your plugs out to see if you get some fuel to see if you are not getting spark and fuel. If you are not getting fuel either look at the EGI relay and still go through all of your relays. It could be SOOOO many things so just keep posting what you have tried and checked.

FDNewbie

iTrader: (10)

c00lduke, thanks for working on this w/ me.

Sorry, you gotta break this down for me. I assume you're asking me to take out the leading plugs. Which ones are those? The two closest to the firewall, on top of one another?

Also, how am I checking if I'm getting fuel by taking out the plugs?

I'll check the EGI fuse, and try and check all the others. Prob is I don't have a ohm meter, so I gotta see if the fuse LOOKS like it's blown or not (and some of 'em are def. not clear).

Thanks

Mahjik

iTrader: (1)

Each housing has a leading and a trailing plug hole. The easiest way to remember which is which is

Leading = Lower
Trailing = Top

FDNewbie

iTrader: (10)

Gotcha...so take out the bottom plug on each side (or housing ), and crank, 3X for 15 seconds a pop? Last time this happened there were a LOT of sparks. Seeing that I'm doing this alone, do I need to worry about somethin catchin fire, or can I do this alone?

Also, when you're talking about the EGI relay, I found the fuel pump relay all the way near the nose of the car, and another called Main EGI Relay close to the strut tower. Which one am I going to be pulling out?

Oh one more...can I reuse my new plugs that I just installed, or are they possibly fouled now that I've tried to crank it while it's possibly flooded? (I've been told they can be fouled from doing so)

RotorJoe

I have pulled both, the EGI fuse and the Fuel Pump relay. I know when you pull the EGI fuse you get no spark or fuel. I don't even think your ECU will turn on. When you pull the fuel pump relay I think it only cuts fuel, so you will still get a spark.

You can reuse your old plugs if you clkean them well and make sure they still produce a spark.

Pull the spark plug boot off of the spark plugs when you pull your spark plugs. Then you will not have to worry about sparking when not wanting to. But that is a good way to verify spark. But do it one at a time.

You may want to search for "flooding" or "flooded" and find more info. Right now my car is flooded pretty bad. I have been working on it for two days now.

yzf-r1

iTrader: (1)

you could always try push starting it and see what happens....these cars push start pretty easily

when I fouled my plugs about 4 times in a row pre-mixing Amsoil synthetic racing 2 stroke oil (BIG mistake) I would just push the car over to an incline, hop in, throw it and second and dump the clutch

worked every time and saved me from being stranded

FDNewbie

iTrader: (10)

Ok...fuel pump relay only. So far so good.

I gotta clean the plugs? You think they're dirty already? I'm talkin about I installed them an hour or so ago, and cranked the car a couple of times, that's all. Wow...

Verifying spark is kinda hard to do, cuz I'm by myself right now, so I can't crank and check for spark at the same time...nor would I want to leave the plug sitting around by itself...

I'm sorry to hear your car is flooded real bad. The last time I had this happen, I was w/ some ppl who were very familiar w/ FDs...they pulled the leading plugs, the fuel pump relay, and had me crank it about 5X for 15 sec each, until there was no more gas coming out...then I put in the new plugs, and she started right up. You might wanna try that.

I wanna do it, but gotta see if I can get a friend to come over and help...

yzf-r1, your idea is great, but I'm outta luck. I'm at the bottom of a long inclined driveway. Pushing it up that driveway is absolutely impossible lol

lopedl

iTrader: (1)

Depending on how old the plugs are I would just replace them with new ones. I was having similiar experiences, when I flooded my car. Took all the plugs out and cranked the car over 15 sec intervals for 3 times. I would take the plugs out a clean them almost to brand new, but the car would still run like crap. Others suggested foul plugs, replaced the old plugs with sparkling new ones, and the car runs 10x better, and is a snap to star up now. Before it would take 2 or 3 tries to start it.

FDNewbie

iTrader: (10)

THAT'S how new they are. HOURS old lol. And never used while the car's running

EDIT: What the hell...if I'm going to take out the leading plugs, I'll just replace them w/ new plugs. Oh well....

lopedl

iTrader: (1)

Oh I see so you did get new ones then. Hmm should start right up then. Maybe that little pop you heard could have been a fuse or relay? Or was it an exhaust sounding pop?

FDNewbie

iTrader: (10)

Na that pop was def. from the engine bay. It made my heart skip a beat for a sec, but nothing happened to the car...idle was the same, engine didn't turn off or sound diff, so I basically ignored it.

Another thing (I'm just giving you everything, in case anything I'm leaving out is important) is that my right headlight cover had flown off a few nights ago during some "spirited night driving" haha...and of course I hosed down the car while I was washing it a couple of times... maybe the water blew a fuse if it hit any electric lines due to the exposed head light?

Prob is, I still have power to ALL my accessories, as far as I know. Lights, radio, sound system, headlights, headlights, etc.

EDIT: the new plugs were installed and I cranked the car w/ them in WITHOUT trying to unflood....

lopedl

iTrader: (1)

Definitely could be a fuse, remember that water can also pass current. So if you accidently sprayed a fuse it could have shorted out one of your main fuses.

yzf-r1

iTrader: (1)

yzf-r1, your idea is great, but I'm outta luck. I'm at the bottom of a long inclined driveway. Pushing it up that driveway is absolutely impossible lol

all the better....find a tow strap and some guy with a truck

if it's flooded it will work, trust me

FDNewbie

iTrader: (10)

Okay, what's the easiest way to check if one of the fuses blew, w/o an ohm meter? Cuz some of them are hard to tell just by looking at it...that, and that doesn't help you at all w/ relays, cuz I don't know what to look for on relays...

Oh, and can you simplify it by telling me which fuses & relays to check (ie, I dont need to bother checking headlight fuses, headlight motor fuse, dome light, etc)

yzf-r1, I trust you, but towing it simply is not possible. I have a c-west front bumper, so pulling it via a chain will literally rip off the front bumper. I have yet to install a tow hook through the front bumper (it's next on my list). And I just simply think pushing it is impossible, not at this incline. I'd LOVE to just push start it and be done w/ it.

Sesshoumaru

iTrader: (1)

there also labeled.

Check your spark
Check your fuel
Check your compression

if they are all there it's flooded

c00lduke

with and meter you should be able to see if the fuse is blown or not, but do you know if you getting fuel yet?

FDNewbie

iTrader: (10)

I can smell the fuel all over the place, so it's definetly there, and which is why I'm leaning towards it being flooded.

I HIGHLY doubt the engine blew from me reversing out of the garage...but I haven't done a compression test. I would think you can start a blown engine tho...but it just wouldn't idle at all??

I haven't checked the spark since I'm alone right now, and it's pretty hard to crank and check for spark at the same time.

I think I'm going to try and eliminate it being flooded off the bat via the shortcut method...spraying WD-40 into the boost gauge nipple on the UIM (I'd try ATF, but I never heard of that being sold as a spray??)

W/ a what meter?
I'm assuming I'm getting fuel because I hear the fuel pump come on when I turn the key to Acc. That, and the whole garage smells of gas...

Sesshoumaru

iTrader: (1)

check for spark

try'n to unflood it with out spark is useless.

use a timming light and shine it in ur eyes while you crank.

test both front/rear ign

then you know what to trouble shoot.

lopedl

iTrader: (1)

Well if it was a fuse problem it will most likely be the box nearest to the battery, just look at them you can tell a bad one from a good one, usually there will be a black imprent left from the blown fuse on the top, or it will be cut in the middle. The relays are a bit tricky, unless you have some spare ones lying around, you would have to test with a multimeter. It sounds more and more like a fuse, since in actuality if it was running and then you heard the pop but it still continued to run, then you turned it off and it wouldn't start. Well that would be just like if you unplugged the battery, it would still run but wouldn't start back up. The best thing is to have someone else help you check for spark.

FDNewbie

iTrader: (10)

K...WD-40 is my first shot, since it's quickest, and I got another hour till my friend's here.

If that doesn't work, here's what I'm thinking about in regards to checking for spark. Correct me of I'm wrong.

I'm going to pull out each leading plug separately, leave it connected to the wire, and crank. I haven't thought how I'm going to position it yet, because I don't want my friend getting burned, but basically if he sees sparks coming out of the tip of the plug, it works.

Stop, reinstall plug, and re-attempt with second leading plug. Sounds correct?

I checked the little fuse box w/ the main 120A fuse in it...it looks like the EGI fuse there MIGHT be blown. The very right side of the copper thing in the middle looks a little black...

I'm gonna run get some WD-40, and get a new fuse 30A fuse for it. The other fuses have nothing to do w/ starting the car tho...

Main, we know works cuz I have power to the accessories. The next one is headlights & foglights only. Then EGI (which I'm going to replace). Then retractor, which runs the headlight retractor motors, and the last is B2 (heater/A/C, blower motor, wipers, power windows). My power windows work, so that one's fine too.

FDNewbie

iTrader: (10)

SHE'S ALIVE!!!!!!!!!!!!!! hehe

Thanks a LOT guys...I really appreciate everyone's help!!

I ran over to Mazda, got the EGI fuse in the small fuse box next to the battery (same one that has the main 120A fuse), cuz it looked like it MIGHT be blown. Put it in, but she still didn't start.

So I pulled off the boost gauge hose to the UIM, sprayed in some WD-40 for about 5 seconds, and gave her a try. Initially, nothing, but right before I gave up, it sounded like she WAS ABOUT to catch.

So I tried again, and it got a little better. And again, and again. 5th try, she finally fired up, w/ lots and LOTS of blue smoke outta the exhaust hehe. Some blue smoke was comin from around the turbos for a few seconds too!

Well, I'm going to go run her hard now that she's warmed up...enjoy it while it lasts, ya know??

Again, thanks to everyone who helped out.

Sincerely,
~Ramy

FDNewbie

iTrader: (10)

WOW she's runnin hard!! It's as if she's got new life in her!! I guess maybe the plugs were on their way out, or they were completely fouled, and then when I tried to start her I flooded her? (how, I have no idea). I'd think that if the plugs actually did get fouled first, I prob. flooded her trying to start her w/ no spark?